City of Pooler host second STR town hall meeting

POOLER, Ga. (WSAV) — Residents of Pooler discussed the city’s first Short Term Rental (STR) ordinance at Tuesday’s town hall meeting.

A recent adjustment made to the ordinance includes proof that property owners directly adjacent to the STR have been notified of the proposed use.

Proof of insurance and an agreement to ensure rental guest are not disrupting neighbors are other guidelines within the ordinance. WSAV News 3 spoke with Mayor Pro Tem Aaron Higgins about the importance of the ordinance.

“Over the last several years, we started receiving more and more complaints from residents and neighbors about VRBO’s and Airbnb’s,” he said. “We started looking into it. We realized that we couldn’t get our arms around it being an issue or not until we had a framework in place”

Opinions varied over the new ordinance. Some said STR’s should not be allowed at all. Others said there should specific rules STR owners should abide by.

“I get a notification on my phone with everything that goes on in my house,” one resident expressed. “I also have a lock. Whenever someone goes in the house or leaves the house, I get a notification of that as well. That is something that you want to look at adding.”

In March, city council voted in a moratorium barring the city from issuing business licenses for short term rentals for six months. It gives mayor and council time to hear from the people and make necessary changes to the proposed ordinance before the final draft.

Higgins said the town hall meetings are steps toward making the people of Pooler happy.