Arvada residents urge stricter short-term rental rules after May 9 drive-by shooting

Several Arvada residents told the City Council on May 20 that a short‑term rental on their block has become a recurring nuisance and a safety hazard after a May 9 party they say ended in a drive‑by shooting.

“On May 9, '10:30 PM, we had a drive by shooting on our street. There’s an Airbnb that opened up about 6 months ago,” resident Jamie Layer told the council during the public‑comment period. She said the neighborhood is “a residential area with families, with old people” and asked the city to “shut down this Airbnb on our street.”

Neighbors gave additional details about the same incident. Michael Lair said he heard gunfire from his second‑floor living room, watched a car drive past, loop and return, and later discovered a neighbor injured. “I walked a young lady over to a neighbor’s house where she could take refuge because her face was all bloody after getting beat up at the house,” he said. Lair told the council the rental is marketed as a high‑end party house, “It’s got a hot tub. It’s got a game room. Charges $500 plus a…