Hazel Park is looking to become the second city in Oakland County to enact a moratorium on short-term rentals following a shooting at one of the properties.
Announced Friday, Hazel Park’s six-month moratorium would prohibit new short-term rental licenses if approved by city council at its June 9 meeting. The moratorium would give city leadership the opportunity to review its ordinance and enforcement practices governing these properties, according to the city’s news release.
City officials in the release cited a purported self-defense shooting early Friday at an after-prom party in a short-term rental in the 23000 block of Powell Avenue that left one person dead and another injured as reason for the moratorium. City Manager Ed Klobucher said renting the property for a house party violated the city ordinance.
“Our residents deserve to feel safe in their homes and neighborhoods,” officials said in the release. “Our police department is currently investigating this incident and will take whatever steps necessary to ensure those responsible are brought to justice.”
Hazel Park’s moratorium would come more than a month after Birmingham passed its own six-month moratorium on new short-term rentals. Similarly, Birmingham’s moratorium was spurred by a shooting that stemmed from a party. City officials have already started enforcing existing regulations in a stricter capacity and are exploring ways to update ordinances to further regulate the properties.
Klobucher said Hazel Park’s ordinance governing short-term rentals already caps such properties at 30, prohibits hosts from owning more than one property in the city and enforces quiet hours from 8 p.m.-7 a.m. But they’re looking at other cities to see how they’ve regulated the properties, as well.
“We have a pretty strict code already, but we’re going to look at how we can strengthen that and take a look at existing enforcement strategies,” Klobucher said.
Klobucher said he hasn’t gotten any pushback on the moratorium from the council. Councilman Luke Londo called it “a good opportunity for us to re-evaluate” and to “make sure people who have short-term rentals are complying.” But not everyone in Hazel Park agrees.
The moratorium “impacts responsible homeowners who are looking to operate safely and respectfully,” said AirBnB host Jonathan Weigold.
“While concerns about crime and safety should always be taken seriously, criminal activity is not unique to short-term rentals. I hope the city focuses on targeted solutions that address problem properties and individuals rather than imposing broad restrictions on responsible hosts.”
In response to Weigold’s concerns, Londo reiterated the moratorium is for potential new short-term rental hosts, not existing ones.
Asked about the regional push to more strictly regulate short-term rentals, Klobucher and Londo said they would like municipalities to retain control over the regulations. But Klobucher said he would like to see the Michigan Legislature criminalize using short-term rentals under false pretenses.
Rep. Mike McFall, D-Hazel Park, said he was open to the idea after The Detroit News told him about Klobucher’s remark.
mbryan@detroitnews.com
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Hazel Park looks to enact short-term rental moratorium
Reporting by Max Bryan, The Detroit News / The Detroit News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
