Bed & Breakfast establishments have been around for years...and years. An older term is tourist home. Some are using Airbnb; however, this trademarked name is specific to one company. We're sure the list could go on, but whatever you want to call these short-term rentals, you can't deny how controversial they are.
They became legal in Florence between seven and nine years ago, depending on whom you want to believe. Now the city is attempting to pass new regulations for the rentals, and several communities are up in arms over the small businesses, particularly it seems in Forrest Hills.
A Florence city councilman tells us this:
The city said ok to these many years ago when they started issuing permits for them, but people are thinking that we are doing this and we are not. We are doing what the building department and planning department asked us to do and that's approval of an amendment to the city code that defines them. Should’ve been done years ago when they were first allowed but here we are and this council is considered the bad guys. By doing what the departments are asking it gives teeth to the regulations we just passed regarding short term rentals and protects our neighborhoods from any bad players. I wish the public understood we are only trying to keep their neighborhoods safe. Again these were ok’d years ago, we are not voting to do that.
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Take a Gander at This Trio!!!
