To the editor:

It is time for short-term vacation rentals (STRs) to play by the same rules as everyone else.

When a person or LLC wants to open a motel or traditional bed and breakfast in Wilmington, they must obtain a “special use permit” from Wilmington’s Planning Board. Obtaining that permit is not a formidable obstacle — the vast majority of those sought are granted — but the requirement gives neighboring property owners a chance to view plans, ask questions, seek limits and compromises, and be heard.

Our planning board can grant special use permits, grant permits with conditions and grant permits that are limited in duration in order to allow neighboring property owners future opportunities to be heard. Our planning board is tasked with reviewing plans and applications submitted by mechanics, shopkeepers, restaurateurs, traditional innkeepers and others who wish to conduct business in Wilmington.

It is time for our town board to vote to treat whole-home vacation rentals as the businesses they clearly are, allow our planning board to provide oversight and give neighboring residents the opportunity to have a say.We ask our town board to stop giving STRs preferential treatment and require whole-home vacation rentals to obtain a special use permit from Wilmington’s Planning Board — just like other businesses. We ask our town board to take this step before Wilmington starts distributing long-term STR operating licenses, locking a meek and outdated local law into place for many months to come –without even giving neighboring property owners the opportunity to be heard.

Carol Wiebe, Charles Assetta, Jane Assetta, Nancy Gonyea, Wesley Gonyea, Shawn Stephenson, Daniel Winkler, Christina Anderson, Nancy Cressey, Bob Cressey, Max Eaton, John Gates, Sue Ellen Gettens, Gary Grady, Keith Lyon, Megan Lyon, Jessica Mulvey, Wyatt Peck, Helen Read, Chelsea Walker, Joe Wichtowski, Theresa Wichtowski, Edward Winch, Kimberly Winch, Patricia Winch, Randy Winch, Noelle Wood, Jeri Wright

Wilmington