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Some rental owners vow to stop illegal terms
BY MANDY BOLEN
keysnews.com
KEY WEST -- Some Key
West property owners and their lawyers have a date with the legal system
today, as they face allegations of renting their property for fewer than
30 days without the proper license.
The last of several
pre-trial administrative hearings are scheduled for today and Thursday
at the Harvey Government Center. During these meetings many property
owners are expected to enter into settlement agreements with the city of
Key West, which means many of them could agree never again to rent their
property illegally, said City Attorney Bob Tischenkel.
Some may be required
to pay minor costs incurred during the city's investigation of possible
violations, he added. "But the main thing is promising not to do it
again."
These hearings are the
result of a citywide investigation into illegal short-term rentals that
culminated in 134 letters being sent to alleged violators. City
officials have pointed out that the letters were not referring to
property owners thought to be in violation of the city's transient
rental law, which is still being debated in the court system and is not
yet being enforced.
But investigators were
looking into property owners thought to be renting their homes for fewer
than 30 days without the requisite occupational license and in areas not
zoned for such commercial activity.
Nearly half of the
alleged violators have already entered settlement agreements during
earlier pre-trial hearings, and no trial dates have been set. The
remaining 60 or so defendants will appear in front of Code Enforcement
Special Master Jeff Overby today or Thursday to either enter a
settlement or receive a court date.
"This isn't the actual
prosecution that's happening [Wednesday]," Tischenkel said, calling this
week's actions more of a procedural matter.
Despite the procedural
aspect of the hearings, several members of the environmental group Last
Stand plan to attend the hearings to show support for the city's
aggressive investigation and enforcement of its licensing and zoning
laws.
Bill Verge, treasurer
of Last Stand, does not necessarily view the settlement agreements as a
victory because "most of them just sign the agreement and continue to
rent," he said. He is waiting for the city's ordinance to take effect,
which will "give the city more clout."
He said that some
agents consider the minor costs associated with code enforcement
violations "a cost of doing business," but the penalties outlined in the
actual ordinance are much stricter so as to ensure compliance.
Key West Licensing
Director Carolyn Walker estimated Tuesday that there about 450 rental
units legally licensed for short-term rentals. That figure does not
include hotels and guest houses.
mbolen@keysnews.com
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