Jessi Stone / Smokey Mountain News
Following the ban of short-term rentals within the R-1 Residential area of Highland, North Carolina, a group of local homeowners have started a group called the “Save Highland Committee.” The group released press stating that they had hired Asheville law firm Allen Stahl + Kilbourne to defend the rights of homeowners whose livelihoods depended on travel, tourism, and the vested rights of homeowners.
The “Save Highland Committee” states that the town of Highland has allowed for residents to use their homes as vacation rentals for decades and several property owners have made substantial investments based off those policies. A Go Fund Me page for the legal fees was developed and is currently at $117,000 out of their $200,000 goal.