by Jackie Nunnery
HEATHSVILLE—A group of Northumberland residents showed up in force at the Thursday, November 10, board of supervisors meeting to voice complaints and concerns about short-term rentals and alleged detrimental effects the renters are having on their neighborhoods.
Residents complained about noise, parking, trespassing and the sheer amount of people staying at the houses at any given time. Northumberland supervisors took no action following the comments.
Sharla Pence, who previously spoke on behalf of the Chesapeake Beach Estates Civic Club (CBECC) at the August planning commission meeting, encouraged the board to restrict short-term rentals within the R3 residential restricted zoning district because of its high density development and small lot sizes. “Literally, I’ll sneeze and my neighbor will say, ‘bless you,’ because they’re that close,” she said.
According to county administrator Luttrell Tadlock, Northumberland allows what are called vacation rental homes (rentals less than 30 days) in all of the zoning districts by right.
Pence also said community amenities are being overused by the number of renters….
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