Neighbors steam, but first Airbnb OK’d under new WL regulations

This house on Lincoln Street won’t be West Lafayette’s first short-term rental. But neighbors’ hopes of stopping it with city’s new regulations were in vain

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SHORT-TERM RENTAL REQUEST, FIRST SINCE WEST LAFAYETTE IMPOSED NEW ZONING RULES, APPROVED

The first test of new West Lafayette guest house regulations went the way of a New Chauncey Neighborhood property owner looking to open an Airbnb-style transient rental, in the face of steep opposition from neighbors.

The Tippecanoe County Board of Zoning Appeals voted Wednesday to grant a special exception for 267 Lincoln St., a move that will allow owner Nate Gustus – a West Lafayette resident who lives a block away – to start marketing and renting the house for short-term stays for up to six guests.

(Photo: Dave Bangert)

The 4-1 vote followed a testy, hourlong hearing, featuring neighbors pressing BZA members to stop an Airbnb trend before it turned their neighborhood into permanent vacation mode and ate into available homes, pricing families out of New Chauncey.

Neighbors left grumbling, promising late-night calls to BZA members when Airbnb situations got out of hand and sharing choice words with Gustus on their way out.