The Normal Town Council on Monday unanimously approved a temporary prohibition of new residential short-term rentals.
All 63 existing rentals will be allowed to continue, but the 42 still not registered through the Town of Normal have until Nov. 30 to do so. No new business licenses will be accepted between Dec. 1 and June 1.
Town staff say Normal has seen a "proliferation" of residential short-term rental units.
"In many cases, [short-term rental units] have led to complaints of excessive noise, congestion, or other nuisances. Also, the use of existing housing stock for [short-term rental units] exacerbates the community’s housing shortage," town staff told council members ahead of Monday's meeting.
City Manager Pam Reece said the moratorium allows the town time to explore how to best handle these rentals.
Tammy Hansen is an Airbnb property owner in Normal. Hansen has registered with the town, and lives on the property she rents. Council members have expressed a desire to curb properties that do not fall into those categories.
“I look at what we do as a service more than a business,” said Hansen.
“I think owner-occupied is a worthwhile consideration for this model,” said council member Karyn Smith. “Because I strongly feel that someone who is inviting guests and they're still on the property to witness that guest behavior is less likely to be a nuisance to the neighborhood than an empty property would.”
In other business
Meanwhile, two ordinances concerning the Trails on Sunset Lake subdivision were approved by votes of 8-1, with Kathleen Lorenz as the only "no" vote. Lack of a quorum prompted the council to approve the items again.
Also, the Normal Liquor Commission gave a report on multiple settled cases regarding selling alcohol to persons under the age of 21. The Casey’s Retail Company was fined $500 for a second violation at the 1930 N. Linden St. location. Los Potrillos, Heaterz Hot Chicken, Bloomington-Normal Marriott, Buffalo Wild Wings and Maggie Miley’s were each fined $250 for first offenses.
An appointment for Gina Bianchi to serve on the Connect Transit board also was approved. Bianchi, formerly the vice president for alumni and development at Millikin University, retired from that role in September.
Carl Teichman also was reappointed to the McLean County Regional Planning Commission.
