Bridgewater's Crackdown On Airbnbs, Short-Term Rentals Needs More Work

BRIDGEWATER, NJ — Bridgewater is looking to crackdown against Airbnb and short-term rentals after concerns of transients and strangers arriving on an almost daily basis to one Bridgewater neighborhood were raised by residents.

The Township Council met on Aug. 17 with the hopes of passing an ordinance to limit short-term rentals while still allowing those residents who need rentals.

"It is our sincere desire to make sure that we come up with an ordinance… that prevents the bad behaviors that brought us to consider this topic. That is basically a party house operating in the midst of a residential zone while at the same time providing the necessary flexibility for other, what I would call, legitimate circumstances, where an individual may be in need of a short-term housing condition," said Council President Michael Kirsh.

The agenda for the evening included two different versions of an "ordinance to establish chapter 152 of the Township Code of Bridgewater entitled 'Short-Term Rentals'."

Roughly one hour of comments were heard from residents in town who pointed to more restrictions needed in the ordinance and also some business owners who rent in the town that asked to allow them to continue.

Lori Colelli, who lives on Gateshead Drive (the street with the short-term rental issue in question), warned that the ordinance needs more work and leaves areas open for "people to do whatever they want."

"I understand we own our properties but we own the obligation to the community to keep it the community that Bridgewater has been for so many years," said Colelli.

After much discussion, the council agreed to table both ordinances to work out word changes and other issues before coming back for a public hearing and final vote.

"When we came here tonight it was my wholehearted intention to adjudicate this matter tonight and to introduce an alternate resolution taking into account commentary before the meeting and commentary during the meeting," said Kirsh. "I have doubt we can accomplish that."

Bridgewater Township Attorney Christopher Corsini was adamant the council could not pass the ordinance as there was too much needed to be done.

"There is no chance this ordinance will be introduced tonight," said Corsini.

Councilman Timothy Ring, who voted no to tabling ordinance 11a, wanted to try and work on the resolution at the meeting to get it passed. However, Corsini said the volume of changes that needed to be done made it impossible.

"We have never in my time or Bill Savo’s time, made this many changes to an ordinance on the dais," said Corsini.

Some things that needed to be changed in the ordinance include the removal of the wording Bed and Breakfast, which is not allowed in the township at this time, changing units to unit, and other issues.

"Everyone wants to avoid a rooming house situation," said Kirsh. "From where I stand there is probably more homework and more action that needs to be taken that can't occur on this dais at this time."

Kirsh said the council plans to bring the ordinance back for a public hearing and hopefully a final vote at the Sept. 7 regular meeting.

• See Related: Concerns Of Strangers, Transients Prompt Bridgewater To Limit Airbnbs

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