This weekend, a section of the Cliff Walk collapsed. Thankfully no one was walking on the section at the time, and no one was injured. City staff is currently working to evaluate the cause of the collapse and develop a plan for repair. Maintaining our infrastructure must be a priority for the City, especially as impacts from climate change continue to increase. We have to find all resources available to us – including funding at the State and Federal levels – to address these challenges.
Newport is facing a housing crisis; there is limited housing availability and high rent and home prices. A significant contributing factor is the proliferation of investor-owned short-term rental units across the City that are taking homes that could otherwise be occupied by year-round residents. Disallowing this use in residential zones will return housing stock to our neighborhoods. In January, the Council sent proposed amendments to disallow whole-home short-term rentals in residential zones to the Planning Board for review, and they will be discussing them in their Monday evening meeting.
There are two proposed amendments to the zoning ordinances. The first amendment adds the term “short term rental” to the official list of definitions in our zoning ordinances. Having an official definition is important and helps with both enforcement and communication. The second amendment removes “guest houses” as a use allowed with a special use permit in all residential zones. It is also changing the regulations in the limited business zone to require a special use permit for a guest house. This means that the only type of rental allowed for fewer than 29 days in a residential zone would be a home occupation. Home occupation allows for the rental of up to two rooms in a home while the owner is present in the unit.
The Council will receive the Planning Board’s recommendation following their meeting. At the start of our meeting on Wednesday, the Council is holding a public hearing on the proposed zoning ordinance amendments. I support these amendments because I believe they will help protect our neighborhoods and aid in resolving some of the housing shortages facing our community.
This week the City Council is meeting in person at City Hall for our regular meeting. The IT team at City Hall is working hard to get our hybrid meeting system up and running so that residents can participate in meetings from home. It is not yet operational, so this meeting will only have in-person participation available, although it will be livestreamed for viewing.
I am pleased that the St. Patrick’s Day parade will be back next weekend for the first time in two years. I hope you enjoy the festivities safely and responsibly!