PEORIA, Ill. — The Peoria City Council Tuesday night shot down requests to convert two properties in the Uplands, near Laura Bradley Park, into Airbnbs, a move that could potentially kill any future short-term rentals in the city.
Council debated the issue prior to a vote that denied a special use permit for the rental of a duplex in the 1500 block of W. Columbia Terrace and at a single-family home in the 1000 block of N. Elmwood.
District 2 Council member Chuck Grayeb said, “Our constituents do not want numerous mini-hotels as their next door neighbors.”
Grayeb claims city administrators were abandoning long-standing efforts to promote single-family home ownership.
Grayeb told news partner 25 News that he’s worried understaffed police and city inspectors wouldn’t be able to keep the peace at short-term rental properties.
“How will these departments, which are already understaffed, effectively address transients who are rowdy, noisy, drunk, disruptive, or worse?”
At large Council member Zach Oyler was in favor of granting the special use permit.
“My opinion is that short-term rentals are a very well-monitored and managed process. Much more than even a standard rental in our community,” Oyler said.
Mayor Rita Ali, John Kelly and Andre Allen joined Oyler in supporting the special use requests at the Columbia Terrace and Elmwood locations.
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