HomeMy WebLinkAboutWRITTEN RESPONSE 4 - Jeff & Kara Downs 8.12.22 - 720 Nina Dr - 22-005201
Tawnya Grover
From:Jeff Downs <jeffkaradowns@yahoo.com>
Sent:Sunday, August 14, 2022 2:45 PM
To:Tawnya Grover
Subject:Opposition letter to zoning change at 742 Nina Drive
To Whom It May Concern,
Our names are Jeff and Kara Downs. We live at 720 Nina Drive in Rexburg. We live 2 doors down from the
house in question. We love having Wendy Heder as a neighbor and have appreciated all she does for our
community and her willingness to help others.
We have lived in our home since February of 1998 and wanted to share some of the concerns we have
regarding the proposed rezoning:
We feel that if this change is made, other Airbnbs will follow in the neighborhood; While Wendy may
prove a responsible overseer of her property, others may not be–this cannot be guaranteed by anyone.
Over the years we have seen multiple homes become rentals and rarely is the property taken care
of. The old adage, if you don't own it, you don't have a tendency to take care of it, has been proven
true time and time again over the years.
When we moved into the neighborhood, these homes were zoned as single-family dwellings and we do
not want to see this change. We want to know who is in our neighborhood, have a sense of
community, and we want to keep our children safe from strangers that come in and out of the
neighborhood. This has been difficult enough with the homes that are currently being rented. We feel
that multiple Airbnb will only exacerbate the problem.
We are concerned this rezoning will decrease our property value.
We feel the city has an obligation to protect its residents and their property and honor the zoning that
was initially granted at the time of purchase.
Community subdivisions, where local families reside, should be protected from short-term rentals (we
have the same concerns over long-term rentals).
We acknowledge the benefits that come from this endeavor to Wendy but feel the short-term benefits
for one individual will have long-lasting/unforeseeable effects for everyone else in the neighborhood.
Please do not grant this zoning change.
Sincerely,
Jeff and Kara Downs