Horseshoe Bay to control short-term rental rules

Horseshoe Bay wants visitors to have a good time – but not at the expense of permanent residents or second home owners.

So Tuesday, Jan. 17, city council members approved an ordinance aimed at controlling shortterm rentals to avoid the potential pitfalls of what one speaker at an earlier hearing described as “bachelor parties, bachelorette parties and micro weddings.”

Residents complained at that hearing that week- end partygoers have float ed beneath private boat lifts and worry about children getting into residential pools without supervision.

The ordinance approved Tuesday would be effective immediately but will have a “run-up” peri- From Page 1

od aimed at complete enforcement this summer.

The city is contracting with a company called Granicus that Development Services Director Sally McFeron said has all the resources needed to do the job.

“They’re going to be the ones that are watching the whole entire internet VR (vacation rentals) videos, there’s over 60 websites in which people list houses, they’re going to be watching that; they’re going to be notifying the owners, telling them that we have an ordinance, telling them that they need to register, they’re taking care of everything,” McFeron said.

“So the city staff is basically monitoring that particular system.”

The deal will cost Horseshoe Bay $22,817.55 a year.

McFeron said the city will put together a “major public relations campaign” to let owners of short-term rental properties, and permanent residents as well, know about the new ordinance.

Advertising a property for short-term rental without getting a city permit could cost $200 a day for the first violation and run up to $650 a day after the third violation before the city suspends the permit.

McFeron said that structure is in line with other cities’ short-term rental ordinances.

Monarch Ridge

The council Tuesday also made final the an nexation of a planned development known as Monarch Ridge.

The development of 308.36 acres, is adjacent to State Hwy. 71. Developers told the council last year during preliminary talks that Monarch Ridge wouldn’t impinge on the city’s water use agreement with the Lower Colorado River Authority.

The council assigned a temporary zoning clas- sification of Recreational to the development but planners said a permanent zoning should be assigned at the council’s February meeting.

That’s scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 21 at 3 p.m. in the city council chambers at 1 Community Dr.