OCR Text |
Show Page 2 The Ogden Valley News Volume XXX Issue III April 15, 2023 The Ogden Valley News Staff: Shanna Francis Tel: 801-745-2688 Fax: 801-745-2688 Cell: 801-791-4387 E-Mail: slfrancis@digis.net Jeannie Wendell Tel: 801-745-2879 Fax: 801-745-2879 E-Mail: crwendell@digis.net crwendell@msn.com Opinions expressed by advertisers, columnists or letters to the editor are not necessarily the opinions of the owners and staff of The Ogden Valley News. Guidelines for Letters to the Editor Letters should be 300 words or less. Letters must be signed and the address of the writer submitted. The Ogden Valley News reserves the right to edit or decline printing of any submissions. Announcements Sought As a community service, The Ogden Valley News will print local birth, wedding, obituary, anniversary and missionary farewell & homecoming and Eagle Scout announcements free of charge. We invite residents to send their announcements to: The Ogden Valley News PO BOX 522 EDEN UT 84310 If you would like your submitted items returned, please send a stamped, selfaddressed envelope. The Ogden Valley News, while respecting all property received, will take no responsibility for lost or misplaced items. Please remember to keep a copy for yourself. Invitation for Articles The staff of The Ogden Valley News welcomes the submission of articles by our readership. We invite you to submit local historical accounts or biographies, articles pertaining to contemporary issues, and/or other material that may be of interest to our readers. We also invite you to submit to the paper, or notify the staff of local events. Awards that have been earned by the reader, family members, neighbors or friends are also sought. While the staff of The Ogden Valley News invites the submittal of information and articles, we reserve the right to select which material will be considered for publication. All material, to be considered, must be submitted with the full name, address and telephone number of the person submitting the material. The OgdenValley News’liability on account of errors in, or omissions of, advertising shall in no event exceed the amount of charges for the advertising omitted or the space occupied by the error. The Ogden Valley News does not endorse, promote or encourage the purchase or sale of any product or service advertised in this newspaper. Advertisements are the sole responsibility of the advertiser. The Ogden Valley News hereby disclaims all liability for any damage suffered as the result of any advertisement in this newspaper. The Ogden Valley News is not responsible for any claims or representations made in advertisements in this newspaper. The Ogden Valley News has the sole authority to edit and locate any classified advertisement as deemed appropriate. It also reserves the right to refuse any advertising. Note: The contents of The Ogden Valley News are copyrighted. To protect this publication and its contributors from unlawful copying, written permission is required before any individual or company engages in the reproduction or distribution of its contents, by any means, without first obtaining written permission from the owners of this publication. The deadline for the OVN May 1 issue is April 15. Guest Commentary Vacation Rentals in Residential Areas Harm the Community By David Willis Vacation rentals—also known as STRs— have been a popular choice for travelers looking for a home away from home. However, their impact on the local community is often overlooked. In residential neighborhoods, vacation rentals can cause harm to the community in several ways. Here are 10 points to consider: 1. Loss of students in schools: Vacation rentals can cause a loss of students in schools, as families move away to make room for vacation rentals. This can lead to reduced school budgets and fewer resources for students. In Ogden, there are 500 single-family homes that have been converted into nightly rentals in residential areas. Experts say that there are two children per home, so that would mean 1,000 kids not in Ogden City schools. The approximate cost for each lost student is between $8,000 to $13,500, meaning Ogden City schools lose at least $10 million in revenue. 2. Increased crime: Vacation rentals can attract more tourists, which can lead to an increase in crime in residential areas. Tourists may not be familiar with the neighborhood and could be seen as easy targets for criminals. 3. Reduced sense of community: Vacation rentals can disrupt the sense of community in a neighborhood. When there are fewer long-term residents, it can be harder to build relationships and create a strong community. 4. Noise pollution: Vacation rentals can lead to noise pollution in residential areas. Loud parties, late-night music and other disruptive activities can disturb the peace and quiet of the neighborhood. 5. Traffic congestion: Vacation rentals can lead to increased traffic congestion in residential areas. More tourists mean more cars on the road, which can make it harder for residents to get around. 6. Reduced availability of long-term rentals: Vacation rentals can take long-term rentals off the market, making it harder for people to find affordable housing. This can lead to an increase in housing costs for residents. 7. Reduction in owner-occupied homes: Vacation rentals can reduce the number of owner-occupied homes in a neighborhood. When investors purchase properties for the sole purpose of renting them out as vacation rentals, it can lead to fewer families living in the area. 8. Strain on local resources: Vacation rentals can put a strain on local resources, such as water, electricity, and sewage. When more people are using these resources, it can lead to shortages and increased costs for residents. 9. Tax evasion: Vacation rentals can be used to evade taxes, as some owners may not report their rental income. This can lead to a loss of revenue for local government, which can impact the community as a whole. 10. Reduced quality of life: Vacation rentals can lead to a reduced quality of life for residents in a neighborhood. When there are more tourists and fewer long-term residents, it can be harder to maintain a clean and safe environment. In conclusion, vacation rentals, or STRs, can cause harm to residential neighborhoods in several ways. From a reduction in long-term rentals to increased crime and traffic congestion, the impact on the community can be significant. It’s important for local governments to consider the impact of vacation rentals on the community and take steps to regulate them appropriately. By doing so, they can help to maintain a high quality of life for residents and preserve the character of neighborhoods. In addition, it impacts hotels and restaurants since people cook at rentals instead of dining out. It also reduces the likelihood of attracting more major flag hotels since they will not want or be able to compete with an endless number of single-family homes being turned into vacation rentals. Note: David Willis moved to Utah in 2008 and has established a successful career as a real estate agent serving Ogden and the rest of Northern Utah in residential and commercial real estate. Peterson Family Announce 60-Year Anniversary Open House Family and friends are invited to join the J. Orville Peterson family for an open house acknowledging the 60th anniversary of the bazooka explosion that occurred in the Peterson Huntsville home on April 20, 1963. It will be held at the Ogden Valley Library, 131 S. 7400 E., Huntsville, on Saturday, April 15, 2023 from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. There will be light refreshments and some memorabilia to view. The three Peterson brothers who were critically injured will be talking and sharing their experiences of the explosion and of their lives with the disabilities that resulted from surviving the explosion. They would also be interested in hearing your stories remembering the explosion. On April 23, 1963, just three days after the explosion, Air Force demolition experts positively identified the exploding device that critically injured three of the Peterson sons—James, Donald, and Orville—as a 3.5 bazooka shell. The shell was later traced back to a National Guard or Marine Reserve unit that had been undergoing training exercises in the foothills south of Huntsville Town where the bazooka shell had been found by the Peterson youth. Shortly after the explosion, the government posted a sign reading, “Authorized Target Area. Keep Out Until Further Notice.” Whether you have been formally introduced to a member of the Peterson family, or not, all are welcome to attend the open house. |