Isle of Palms residents in favor of a proposed amendment to the city's rental ordinance are coming out in record numbers since council voted to move forward with drafting changes.

At the February Isle of Palms City Council meeting at least three residents spoke out against the ordinance. The amendment passed six to three with council members Barbara Bergwerf, Brian Duffy, Mayor Dick Cronin, Mike Loftus, Ralph Piening and Doug Thomas voting in favor.

Marty Bettelli, Ryan Buckhannon and Sandy Stone voted against the proposed amendment.

City council will hear first reading of the draft amendment March 23 at their regularly scheduled meeting.

The proposal to cap rental occupancy at 10 house guests for future licenses is being drafted by City Attorney Sterling Halversen. She referred all questions about the draft to City Administrator Linda Lovvorn-Tucker who said, "as yet, there is no draft amendment. That work product is still being developed."

The amendment, if approved, would reduce the rental occupancy to 10 people for new rental licenses issued after March 23.

Motion

Council member Bergwerf moved that all new rental licenses issued by the Isle of Palms will have a maximum occupancy of ten (10) persons; all existing rental licenses will have their occupancy "grandfathered in" and that occupancy will be allowed as long as the license is kept current; if the rental license lapses, the new occupancy regulation will go into effect; in order to apply for a rental license, the applicant must have a Certificate of Occupancy at the time of application and to task the City Attorney to craft an ordinance so that the rental license occupancy will convey with the sale of the property; Council member Duffy seconded.

Loftus, who voted in favor, said, "The Isle of Palms has experienced over 20 percent increase in short term rental licenses provided by the building department over the last several years. I support limiting occupancy in order to reduce the mini-hotels on the Isle of Palms. I feel it is critical we maintain the residential quality of life and continuing to build mini-hotels in neighborhoods does not support that vision of the island."

Island resident Nadine Deif said at last month's meeting that she and her family are looking for a bigger home, one with 4-5 bedrooms and 3 baths.

The problem, she has found is that all of the houses were built to be rental homes. For example, they have a reverse floor plan.

"All of these rentals feel like a rental," Deif said.

She and her family ended up buying a home that was intended to be a rental home. "We can't have families here if we don't have real homes," Deif said.

(Helen Ravenel can be reached at helen@moultrienews.com)