RENTAL PLAN SENT BACK TO STAFF

Commission sets hearing, agrees longtime issue needs to be tackled

The pitched debate over shortterm rentals returned to City Hall Thursday following a two-year hiatus as San Diego planning commissioners considered a proposal that would potentially slash the volume of such rentals by as much as 70 percent.

While no vote was taken on the substance of the proposed ordinance, the Planning Commission agreed at the conclusion of the more than three-hour hearing to send the matter back to city staff to address concerns related mostly to technical issues of how the regulations would be administered and enforced. A hearing date has been set for Dec. 3 to revisit the proposal.

Where there did appear to be consensus was on the need to finally resolve an issue that has long bedeviled city leaders. The proposed ordinance before the commission originated from City Councilwoman Jennifer Campbell, who represents many of the beach communities and was able to enlist the support of Expedia, the parent company of the HomeAway and VRBO home-sharing platforms, and Unite

Here Local 30, the labor union that represents hotel workers. Airbnb, the dominant home-sharing platform in San Diego, believes the proposal is overly restrictive and has argued for a higher annual cap.

“This is a sticky wicket if there ever was one,” said Commissioner Douglas Austin. “I’m hearing arguments from both sides, but one of the things that does need to be done is I do believe we can’t continue