I own several properties in Joe Graham's district and it's utterly insane that he's encouraging the county to blow money on stupid lawsuits because he didn't get his tourist-area exceptions on STVR's. Yeah, Tiftonia is great for tourism: that's why there's 1,200 hotel rooms off those exits. These hotels employ easily 200 people, nearly all of whom live within walking distance - his own voters. They're all paid to maintain an ancient system of safeguards against bad behavior: why get rid of that?
I've been called out to my Browns Ferry rental properties to deal with nearby vacation rentals welcoming drunk street racers and partiers on what's always been a quiet street with an elementary school. Joe's reason for why STVR-speculators should sue the organization he's financially responsible for is hilarious: "but they bought properties on the premise they could hock them out like hotel rooms." What about literally all of your voters who bought our houses thinking we'd be at least a few miles away from the nearest hotel/motel? Dude, zoning.
As someone who owns 45 properties in the county and has been in this business here for 10 years: STVR's are a simple, flagrant zoning violation and should be dealt with as such. Using residential property for commercial purposes is not allowed already. There is the rezoning procedure in place that gives all neighbors a voice on this stuff. Anyone mad about the ban can file to rezone. Good luck, I'll see you there.
If you, reader, as a property investor, want to get into the hotel business, there are like eight for sale right now between Etowah and Higdon, Al. If you're like me and you can't afford them, then it appears we are both too poor to enter the hotel business. No, that trailer on Kelly's Ferry cannot be a hotel. It doesn't matter how close it is to Ruby Falls. Stop it. Don't call Joe. You lost this one, now go undercut market rent and move people in.
Or sell your stuff to me so I can.
Chris Wicker