Editor’s Note: Perhaps in response to an urgent appeal sent Friday to the membership of the Indian River Neighborhood Association, Vero Beach City Council members Craig Fletcher and Pilar Turner have already begun receiving emails from citizens urging them to appeal the Code Enforcement Board’s 3-2 ruling ending the City’s ban on short-term rentals. The Council is expected to address the issues at its Sept. 3 meeting, to begin at 6 p.m.
Council members Jay Kramer and Richard Winger have already said they would support a motion to appeal the Code Enforcement Board’s decision.
Because Tracy Carroll and her husband, John, were cited for violating the City’s code, the Vice Mayor will have to recuse herself from the Council’s discussion and vote, should a motion be made to appeal the Board’s ruling.
The following email was sent yesterday to Turner and Fletcher from a resident who said he lived for a time next door to a Seagrape Lane home the Carrolls once owned and rented on a short-term basis.
Dear Ms. Turner and Mr. Fletcher,
The decision to allow Vero Beach to turn into a rental community in competition with hotels must be fought.
I strongly urge you resist it.
There are fundamental issues at stake here, that in addition to the culture wars being fought about the power plant, threaten to alter the nature of this community.
In addition to the unsavoury nature of a city council member benefitting directly from this issue…(sidebar) I was a long term renter next to her short term rental property in violation of ordinances on Seagrape Lane….the appearance of conflict of interest in siding with a city council member who appears to believe that the rules are for the little people…is beneath you.
The noise, the over parking, the enormous loads of beer bottles and trash left on the street for days is pretty much all you need to know…that this was not and is not right. Especially when my landlord did not take the easy route and tried to abide by the ordinance. I always believed she had a case for damages here.
I intend to help organize citizens and hotel interests against anyone who supports short term rental homes against the interests of property owners and hotel operators in Vero Beach.
I am sure, as a homeowner, you must share our concerns. I urge you to do the right thing.
I intend to copy every hotel owner on the barrier island with this message and call them personally to take action in their interests in this matter.
John, Tom…this is not right.
Sincerely,
Robert Hall
2338 Ocean Drive
Vero Beach
Indian River Guardian 
Excellent, Mr. Hall. I hope you are victorious.
I AGREE WITH MR HALL,AND I AM GLAD SOMEONE WILL PUT A STOP TO THIS INSIDIOUS INVASION OF OUR BEAUTIFUL CITY.
WE CANNOT ALLOW A FEW GREEDY HOMEOWNERS TO SPOIL VERO BEACH.
It is excellent that we have private citizens in this community who are ready to step up and do the right thing .The fact that Tracy Carroll does not believe that the rules apply to her is yet another example of arrogance that is the basis for the community concern.
It is a really smart move to get the local hotel industry involved.
Vero Beach needs a lot more “Halls” around to stand up for homeowners who deserve the right to quiet enjoyment of their property and neighborhood!
INSTEAD OF VOTING IN FAVOR OF THE 3-2 DECISION, THE CITY COUNCIL SHOULD VOTE TO REPLACE THE THREE MEMBERS OF THE Code Enforcement Board FOR THEIR POOR JUGEMENT IN SUPPORTING THE. CARROLLS. THE WHOLE IDEA OF THIS UNTOUCHABLE DUO VIOLATING CITY ORDINANCES SO BLATANTLY SMELLS AS BAD AS THE DEAD FISH WHO DIED AS A RESULT OF “BIG SUGAR” AND THEIR POWERFUL LOBBY. HOPEFULLY THE MEMBERS OF THE VERO BEACH CITY COUNCIL WILL REMEMBER THIS DURING ELECTION TIME, OR BETTER YET DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT NOW!
Very well put! I couldn’t have said it better!
Any time the government decides it has the right to limit or control a citizens rights with the innuendo of protecting the community with no direct proof of it we all loose! The train of thought that we would suffer from piles of garbage and crowded streets of parked cars is completely absurd. The thought that the properties would be run down by visitors is even more ridiculous. First we have laws about any and all issues that have or could be raised. We are not allowed to have exposed garbage in the streets nor is garbage allowed to sit on the streets except on pick up days. The thought that cars will be parked everywhere filling the streets can not happen either as no parking is allowed on most streets in residential zones anyway. If there is parking allowed and it does become a problem then the people affected can have the ordnances changed to disallow on street parking in there area. As to the properties being run down by short term use I say look at the condition of the homes on the street now. If you look at a run down property I can guaranty it is either occupied by the owner or a long term renter or abandoned. As to the run down long term rental properties which there is a plethora of, the only time they get cleaned up is when the tenants moves out and the owners first have to look for a new tenants. This is because no one wants to rent a dump and this is true even more so when speaking of short term rental homes. These homes we are speaking of are not being rented by transients but by vacationers and business people looking for a nicer experience than a hotel. Many families coming to vacation here would much rather rent a privet home then stay in a hotel. I say thank you to Council members Jay Kramer and Richard Winger for there continued intelligent foresite.
THERE ARE LAWS ABOUT SHORT TERM RENTING! YOUR ISSUES ARE VALID , BUT THEY NEVER MENTION INVASION OF PRIVACY TO THE RESIDENTS THAT OCCUPY THE SURROUNDING RESIDENCES. IT IS THIS BREACH OF LAW THAT ALSO HAS OTHER CONSEQUENCES TO A RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD. UNLESS A CASE IS LEGALLY MADE TO CHANGE THE ZONING THEN THE LAW MUST BE OBSERVED BY EVERYONE!