I write as the president of the Summit County Resort Homes, Inc. a Colorado nonprofit company. We are litigating the Summit Board of County Commissioners.

I am responding to Ms. Julie Strzeszkowski, who seems to attack second-home owners in Summit County, without disclosing that she works for the same county that is being litigated by our group.

Her letter makes some strong points, but it also highlights the deep tension at the heart of Summit County’s housing crisis.

Yes, second-home owners enjoy property rights, but those rights exist within a broader community that depends on a stable local workforce. Without some reasonable restrictions, short-term rentals can push local housing prices beyond the reach of workers who keep Summit County running. On the flip side, many second-home owners also contribute to the local economy and pay property taxes that fund services, including the very workforce housing she may live in. Her county salary also is subsidized by these second-home owners.

The reality is, both sides of this issue have valid concerns. Property owners who rely on short-term rental income to afford their homes face financial strain when regulations change. Meanwhile, full-time residents struggle to find affordable housing because of high demand and limited supply.

Her suggestion to sell, get another job, or long-term rent is practical — but it’s not a one-size-fits-all solution. Many second-home owners bought into the market with the expectation that short-term renting would help offset costs. Changing the rules mid-game is bound to cause friction.

Rather than dismissing second-home owners’ concerns, the community should seek balanced policies that support both homeowners and local workers. 

Expanding workforce housing by having the county tap into their 15,000-acre green space trust,  develop a tri-county master plan to address local employee housing incentivizing long-term rentals, and refining balanced short-term rental regulations could all be part of the solution. Instead of deepening the divide by having a war of words in Summit Daily, perhaps it’s time for Summit County to find more common ground.