[Weekend Pundit]

The Gilford Planning Board is still plugging away at a zoning ordinance for STRs. At the public hearing earlier this year the Planning Board got a lot of great input from the public and it realized it needed to do more work.

One thing I haven't seen mentioned is that the proposed Gilford STR ordinance differentiates between owner-occupied STRs and 'commercial' STRs. The requirements are different.

One thing that has been mentioned is the town's inability to clamp down on existing 'distributed hotels'. The Working Stiffs v Portsmouth NH Supreme Court decision declared commercial STRs are hotels. That means Gilford could require all of the commercial STRs in residential zones would need to go before the Gilford ZBA for a variance since hotels are not allowed in residential zones under Gilford Zoning ordinances. However, town counsel has suggested using other means since using the ZBA could tie up the town in court for years.

At Town Meeting voting Gilford voters approved a change in the town's Noise Ordinance which removed some exemptions which makes it easier for the PD to quiet things down. There was an exemption for 'unamplified human voices'. But those 'unamplified human voices' can be really loud, particularly after midnight. I speak from experience, having had to deal with a 'party house' at my previous home in Gunstock Acres. The police could ask them to quiet down, but couldn't do anything if they didn't. Now they can. This will help the town address one of the biggest issues brought up by residents dealing with STRs: Noise.

The town is also working on updating parking ordinances to limit on-street parking as an adjunct to the STR zoning ordinance which also has some parking requirements, particularly involving overnight parking.