(4/23) Carroll Valley residents in certain areas can now more easily rent their homes to vacationers.
During its April meeting, the borough council unanimously approved vacation rentals a use by right in the agriculture, residential low density (R2), and residential medium density (R3) districts. Previously, homeowners were required to seek a special exemption from the borough’s zoning hearing board.
Some residents in the residential (R1) district now want the same right. The Senseney family, 201 Country Club Trail, requested the borough council amend its zoning ordinance, which currently prohibits vacation rentals in that area.
"We feel this is unfair," Beth Senseney wrote to the council. "Carroll Valley has many attractions for vacationers and the closest properties to these attractions and the ones that are exempt from providing short term rentals – vacation rentals to Carroll Valley’s visiting guests while other properties in the borough are allowed to do this."
Hazlett said the Senseneys are not alone in their quest.
"We continue to be inundated with the popularity of vacation rentals in Carroll Valley," Hazlett said.
Hazlett said some people run afoul of the law and operate vacation rentals in the R1 district.
"I know of one that is being run in that neighborhood," Hazlett said. "I told them point blank they were not allowed to do it."
Hazlett, who also serves as the borough zoning officer, said he plans to more stringently enforce the rules. Hazlett told the council they could change the law if they wished.
"Those are the more marketable places because people are coming here for ski chalets and woody things," Hazlett said. "I don’t have an opinion on it one way or another but I stressed and I continue to stress that I do not think it is good to allow it everywhere."
Hazlett noted he is not concerned about full-time Carroll Valley residents renting their home as much as he is about corporations buying properties and renting them.
The borough council will ask the planning commission to review the rules and recommend a change if they deem appropriate.
On a similar topic, Hazlett suggested the council require owners of permitted vacation rentals to register their property with the borough. The permit should expire either annually or biannually, Hazlett said, to ensure the contact information is up-to-date. Enforcement of the permit requirement would not be cumbersome, Hazlett said.
"Unlike other things that are hard to find, like home-based businesses, these aren’t hard to find," Hazlett said.
