Dearborn residents and short-term rental property owners pack the city council chambers July 15 to share their opinions on the council’s proposed short-term rental ordinance changes.
By SUE SUCHYTA
Times-Herald Newspapers
DEARBORN – During a packed and impassioned July 15 meeting during which residents and landlords pled their cases, the City Council amended its short-term rental ordinance, banning them from single-family residential neighborhoods.
Under the new ordinance, short-term rentals will be allowed in specific areas of the east and west downtown business districts, primarily along Michigan Avenue.
Short-term rentals like Airbnb and Vrbo, which use online bookings, have been growing as commercial enterprises, and they have impacted residential neighborhoods in the city. In addition to some guests causing disturbances, the purchase of houses for STRs negatively impact the availability of housing stock for homeowners and long-term renters.
The new ordinance will help keep neighborhoods residential in nature and not allow them to house commercial businesses.
Short-term rental safety standards will be better regulated, as well.
In downtown east Dearborn STRs will be allowed in multi-family zoning districts, including local business district and the community business district.
In the downtown west Dearborn business district, STRs will be permitted in all the frontages except in the areas with Mixed Residential zoned frontage, which are primarily single-family use.
Only one STR unit will be permitted in a condominium complex, with additional units approved only if a special land use is granted. It was noted that some condominium complexes currently ban STRs.
The Dearborn City Council passes a change in the city’s short-term rental zoning at its July 15 meeting, which will prohibit them from operating in single-family residential neighborhoods.