Sonoma City Council Worried Rental Sites Like Airbnb Would Ruin Town's Character; Votes Them Down
SONOMA (KCBS)— Sonoma's City Council has blocked a plan to allow residents to rent out rooms in their homes on sites like Airbnb and VRBO.
The Press Democrat reports the council voted the plan down 3 to 1 on a recommendation from the planning commission.
Council-members tell the paper they were worried that allowing this kind of vacation rental could ruin the character of the town's small neighborhoods and possibly take more rental homes off the market.
Sonoma Mayor David Cook had supported the ordinance - saying residents should be allowed to supplement their incomes and that it could have brought even MORE tourist dollars into Sonoma.