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Neighbors urge action after large Airbnb party; township attorney says preexisting rentals may be vested
Summary
Residents described a 200-person short-term rental party that overwhelmed local officers; the Township attorney said an existing permit may create a lawful nonconforming use but the Township can seek injunctions if the property repeatedly disturbs the peace.
Residents told the Lehigh Township Board of Supervisors on Oct. 14 about a large, disruptive short-term rental party at 631 Bishops Place that required mutual-aid police response and left neighbors concerned about safety and property intrusion.
Police representative John Henry reported "approximately 200 people that attended a party" and said officers logged multiple calls from about 10:51 p.m. until about 2:00 a.m.; the department sought assistance from Walnutport, Moore Township and Slatington police. John Henry said the renter received a citation for permitting the noise.
Neighbors described damage and intrusion. "Someone tried to enter my home through my back door," resident Sherry Paules told the Board, and other residents said attendees were walking through yards, urinating on property and driving recklessly. Several attendees traveled from out of state, residents said.
Cindy Miller and other supervisors reviewed zoning history for the property. Miller said that in 2017 the township engineer determined the short-term rental was a permitted use; Attorney David Backenstoe explained the legal limits: "If someone was given a permit to operate, they have a vested right to continue to operate; however, they don’t have the authority to disturb the peace like that." He added that repeated problems could lead the Township to pursue an injunction in court, although such legal action can be difficult and is not guaranteed to succeed.
Residents asked whether the owner actually lived at the property and whether that affects enforcement; Backenstoe said he would need to review the file to determine whether the owner’s historic occupation creates a stronger position to challenge the use. The Board recorded that the prior zoning officer had in 2020 tried unsuccessfully to shut the operation down.
Supervisors and staff said enforcement options include criminal charges for drunkenness or trespass, working directly with the property owner, and pursuing court remedies if the pattern of disturbance continues. The Board also asked staff to give the new zoning officer information about other short-term rentals discovered in the Township.
The Board took no immediate regulatory change at the Oct. 14 meeting; the short-term rental issue was discussed in the context of zoning enforcement and potential legal remedies.
