By Angeles Ponpa
PEORIA HEIGHTS, Ill. (25 News) – Trustees with the Village of Peoria Heights are looking to limit the number of Airbnb-style rentals they would allow, citing concerns about the use of some for large parties and events .
During the village trustee meeting on Tuesday, trustees and the Police Chief Chris Ahart discussed how to address problem properties while preserving short-term rentals for legitimate uses. The village currently has 32 that they know of, and the suggestion was to cap them at 35.
Other potential restrictions included noise restrictions, special use permits, and increasing enforcement against operators who violate village rules.
The discussion was prompted after an incident in late March sent police to a short-term rental for loud noise coming from a party with almost 250 people.
“When the officers made contact, they went everywhere, which resulted in two motor vehicle crashes and one high-speed chase that left our area pretty quick,” said Ahart to the trustees during Tuesday’s meeting.
“That group then exited and went to McDonald’s. Our officer did a good job of moving them on from there… They moved on from there and they went to the city. This is not an isolated incident, but this is the one that kind of prompted all this,” he added.
Some trustees defended short-term rentals rentals, saying they are a convenient housing option for tourists, families displaced by home repairs or the middle of moving, wedding guests, or traveling nurses.
“I see the point of keeping families in the Heights and for [the] school district and home rural reasons and all that stuff,” said Peoria Heights trustee Nathan Steinwedel on Tuesday. “I also see the fact that we have a need for that here. We don’t have a hotel. Until we have a hotel built, we don’t have a place for people to stay. It is a needed thing here.”
While no action was taken during the meeting, village leaders said they plan to continue reviewing possible regulations and enforcement tools.
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