The Columbia Borough Zoning Hearing Board voted to deny a request to permit short‑term rentals at 515 Chestnut Street.

Applicant Wayne R. Williams Jr. told the board he has been battling cancer and seeks permission to use the house as a professionally managed short‑term rental (Airbnb/Vrbo) to generate needed income. Williams said the property has a two‑car garage and two exterior parking spaces, proposed a four‑night minimum and seven‑night maximum stay, and offered a set of house rules that would prohibit loud music after 9 p.m., limit vehicles to two, require trash set‑out, and restrict pool access after 9 p.m. He said he would either manage the property himself or hire a vetted management company, install exterior cameras, provide photographs and occupancy listings to the borough, and expected Airbnb’s insurance and neighborhood complaint mechanisms to help enforce rules.

Neighbors and parties with standing — including Jerry Musser and David Rupp — testified that the block is primarily owner‑occupied, that street and alley parking is constrained, and that the physical layout makes Williams’ rear‑garage access and two‑car plan impractical in practice. Neighbors expressed concern that conditions and stipulations are often not enforced, that approving one short‑term rental sets a precedent that could erode residential character and property values, and that enforcement burdens would fall to residents and borough staff.

The planning commission told the board it reviewed Williams’ materials on December 16 and concluded the submission lacked sufficient information for the commission to make a recommendation to the zoning hearing board.

During testimony Williams said he would install a keypad for rear entry, require tenants to use the rear garage to access the property, provide exterior camera footage if needed, and said he was prepared to accept a condition limiting an approval to his ownership of the property. Neighbors disputed whether tenants would follow complex house rules or the directional garage access plan and presented slides and measurements to support their concerns about maneuvering and parking capacity.

After closing the record and meeting in executive session, the board took a roll call and voted to deny the application for 515 Chestnut Street. The denial records that the board considered the applicant’s proposed mitigation but found neighbor testimony about parking, enforcement and potential neighborhood impact persuasive. The board noted that written decision will be entered into the record and that the applicant may appeal under the applicable law.

Next steps: the board set the next hearing for January 28, 2026 at 7 p.m. in the Conference Room; any appeal of the zoning hearing board’s decision would proceed through Lancaster County Court of Common Pleas.