The one item on the agenda for Wednesday's Hall County Planning Commission meeting is one that has been tossed around for several months: short-term rentals in residential areas.
Last December, the county commission placed a moratorium on vacation rentals pending a study of the matter, and the planning board is expected to consider the results of that study at Wednesday's meeting.
The county is looking for ways to provide "standards and procedures for the rental of privately owned residential structures used as vacation homes and rented to transient occupants; to minimize adverse effects of short-term rental uses on surrounding residential neighborhoods, and preserve the character of neighborhoods in which vacation home use occurs."
The county commission acted after receiving complaints about noise and other things associated with short-term rentals, especially of houses around Lake Lanier.
About 10 days ago, county officials released a list of proposed changes to the vacation-rental ordinance.
"With Lake Lanier as a nationwide tourist destination and Hall County's proximity to both the Appalachian mountains and the metro area, short-term rentals have become fairly popular here," Commissioner Scott Gibbs said at the time. "While we welcome the economic impact that tourism may spur, we have to find a more efficient way to regulate this industry in order to minimize any adverse effects that occur on surrounding permanent, residential areas."
The planning commission meets at 5:15 at the county government center.
