Zoning board approves short‑term rental at 51 Locust Street with conditions

The Columbia Borough Zoning Hearing Board voted to approve an application by Chantelle Wilchcomb to operate a short-term rental at 51 Locust Street, an attached structure, subject to conditions the board read into the record. The board's approval included specific conditions on historic integrity, participation in local historic tours on request, adherence to the representations in the application letter, compliance with the borough's rental-registration and inspection requirements, and reimbursement of one-half of the court reporter fee.

Applicant Chantelle Wilchcomb said she and her husband recently purchased the home and planned to use it intermittently for family stays and otherwise rent it as a short-term rental. "The maximum would be 6" guests, she told the board when asked about occupancy limits, and she said the property manager would act as the local contact. Property manager Karen Travers testified about property-management practices and said the firm manages about 30 properties; when asked how quickly she could respond to problems, she said roughly 30–35 minutes depending on location.

The solicitor recited the borough's short-term rental rules in section 220-30(a)(48) and confirmed the applicant requested a variance to allow the use in an attached structure and that the property provides two off-street parking spaces. The board's imposed conditions include: maintaining historic exterior integrity, considering participation in the borough's historic tours, complying with the written representations submitted with the application, complying with the borough's rental registration and inspection program and ensuring the property is cleaned, inspected, and supplied with required materials after each occupancy.

Before voting, the solicitor and board clarified operational conditions that the applicant agreed to on the record: occupancy limits, no parties or events, no recreational-vehicle occupancy, posting of owner/manager contact information and local emergency contacts, installation of a knockbox with keys, and a requirement to email or fax occupancy lists to the borough prior to each stay.

After deliberation in executive session, the board returned to the public meeting, read the conditions aloud and approved the application by roll call. The solicitor reminded the applicant conditions are binding on current and successor owners and enforceable as zoning conditions. The board also required payment of one-half of the court reporter's appearance fee in accordance with the Municipalities Planning Code.