Residents urge tighter rules for short-term rentals after neighborhood disturbances

Two residents urged the Auburn Springs Board of Mayor and Aldermen to tighten rules governing short-term rentals after describing noise, parking congestion and trash at properties they said operate like Airbnbs.

At the public-comment portion of the meeting, a resident who identified himself in the transcript as "Fletcher Slackboard" said the property at 416 Prince has created traffic hazards, blocked a dead-end street and left bags of trash and beer cans near neighbors' yards. "They're parked... tearing up the ground, they're throwing their trash," he said, and added that emergency access could be impeded on the narrow street. "If I was to go down with a heart attack...how's the ambulance going to get to me?" he said.

Tommy Jenkins, another resident, described late-night disturbances and at least one police response and asked what the city could do to keep short-term rentals out of residential neighborhoods. "My main concern is similar to what the gentleman said earlier," Jenkins told the council. "What can we really do about keeping those out of the residential neighborhood?"

City staff and council members said they had not previously been aware of some of the properties and promised to investigate. A staff member suggested the matter would be brought to the planning commission for review; the mayor and other council members said staff (Corey and Brooke) and the planning commission would reassess whether existing ordinances are being enforced or should be tightened.

The comments did not include a formal enforcement action; council members described steps to investigate property ownership records and registration and to bring any regulatory changes to the planning commission for consideration.

The council did not vote on an ordinance or change regulations at the meeting; councilors said follow-up would be handled by staff and the planning commission.