Santa Cruz County is considering changes that would allow visitor lodging to become permanent housing.
The new rules would legalize something that has been going on for many years in Santa Cruz County. The hope is to increase the amount of affordable housing as rooms in the properties already converted typically rent for $700 to $1,200 per month,
The county says that so far, the owners of nine properties have applied for the proposed rezoning, including the Bayview Hotel and Adobe Hacienda in Aptos and the Toll House Resort in Felton.
The nine properties would offer a total of 72 permanent rooms.
