HomeMy WebLinkAboutLetter #04 Sharla Faust 1-28-2019
To: Carmel Board of Zoning Appeals
From: Sharla Faust, Resident of Guilford Park Subdivision,Carmel IN 46032
Re: Docket No. 18120014SE,Special Exception application for short term rental use of 11441 Scheel Ln.
Dear Board of Zoning Appeals,
I am an original owner of my home in Guilford Park and have spent several years on the Guilford Park
Homeowner's Association Board. Please consider the following input in opposition to the use of subject property
for short term rental use.
1) The use of homes in Guilford Park for short term rental is inconsistent with the nature of the subdivision.
The subdivision is a family-oriented community with mostly owner-occupied long term residents with families and
school-aged children. The subdivision has been a safe and quiet atmosphere that is quiet at night. Non-residents
are not very likely to observe the waking/sleeping hours of most of the surrounding residents who are working
families. Short term renters lack social obligation to the surrounding neighbors.
2) Short-term rental is likely to unfairly increase the cost to the Association and homeowners.
The residents and Association have worked together over the past years to correct problems in the community and
enforce property maintenance issues. But it has not been easy and we want to avoid conditions that would
encourage problems.
Consistent ongoing enforcement and handling problems is costly to the Association members. Covenant violations
are a primarily a result of property owners who do not have pride in ownership and who disregard Covenant rules.
Many of these cases involve foreign-raised owners who may have come from cultures that may not understand or
value basic property maintenance and pleasing appearance of their property and/or consider the home merely a
financial investment. The Association has spent thousands of dollars and hundreds of hours of volunteer Board
Member's time trying to keep non-compliance problems under control. It is very difficult to sustain that level of
effort by unpaid volunteer Board members. We need the City's assistance to cooperate as a partner to sustain
quality affordable neighborhoods such as ours. More concerns about increased costs are addressed later.
3) Owners do not appear to act in good faith(comply with rules or act with courtesy to neighbors.)
Regarding the property at 11441 Scheel Lane,it is my understanding from reliable long-term residents near the lot,
that it does not appear that the owners really live in the property,and are already causing problems for neighbors
by advertising the home. Neighbors have observed behavior at the address that indicate that the owners may be
intentionally giving the appearance of occupancy by moving around trash bins and turning lights on and off,etc.
but not occupying the property. I have known some of the neighbors for several years and find them reliable as
sources of information. If the owners are willing to disregard the ordinances and behave dishonestly from the
start,there is little expectation that they plan to operate a business in a way that is courteous to neighbors or in
compliance with rules.
4) Temporary-use tenants are more likely to leave unsightly damage to the home and common area. Transient
tenants are unpredictable,as will be the noise level and potentially unsavory activity. Correction of these
problems would be difficult for the Association or police department to address repetitively and after-the-fact. If
the violators were residents,the Association could observe and document the owner's negligence and pass the
cost along to the owners. But it would cause undue burden for the association or neighbors to monitor each short
term guest daily in case there is damage. Renters are not bound by the Covenants. The cost of repairing damage
and addressing problems caused by transient visitors would fall to the neighbors in the form of a higher
maintenance budget for the Association. Damage by non-owners would result in an unfair increase in homeowner
dues and be unaffordable to pursue with legal action.
5) Parking. Short term rentals would cause parking issues at this location. Street parking at that address is already
difficult because it is on an inside curve. Parking on this stretch increases the probability that the Association will
incur costs to repair damaged sod if non-residents run their cars up into the grass. It would also pose a nuisance to
the neighbors for multiple cars to park along the short section of street in front of this home.
6) Stranger Danger. Short term tenants are strangers that could have differing values and background than the
neighborhood residents,and introduce unnecessary safety risk. The neighborhood is home to children who play
and walk to bus stops. It is adjacent to a city park. It is unknown whether rules for sex offenders may be violated
by allowing individuals with unknown backgrounds reside short term in a neighborhood near a public park and
community center that includes day care services. There is no control over AirBNB's policies or the homeowner's
judgement. Minimizing exposure to strangers in a family neighborhood is a concern I have even if based soley on
common sense. Homeowners want to know their neighbors where their kids play.
7) Adds to existing challenges. With the over-building of multi-family housing in the area,it becomes increasingly
difficult to maintain rising property values. Allowing short term rentals will further discourage long-term residents
due to incompatible goals. As a result,ownership turn-over is likely to increase and so will the percentage of
rented homes. These factors expedite the overall decline of the subdivision-and this area of Carmel. Desirability
of any area of Carmel effects the entire city and county.
Please deny the application for a Special Exception for Airbnb/short term rental use for Guilford Park homes
including 11441 Scheel Lane,Carmel, Indiana 46032,Guildford Park Subdivision Lot 54.
Sincerely,
Sharla Faust
Guilford Park Resident