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VOLUME 13, NUMBER 12
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Penn Forest Township okays STRs, sets rules by Seth Isenberg
system of the property. There are rules about the number of Citizens gave Penn Forest cars that can be on property. There are fines of up to $1,000 Township supervisors an earful as the May regular meeting for violation of the new ordinance though when a violation started with comments about occurs, owners will be called to Short Term Rentals. Many speakers voiced their concerns send someone to fix the problem. Repeat offenders can lose about bad behaviors of their license to operate, for as renters. One resident, John long as 12 months. Fontaine, expressed the feelIt was pointed out that ings of the opponents to STRs Property Owner Associations asking supervisors to take (POAs) in the township, like more time, saying that to apTowamensing Trails, already prove the amendments “rolls have rules for rentals and out the red carpet for people Some of the people who attended May’s Short Term Rentals workshop in Kidder security staff to enforce those to come here and exploit the had to wait outside the township building for their turn to come in to the meeting rules. The township will township.” room to speak. JH: Seth Isenberg Christopher Mangold points monitor advertising of STR out that these rules allow “the rentals on the internet to see that owners are following the equivalent of a hotel in a new rules. residential district.” Pushing back, Fontaine There was a lot of concern added that “the people who that the noise curfew in the are renting have no respect” rules has a 10 p.m. cut off for the locals. during the weekdays, and 2 With public comment done, a.m. on the weekends. That supervisors tried to make quick by Seth Isenberg Visitors Bureau, who spoke and the fines involved. A prop- was far too late for most about the positive impact of erty offering STRs must have a speakers who brought up noise work of the night’s agenda. Kidder Township held a tourism on Carbon County. He permit from the township. An during their time before the Paving Bid public workshop on Thursday, added that the PMVB wants to owner must provide a 24 hour board. Property owners who rent May 13, about a new ordinance help with the issue of Shortcontact phone number, and be Low bidder for this year’s to short term renters seemed to regulate short-term rentals Term Rentals (STR), and able to respond to problems paving of Meckesville and to agree that there should be in the township. The turnout offered the idea that they could within an hour – or designate Drakes Creek Roads is Haines rules, and were open to filled Kidder’s meeting room communicate with guests someone who will do so. The & Kibblehouse for $561,295. reasonable fees. They were less With the work on Meckesville to its 20 guest capacity abiding ahead of their visit here – in ordinance seeks floor plans by COVID safety rules. That part to welcome them and in with the number of bedrooms, open to inspections and Road, the contractor will be granting property access. left nearly 30 citizens outside part to go over rules (and com- site plans for the lot and locaasked to have the work done in the parking lot, in line to munity expectations). tion of parking spaces on site, by early July, due to a big The Rules wait for a turn to speak. The ordinance as presentproof that any septic system event at Skirmish in mid-July. Leading off the night was ed is 11 pages, plus two pages is properly maintained and is The ordinance puts caps on The bid was approved 4-0-1 Chris Barrett, president and of definitions, an application functioning as intended, and the number of guests based with Roger Meckes abstaining. CEO of the Pocono Mountain page and one listing violations on the capacity of the septic See KIDDER STR, page 2 See PENN FOREST TWP, page 7
Draft of STR ordinance gets first hearing in Kidder