MATTHEWS, N.C. — People living in Matthews have brought up concerns for months now about homes in their neighborhoods operating as Airbnbs.
Now, town leaders have heard these concerns and are working to find a solution.
“The people that bought that house have an Airbnb and it’s been a nightmare," Matthews resident Patricia Robinson said in an interview with WCNC Charlotte in February.
She said she presented a petition to town leaders.
It’s now two months later and the town’s planning director presented an update to the board of commissioners on Monday, with a list of changes that could be coming to the Matthews Unified Development Ordinance (UDO).
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The presentation suggested the town’s UDO needs a definition for short-term rentals, and that the "Bed & Breakfast" section needs to be updated to include short-term rentals too.
Other changes were presented as well, addressing the need to create a standard going forward.
These changes wouldn’t actually affect any existing short-term rentals, though. According to the planning director, Jay Camp, it would only regulate new ones that are established in Matthews in the future.
So for Matthews residents who are upset about what's happening in their neighborhoods, commissioners say their hands are tied.
With these new changes to the UDO, people in Matthews would be able to make nuisance or criminal complaints about existing short-term rentals, but there would be no actual zoning violation.
The proposed regulations for new short-term rentals would require them to be at least 800 feet apart. Plus, owners would need to obtain a zoning permit and live in or around Mecklenburg County. Other regulations listed in the draft proposal limit guests to two per bedroom and properties cannot be used for events.
Some Matthews homeowners like Robinson want short-term rentals to be banned from single-family neighborhoods. The proposed regulations allow them in most residential zoning districts.
Matthews homeowner Ian Goldstein owns an Airbnb in the same neighborhood as his house. He told WCNC Charlotte he welcomes the new regulations. He disagrees with banning them from single-family neighborhoods, saying his rental has been a great asset to his community.
"When my mom comes in town, she comes and stays," Goldstein said. "A lot of the neighbors have their family stay at the Airbnb instead of theirs."
The town’s planning board will consider the proposed ordinance on July 23.
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