To the Editor:
Please publish this letter I read before the Mesquite City Council during its Oct 23 public hearing before it passed three ordinances allowing short-term or vacation rentals:
Dear Council: I am writing you today regarding the transient rental of property in the Hawkridge Condominiums. Allowing transient rental of these units puts the homeowners in residence” at risk. The following are just two examples to confirm my point.
In 2010 a “homeowner in residence” went outside to check on a noisy commotion. She found the person causing the problem. He was drunk and chased her back into her residence with a gun! The police were called. I am sure there is a police report if you wish to check on the validity for this incident. He was a transient renter.
In 2011 a “homeowner in residence” went down to take a dip in our swimming pool. When she saw human waste floating in the pool, she changed her mind. There were transient renters in the pool at the time.
There are many other accounts of the lack of civility to which these transient renters contribute; none of which are isolated incidents. When we have transient renters, we find garbage, cigarette butts and animal waste in our parking lot and on our grounds. Transient renters treat the “homes and property” in Hawkridge with no respect at all. If this is allowed to continue, the property values in Hawkridge will plummet even more than they have in this recession.
We are not a hotel. We do not have 24-hour service for housekeeping, food or more importantly, security. Our tax code is classified under real property tax. Our zoning is classified as “residential“ MF not commercial. And as far as Clark County is concerned, rentals must be for 6 months or longer.
Transient rentals definitely pose health and safety issue for all of us who call Hawkridge home. We do not want transient rentals allowed here!
Most Sincerely,
Jacqui Wandersee
Mesquite