Short-term rental rules to be addressed again

Proposed revisions come at a time when the city is being sued over Stovalls' Landing, at 616 Monterey Blvd. NE.

By ANDREW MEACHAM

© St. Petersburg Times,
published June 3, 2001

ST. PETERSBURG -- The City Council will hear arguments Thursday on a proposed change to rules affecting short-term rentals in residential areas. The public hearing is the council's second and could end with a vote.

The new ordinance drafted by city attorneys says that tenants or time-share customers can occupy a property for less than a month no more than three times in any 365-day period.

The revisions come at a time when the city is being sued over Stovalls' Landing, a former apartment complex at 616 Monterey Blvd. NE. Some Snell Isle residents say the character of their neighborhood suffered when the city allowed what they call a time-sharing arrangement between a British insurance firm and its bond holders. Attorneys for Holiday Property Bond have insisted that its investors are owners, not renters or participants in a time-sharing agreement.

Language in the revised ordinance replaces the word "rent" with "occupancy." Don Mastry, an attorney who represents Holiday Property Bond, has objected to the ordinance at Planning Commission meetings, saying it is aimed specifically at the Snell Isle dispute.

Backyard Coalition starts a Web site

The Backyard Coalition, an unofficial association of neighborhood and crime watch leaders, has gone online. The group, begun two years ago "to give neighborhoods a voice," has grown since the recent mayoral election, said coordinator Lorraine Margeson.

The Web site www.backyardcoalition.com directs online readers to a Weekly Planet article accusing the Times of unfair election coverage. Margeson, 44, actively campaigned for Kathleen Ford. The site also offers a flow chart of city government and lists upcoming events.

"We are not partisan," said Margeson, who with her husband, Don, owns a communications networking business. "We have people who felt comfortable with how things were going (in city government) and people who didn't. We need to strive for a more global view that will make us all work together better."

North Kenwood debris to be picked up Monday

North Kenwood residents can rid themselves Monday of unwanted items such as carpet, appliances, grass clippings, furniture, and tree limbs up to 4 feet. Place the items at normal curbside or alley pickup locations. North Kenwood is between Ninth and 22nd avenues N, and Interstate 275 and 34th Street. Do not leave paint, solvents or other hazardous waste.

Meetings

EUCLID-ST. PAUL: 7:30 p.m. Thursday. St. Paul's Catholic School, 1900 12th St. N. Rep. Frank Farkas, R-St. Petersburg.

HISTORIC KENWOOD: 7:30 p.m. Thursday. Albright United Methodist Church, 2750 Fifth Ave. N.

SNELL ISLE: 7:30 p.m. Thursday. St. Petersburg Woman's Club, 40 Snell Isle Blvd. Open house (no formal meeting).

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