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Commission approves short-term rental at 201 N. Hardy after neighbors raise concerns about past party
Summary
The Planning Commission approved a short-term rental permit for 201 North Hardy Avenue with standard conditions including noise monitoring and life-safety inspection; one neighbor alleged prior large parties and police activity but applicants said they shut listings and worked with Airbnb.
The Independence Planning Commission on Sept. 9 approved a short-term rental permit for 201 North Hardy Avenue with standard conditions that include confirmed noise monitoring, posting of a fire-evacuation plan and a life-safety inspection before a business license is issued.
Staff described the property in northwest Independence as a Cape Cod–style dwelling on approximately 9,148 square feet that has three bedrooms and three off-street parking spaces (a single-car carport and two additional spaces in front of a detached garage). Planning staff recommended approval limited to three bedrooms and a maximum of six occupants.
Applicant Adrianna Bobbitt said the permit ‘‘means a great deal to us’’ and described renovating an unlivable house and the family’s desire to host responsibly and support local businesses. ‘‘We have put our heart and soul into this house,’’ Adrianna Bobbitt said.
A neighbor, Mark Pocock of 910 North Claremont, spoke in opposition and told the commission he believed large parties tied to the property had produced ‘‘well over a hundred people,’’ police chases and guns being confiscated in previous incidents. Pocock said neighbors on the block were not supportive of the rental. Planning staff said the property had been on Airbnb but that staff had contacted the owner to remove the listing while the permit was processed; staff said they had no internal record of the police events described.
Applicant Nathaniel Bobbitt told the commission that he had reviewed security-camera footage for an incident at the house and had not seen police interaction on the night in question. He said the hosts reported the disruptive guests to Airbnb, documented property damage and charged the guests for cleanup; they also said they disabled the listing after staff contacted them about permitting requirements. The applicants said a continuous noise-monitoring device had been invoiced and installed and that the owners live about 10 minutes away and can respond quickly if there is a problem.
Commissioners asked staff and the applicants questions about driveway configuration, basement access (the applicants said basement access is locked), the location of neighbors and the noise-monitoring installation. No legal protest was filed; staff confirmed notices went to properties within the 185-foot notification radius required by local code.
The motion to approve case number 25412 passed unanimously: Commissioners Nesbitt, Ferguson, Ashbaugh, O’Neil, Torres, Young and Chair Wylie voted yes. Planning staff will verify installation of the continuous noise monitor and complete life-safety inspections before issuing a business license.
