Brunswick Council considers banning Airbnb-type businesses - cleveland.com

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BRUNSWICK, Ohio -- Short-term rental businesses such as Airbnb and Vrbo properties may be gone before they arrive in Brunswick, as City Council considers legislation prohibiting short-term property rentals of less than six months within the city.

“We have had a few issues; this is a matter of us getting ahead of it,” Economic and Community Development Director Grant Aungst said of the proposed ordinance amendment at the July 12 council meeting.

“There appear to be a number of Airbnb and Vrbo type rentals, and what can happen is huge parties that get out of hand,” Aungst said.

He pointed to an incident that recently took place in Hudson, noting that he has been in conversations with City Manager Carl DeForest and Police Chief Brian Ohlin about the proposed legislation.

Law Director Ken Fisher said the legislation, which council referred to the city Planning Commission later in the July 12 meeting, is merely a starting point. The six-month rental minimum, for example, could be decreased or increased, Fisher said.

Aungst said there are three approaches municipalities typically take with short-term rentals: “prohibition, laissez faire or allowing them with regulations.”

He said the city could consider requirements such as making sure the owner is on the premises; requiring a certain distance from parks, schools and churches; limiting short-term rentals to specific zoning districts; and making the rentals subject to inspections, bed taxes and other rental restrictions.

Councilman-At-Large Joe Delsanter said that once a property begins to be used commercially, it becomes a hospitality business, subject to occupancy limits and the local hospitality-related taxes.

“I know that is challenging with enforcement, but I feel being proactive is better than reactive,” Delsanter said.

Councilman-At-Large Brian Ousley said consideration should be given to allowing some short-term rentals when special events take place in or near city, when such businesses could be beneficial.

Ward 1 Councilman Mike Abella asked what arguments against the proposed ordinance could be expected from potential short-term renters.

“The argument would be, ‘This is my house and I should be able to rent it out if I want to,’” Aungst said. “(But) we have two hotels in the city that are affected by this. We have to consider the long-term effect on our community, and it’s not just dollars and cents -- it is making the city safe as a whole.”

Moratoriums extended

Also at the meeting, council approved ordinances extending temporary moratoriums on issuing building and occupancy permits for small-box discount stores and multifamily dwelling units in the city.

Aungst said he is “very close” to “cleaning up the language” in the city’s ordinances related to each of these two types of businesses and ending the temporary moratoriums.

A moratorium with Jefferson Health Plan for payment of city employee medical health payments for November and December 2021 was also approved. Finance Director Todd Fischer said the city has more funds in its insurance reserves than usual, due to employees continuing to pay into their premiums during the COVID-19 pandemic, when many delayed doctor and hospital appointments or were unable to seek medical care due to pandemic-related restrictions.

Fischer said employees will continue to pay their premiums in November and December and will be reimbursed when the city is invoiced for those months by Jefferson Health Plan. He said he expects the move to save the city between $470,000 and $510,000.

Scouts honored

Mayor Ron Falconi honored Boy Scouts from troops 517 and 407 and Cub Scout Pack 3517 for their work at a recent stream cleanup for the Rock River Watershed.

Rocky River Watershed Council board member Ed Kelly thanked the Scouts for many years of service.

“I want to thank the Scouts who have done this for the past 10 years,” Kelly said. “I hope they continue to do it.”

Other actions

Council approved a sponsorship and service agreement with Southwest General Health Center, relative to the Brunswick Recreation Center. A lease agreement with Southwest General for a portion of the Recreation Center was also approved.

Establishment of a local fiscal recovery fund was approved by council, allowing the city to begin the process of applying for federal American Recovery Act funds, Fischer said.

Read more news from the Brunswick Sun.

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