Harris Township residents press supervisors to limit dedicated short‑term rentals; board asks Planning Commission to draft rules

Harris Township supervisors heard more than three hours of public comment on April 14 as residents and property owners clashed over whether the township should restrict dedicated short‑term rentals advertised on platforms such as Airbnb.

The matter drew large turnout from Willowbrook Estates and surrounding neighborhoods, where several residents said houses bought for the sole purpose of short‑term rentals leave yards and property maintenance neglected and undermine neighborhood ties. Barbara Davies, who said she lives at 1445 Willowbrook Drive, described two nearby houses that she said function as vacant investment Airbnbs and said "it's going to be very detrimental to...the friendships and the community that we've built."

Why it matters: Staff told the board a quick search of listings shows roughly 50 short‑term rental advertisements in Harris Township, concentrated near Bolesburg and neighboring residential areas. Board members said the township must balance homeowners' ability to earn rental income with protecting R‑1 single‑family neighborhoods and ensuring any rules can be enforced.

Supporters of a ban or tight limits said corporate or out‑of‑area ownership — and homes left empty except for guests — reduce safety and neighborhood oversight. Blake Harper, a landlord and property manager who said he manages rentals across the Center region, told the board, "allowing short‑term rentals...turns homes into revolving doors for transient visitors, replacing neighbors with strangers." Several speakers cited enforcement challenges in nearby municipalities.

Owners who operate locally managed short‑term rentals urged restraint. Eric Hurwitz, who identified his family as operators of a permanent Airbnb at 730 West Main Street, said his household treats the property like a family business, has invested roughly $50,000 in renovations, and obtained a voluntary Center Region rental permit for safety inspections. "This is a source of pride and a source of income for my family," Hurwitz said, urging tailored regulation rather than a blanket ban.

Legal and enforcement context: A member of the public referenced a Pennsylvania case described as Slice of Life v. Hamilton Township, saying the state supreme court had limited transient short‑term rentals in R‑1 zones; that case citation was raised as context by a resident, not by township counsel. Staff repeated that enforceability is a primary concern and recommended consulting the township solicitor to craft defensible language; they also noted that some municipalities place short‑term rental rules in zoning while others use separate licensing approaches.

Board direction and next steps: Supervisors discussed classifying rentals into categories (owner‑occupied, resident‑owned extra units, nonresident‑owned, and corporate/LLC) with tailored requirements for parking, landscaping contracts, maximum occupancy and on‑site containment of noise and light. After deliberation the board asked staff to compile resident comments, run proposed approaches past the solicitor and forward them to the Planning Commission for drafting and public hearings. A soft target of completing the work by the end of 2025 was mentioned, though supervisors acknowledged the timeline is ambitious.

What remains unresolved: The board did not adopt an ordinance or take a formal vote on specific limits. Key open questions include whether the township will require owner occupancy, permit fees scaled by ownership type, how to verify off‑site owners, and how enforcement will be staffed and funded.

The board recessed and continued other agenda items; the Planning Commission is expected to receive the board's direction and return a draft for further public comment and formal action.