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Hearing scheduled on Belleair Shore short-term rentals
By DAVE SHELTON
Article published on Wednesday, April 23, 2008 |
BELLEAIR SHORE – The Belleair Shore Town Commission has tentatively scheduled a hearing before a special master on May 7 when two property owners could face $15,000 in fines.
Mayor John Robertson told commissioners April 16 that the owners of two homes accused of being made available for short-term rental have refused to accept registered mail advising them of the charges.
Robertson said this leaves the town with only one option to alert the homeowners – what is sometimes called ‘Nail and Mail’ notice. Robertson said that, according to law, the town can post the notices on a public bulletin board and send them to the property owners through regular U.S. Postal Service.
Neighbors of the homes have complained for more than a year that tourists staying in the two homes have loud parties, park indiscriminately and leave trash on the beach.
One home now may have been converted into a “party house” a neighbor told the commission. He said music speakers have been mounted throughout the property and lounge chairs have been put in, providing seating for more than 30 people.
To combat these issues, the town adopted the county’s code banning rentals of less than 30 days and alerted the property owners of the town’s plans to enforce the new codes.
The property owners denied they offered the houses for weekly rent. Robertson, however, has repeatedly produced print-outs of Internet advertisements he said offer the houses for short-term rental. He said rents are as high as $5,000 a week.
The town adopted a code setting up a town court to enforce its codes. Again, the property owners were warned and continued to deny that they rented the properties despite Internet advertisements that even included photos of the houses.
Robertson said the town’s special master, James L. Yacavone of Clearwater would hear evidence produced by the town on May 7 to prove the two property owners are violating the town code. Neighbors also may testify, he said.
If convicted, each property owner would face $250 fines for each day in violation since the March 5 notices were sent to them. The mayor said a second conviction could increase the fines to up to $500 per day.
Robertson said the town would only have to prove the homes were offered for rent, not that they were actually rented.
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Article published on Wednesday, April 23, 2008
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