Estes, Larimer input sought on short-term rentals

ESTES PARK – Larimer County is seeking guidance from stakeholders and other members of the public as it updates its land-use code concerning short-term rentals — an issue vital to tourism-dependent areas such as the Estes Valley, where vacation-home rentals are common.

Short-term rentals have both advantages and challenges in communities. They provide options for visitors and increased revenues for owners, but communities have become concerned with the associated traffic, noise, commercial activity in neighborhoods and fire safety. Also, the Board of Larimer County Commissioners has identified the loss of affordable housing as an issue, especially for seasonal workers in the…