Lower Paxton board approves special exception for two short-term rental units at Linglestown corner property

The Lower Paxton Township Zoning Hearing Board voted 5–0 to approve a special exception permitting two short-term rental units at a four-unit property on 5974 Linglestown Road. The board granted approval after township staff described public notice, zoning fit for the village district and parking calculations that staff said the site can meet.

Applicant Jeremy Reichert told the board he and his wife own the corner property and want to use two units — a three-bedroom and a two-bedroom — as short-term rentals while the remaining two units stay long-term. "We just wanna use 2 of the units as, like, a short term rental, like an Airbnb style type," Reichert said during the hearing. Staff confirmed a building permit is in place for the 2‑bedroom unit and that the 3‑bedroom unit is already completed and rented long-term.

Township planning staff Nicholas Garrett said the township ran the required advertisement (July 2 and July 9) and mailed notices on June 29. Garrett also told the board that no zoning variances are required and that the special-exception path is the appropriate way to permit short-term rentals in the village district. "There will be no variances discussed tonight. Simply, the requirement for a special exception for a short term rental in the village district," Garrett said.

A resident who sent a written comment, Shannon Griffiths of Linglestown, wrote that she has "no objections" but noted a concern that short-term rentals could function as transient housing. In-person commenter William Miller praised the renovation but asked about smoke alarms and means of egress for the remodeled units. The board and staff addressed those concerns in the discussion and recorded no outstanding objections in the roll call.

After a motion to approve and a second, the board conducted a roll-call vote; the clerk reported five ayes and the motion passed. The board adjourned at 6:19 p.m.