The Whitewater Township board has rejected a plan to allow short-term rentals. The proposal would have allowed residents to build new structures on their lots and rent them out on websites like AirBnb.
The idea came from the township planning commission but it was met with resistance from the community. Residents circulated a petition against the plan and presented it to the board at a meeting Tuesday night.
One of the petition organizers, Pat Pierce, said the board members sided with the public.
“One in particular said ‘well I can understand the way you feel. I certainly wouldn’t want a secondary dwelling next door to me,’” said Pierce.
Pierce was satisfied with the outcome of the meeting.
“I think all of us feel the township and board commission … are people that step up to the plate and work very hard for us all. The planning commission on this one just didn’t get it right,” said Pierce.
Members of the township board said they do not want the planning commission to work on an alternative proposal.