No decision yet in case between Boardman trustees and homeowners renting out pool
BOARDMAN, Ohio - A legal battle between Boardman Township Trustees and the owners of a Glenwood Avenue home continues.
In June, Boardman Township filed for preliminary injunction to stop a home in Boardman from renting out their pool for swim parties.
Both parties were in court early Monday morning for a hearing, but instead of bringing in witnesses, they agreed to submit their arguments to the court.
In a 135 page document of complaints, it's reported that the house is being rented out for $525 dollars to rent the house for fours hours, $725 for eight hours, and $925 for a full day. The defendants include Michelle Firman, Taylor Moore and Malcolm Carter.
According to the complaint, the defendants have been advertising their pool and backyard as a "Luxury Pool Party Rental" on Swimply, an app where you can rent private pools by the hour.
The complaint also states that because of this business, "...a public nuisance is created by the noise and light generated by the people and the music...the heavy traffic and parking on the roads...creating a hazard...all which greatly disturbs the neighbors."
Boardman Township says the home is in violation of a Boardman Zoning Resolution that "prohibits any person, corporation, partnership or any other entity or organization from conducting a Special Event without a Special Events permit."
According to representative for Boardman Township Trustees, Attorney Matthew Vansuch, the township believes the home is operating as a commercial event center, and that the residential neighborhood is not zoned for that.
According to Vansuch, this is an issue that has been popping up all over the country, and has now come to Mahoning County.
"It's basically the Airbnb of backyards, and it brings in the question of are people going to be allowed to rent out their pools to people other than themselves, so it becomes a bigger issue than what's going on here, and it's zoning addressing the 21st century economy," said Attorney Vansuch.
Both parties have until Friday, July 21 to file any additional information.
The defendants are unable to host any parties at their residence until the judge makes their decision next week.
