HP City Council Should Examine Timeshares and Event Spaces

Candidate calls for HP City Council to Examine "Timeshares" in Residential Neighborhoods.

At the Highland Park City Council Meeting on Monday, January 13, Kevin Cullather, who is running for City Council in the April 1 election, urged the Council to examine the reported conversion of a single-family home in Highland Park into a Timeshare to be enjoyed by many… families, guests, executives, and others. According to reports in The Patch, Crain’s, and other media outlets, in addition to selling individual shares in the property at 2700 Point Lane, the new owner plans to market the home for “events like weddings, family reunions, corporate retreats, sports watch parties, Bar Mitzvahs and more.” Cullather stated that "this is clearly a commercial venture within a residential neighborhood.

Cullather chaired the City's Zoning Board of Appeals for 3 of his 8 years on the Board. In addition, he previously served on the City's Bird Friendly Task Force. He is running for the remaining 2-years of the term vacated by former Councilmember Jeff Hoobler.

Cullather reminded the Council that in response to concerns from the city’s residents, they adopted an ordinance regulating short-term rentals within the city. Under the City's policy, the short-term renting of dwelling units is permitted so long as it is as an accessory use of a property with reasonable limitations to avoid nuisances and to limit rental frequency. The Council adopted the following provisions to ensure that short-term rentals are not the primary use of the property:

1. No property may be used for a short-term rental as its principal use;
2. The short-term rental property must be occupied by the property owner, or a tenant with a written lease for the property, as their primary residence for at least 30 consecutive days in each calendar year;
3. No short-term rental may be rented for more than 45 days in any calendar year; and
4. The number of occupants at any one time is limited to 12 individuals.

Cullather reminded the Council that when it approved a height variance for the property at 2000 Ridge Road, it included, at the recommendation of the Zoning Board of Appeals, a condition that prohibits commercial use of the barn for any purposes.

Cullather stated that he does not believe that the proposal put forth to the media by the property owner is in compliance with either the letter of the law or the spirit of the law. He asked the Council to study this proposal and add it to the Council’s 2025 Work Plan.