Pulling up the Ladder behind us

Thank you for your continued replies and willingness to share with us. With permission, we are sharing this personal story with owners in Lake Naomi. The author’s last name has been redacted to protect our neighbors. If you have a story you'd like us to share too, please simply reply to this email for consideration.

To our Fellow Naomi and Timber Trails Neighbors,

We are strong advocates of preserving the character of Lake Naomi, as this is what drew us here in the first place! We want to protect this wonderful place and are open to any and all solutions, including deed limitations if needed.

But at the same time, it’s hard to forget that our family first fell in love with the Naomi community while visiting on a weekend rental. Something that would now become prohibited. So while we do not rent out our house, “pulling up the ladder behind us” gives us pause. In the very least, it is clear that a proposal of this magnitude warrants thoughtful discussion and deliberation, so our community can make a smart and nuanced decision together.

With that in mind, I cannot see how we as a group could responsibly approve something considering:

1. No facts have been presented (What data/metrics are informing the thresholds that were selected? How many houses are renting more than the new thresholds? How many violations have been issued to rental houses? How many have multiple strikes?)

2. No public debate has occurred. (What do the renters think are fair solutions? How many families would not be able to afford their house without certain levels of rental income? What experiences are neighbors having next to problematic houses? In what ways are the current rules insufficient to police the issues and reprimand the offenders? What other solutions are available beside deed restrictions?)

Facts and debate are prerequisites to make any quality community decision, and doubly so with something as complex as this. The best and strongest communities give space for all voices to be heard before policies are voted for. We should strive to be a community that doesn’t lose sight of what it means to be a community.

As such, we will be voting against this specific proposal, and hope our fellow community members join us. Let’s hold ourselves to a higher standard.

MW