Topics for this post:
- South of Harbor Shoreline Study
- Short-term Rentals (Airbnb)
South of Harbor Shoreline Study
As I mentioned at the end of last week’s post, the city is looking into planning for the shoreline from the harbor to the Chamber of Commerce. The funding of $405,000 is coming from three grants and doesn’t use city tax money or incur any debt. The bulk of the grant money is coming from federal funds and energy companies trying to offset their environmental impact, but isn’t any more nefarious than that.
The goals of the study are:
- Creating plans to help the area handle changing lake levels better
- Improving public access and use of the shoreline, especially near the City’s utilities and public works area complex
- Planting native vegetation along the shoreline to enhance the environment
- Adding “green infrastructure” to manage stormwater runoff along Memorial Drive
Given that we’ve done work with Stantec before, I suspect this was just a series of meetings between Stantec and Mr. Heckenlaible (Director of Public Works). Regardless, if you want to see what we asked them to do, you’ll see it regurgitated starting on page 13-14 of the work session packet (before it starts explaining the Tasks). You’ll almost certainly hear Mr. Heckenlaible explain the reasoning for why we’re doing this at the start of the meeting, and that’s probably a more enlightening way to get the info.
Short Term Rentals (Airbnbs)
For over a year, our city leaders have fought against common-sense restrictions on outside investors snapping up homes to turn into Airbnbs. Why? Because they’re putting tourism dollars and room tax revenue ahead of Two Rivers families.
Right now, there are 400 vacation homes and 77 Airbnbs in Two Rivers… 77 homes that could have gone to local families who would shop here, eat here, volunteer here, and send their kids to our schools. Instead, what do we have? Short-term rentals that belong mostly to outside investors profiting off us and funneling money right out of town.
How Airbnbs Are Draining Our Community
Airbnbs aren’t a “fresh idea” bringing prosperity – they’re hollowing out our neighborhoods. Remember when business owners thrived because locals were here year-round? Those days are vanishing. Our school was built for 1,500 kids and now we only have around 500. Entire blocks are dark most of the year. Young families are getting outbid by big-city cash, driving up housing prices and your property taxes.
Think about it… The council claims STRs don’t inflate home values, but every economist and study says otherwise. We’re paying for it in higher taxes while 10% of our homes sit empty. It’s not just nostalgia, this is about what Two Rivers will be in the future. Will we keep raising families, or will we be just another tourist stop with no real community at its core?
Families Are Important
Two Rivers was built on industry, strong families, and neighborhoods where kids played until dark and parents volunteered in schools and local clubs. That’s what made this place great. Every time another house becomes a part-time vacation home for someone from Chicago or a makeshift hotel next door to people that need to get up and work the next day, that sense of community slips away. If we don’t protect what’s left, we won’t have much of a hometown left at all.
Nearly 100 Residents Agree That We Need Change
The city council loves to say they’ve heard from people who “love Airbnbs,” but let’s be honest – it’s a small handful of people who are usually the ones profiting from them. Meanwhile, with minimal effort we’ve gathered nearly 100 signatures from residents demanding stricter regulations. The council’s attempt at a pro-Airbnb petition went nowhere, because most people want our neighborhoods to stay family-focused, not sold off to become mini-hotels.
What City Council is Doing Instead
Instead of defending neighborhoods, the council is working tomorrow to remove family-centered language from our residential zoning laws. Those laws were meant to keep neighborhoods stable and livable. Stripping them makes homes more attractive to investors, more strangers cycle through, and more full-time residents pay the price.
They’ve also rigging the complaint process to protect these outside investors. In most Wisconsin cities, if a police call against an Airbnb is a valid complaint, their license can be revoked. Not here. Even with a conviction, it still has to go before a pro-Airbnb city council that already sides with investors. How is that fair to residents?
The Original Intent of Residential Zoning
Residential zoning was created to protect the character of our neighborhoods. Yes, the legal language about “families” might be outdated, but the spirit was to ensure stability and welcome families. One of the proposals on the table would allow up to 20 tourists in what’s supposed to be a single-family home. That’s not good for neighbors, kids, or anyone trying to maintain a peaceful street.
Complaints Are Ignored
If you file a complaint about noise or disruptive behavior from an Airbnb, don’t expect much. It’s nearly impossible to get an Airbnb license revoked here, no matter how many disturbances they cause. The council has positioned itself as the investor’s friend, which leaves full-time residents hung out to dry. Make calls to complain, and the police and council members mock you and say, “well I wouldn’t have called for that.”
What It Should Be
We deserve a city that stands up for neighborhoods, families, and fair rules that keep dollars here in the city at our businesses. Tourism can be part of our economy, but it shouldn’t dominate it or gut our neighborhoods.
Here’s what that looks like:
Owner-Occupied STRs in Residential Areas
If someone wants to rent out a room in their own home or the other half of a duplex they live in, that’s reasonable. When the owner is onsite, they’re accountable, and the money stays in Two Rivers. It’s a commonsense approach that respects property rights and keeps our neighborhoods safe and friendly.
But letting outside investors buy our homes to use as hotels? That’s where we draw the line. We’re not anti-business – we’re pro-Two Rivers. Outside investors shouldn’t profit off our backs, driving up housing costs and leaving permanent residents to shoulder the community’s expenses by raising taxes.
Fixing the Complaint Process
We need a fair, straightforward complaint process where legitimate police complaints – not court convictions – lead to real consequences. It should work like it does in most Wisconsin cities: Two violations and the license is suspended, no political favoritism involved. Put these decisions in the hands of zoning officials, not a city council that’s too cozy to investor interests.
Final Word
Two Rivers can’t just sit back and hope tourism will solve all our problems. If we turn into a revolving-door vacation spot, we’ll lose the families and American small-town life we treasure. Our city council should protect the place we call home and not sell it out to whoever has the biggest wallet.
Let’s make Two Rivers a place where people put down roots, support local businesses year-round, and keep a neighborly spirit alive – friends who help each other and look out for one another. We owe it to our children and grandchildren, and to every resident who still believes in the potential of this city. Let’s speak up and demand a Two Rivers that puts its people first.
It’s time to tell the council how you feel.
Because the Airbnb owners and realtors are doing it right now.
https://www.two-rivers.org/citycouncil/webform/contact-council
Meeting Agenda Packet
You can read the full packet that council members get here:
https://mccmeetings.blob.core.usgovcloudapi.net/tworivrswi-pubu/MEET-Packet-551e1e323f20498da3a8904ab53cb3d1.pdf
We, the residents of Two Rivers call on our city leaders to take action to protect the character, affordability, and local businesses of our community. Short-term rentals and vacation homes have grown in number, raising property values and making it harder for families to afford homes. This shift impacts our city’s long-term stability, weakening the close-knit spirit that defines Two Rivers. We have already lost many of the places that made our town special - major employers, stores, restaurants, the pool and the high school - and now the community itself is at risk of becoming just a destination rather than a home. We urge the city council to: Let’s preserve Two Rivers as a community where families can thrive, neighbors know one another, schools and businesses are filled with long-term residents.
