Short-term rentals anger residents
The West Lake Hills City Council heard from a fed-up assemblage of residents at a meeting calling for the heavy regulation or outright banning of short-term home rentals within the city.
Several residents said they’d witnessed loud parties, strangers outside in the middle of the night and even fireworks. Residents’ stories surprised the City Council members, who initially decided during the summer months to take a laissez-faire approach to the practice of short-term rentals when the issue came before council.
“I was the only one who did want to do something,” Council Member Linda Anthony said at the Oct. 14 meeting. “We should have some means of registering those homes, and a mechanism for neighbors who are adversely affected by these homes to have their concerns addressed and magistrated.”
Council Member Stan Graham argued that residents renting their homes “overnight” to football game attendees or wedding guests weren’t going to have time to register for a permit, and that the measure was too restrictive. Residents said rented residential properties sometimes went beyond just a handful of guests.
“Let me describe the things me and my wife get to deal with,” resident Trey Wattinger said. “Lots of traffic — nine cars parked all over the place so I can’t get out of my driveway. I don’t want to call the police every time I want to get out of my driveway. Late night parties, loud noises. ... Just because you can afford the rental of a large house, it’s not a prerequisite for you to be a nice person.”
Nine residents voiced their opposition to short-term rentals in their neighborhood, with Mayor Dave Claunch noting he’d received several more emails to that effect. Three residents spoke in defense of shortterm rentals, two of whom rent out properties themselves.
“We’ve put in stringent restrictions (on our rental),” said Brian Plunkett, who rents out the house next door to his own. “They’re limited to seven people, and they’re not allowed to be outdoors after 11 at night until 7 in the morning, because we don’t want noise. We limit the number of cars and where they can park them. The management company has contact with them, and the second thing on the contract is no parties, which is enforced.”
The City Council decided to form a subcommittee to research the issue further, consisting of two council members and then one resident appointed by each council member. Interested residents can find more information on the city’s website at westlakehills.org.