Latest news with #Reno-Weber
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
Highlands to see increased LMPD patrols after Memorial Day weekend crowd shuts down street
Louisville Metro council member Ben Reno-Weber is promising changes to policing habits in the Highlands neighborhood after hundreds of people swarmed Bardstown Road near Grinstead Drive early May 25, blocking traffic and causing disturbances in the area. In a May 29 news release, Reno-Weber condemned the group's activity, which resulted in Louisville Metro Police having to clear the street. "The behavior we witnessed by groups of people in our district this weekend was completely unacceptable," the statement reads. "Blocking traffic, preventing emergency vehicles from passing through and disturbing neighbors trying to sleep is not how we celebrate a holiday weekend in the Highlands." LMPD received a call reporting the crowd and people doing burnouts in the street at around 3:20 a.m., spokesperson John Bradley said. When officers arrived, they found several hundred people in the vicinity fully blocking the area. A Facebook video shows people surrounding a car with a man standing up through the sunroof, saying, 'We can't move.' The group dispersed willingly when police arrived and no violence occurred, Bradley said. The road was cleared by 4:10 a.m. Many bars surround the area where the crowd broke out, including Highlands Tap Room, Chill Bar Highlands, Atomic Sound Club & Game Yard and The Hub Louisville, some of which are open as late as 4 a.m. on the weekends. "We welcome everyone to enjoy the Highlands for its legendary hospitality, amazing food, and great vibe, but we expect that enjoyment to be responsible and respectful," Reno-Weber said in his statement. Reno-Weber said he is working with LMPD to assign a detail squad to Bardstown Road on Friday and Saturday nights to "saturate the area during times when large gatherings are most likely." LMPD announced at a Highlands Commerce Guild meeting that the department will be taking additional steps to increase police presence and deter crime in the Highlands neighborhood, including closing and limiting access to some parking lots, installing more surveillance cameras and working directly with local business owners to prevent trespassing. LMPD said it encourages business owners affected by local disturbances to file a Trespass Enforcement Request Form, which authorizes officers to address trespassing without an on-site complaint. 'We have seen a significant drop in crime and revival of business in this area over the last two years by focusing on hot spots, partnering with neighbors, and working closely with LMPD and [Alcoholic Beverage Control],' Reno-Weber said in the release. 'Hopefully this incident is the spark we need to take that to a new level.' Residents and businesses are encouraged by LMPD to report suspicious activity to 574-LMPD (5673) or online. Reach reporter Molly Gregory at msgregory@ This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Bardstown Road incident sparks action from Metro Council, LMPD
Yahoo
14-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Airbnb restrictions in Louisville at risk under revised Kentucky bill
An amendment tacked onto a Kentucky bill about swimming pools now sets new standards for how cities can regulate short-term rentals — a last-minute move that overrides some restrictions in Louisville. House Speaker David Osborne, R-Prospect, filed an amendment to Senate Bill 61 that prohibits local governments from setting density limits for short-term rentals, which are often booked through platforms such as Airbnb and VRBO. In Louisville, short-term rentals that are not owner-occupied cannot be located within 600 feet of each other. The amendment was attached to the bill after it had already passed both the Senate and a House committee, preventing public comment from taking place. The revised bill now awaits a full vote in the House, with hours left to award it final passage before a veto period begins Saturday. The accelerated change drew ire from some Metro Council members, who said the bill is another law that will limit Louisville's local control. "To me, there is nothing more fundamental to local government than basic zoning regulations, and if locals can't make zoning decisions, why are we making any decisions?" Councilman Markus Winkler said. "Perhaps we should start to send all of our zoning cases to Frankfort and let them decide." Councilman Ben Reno-Weber shared similar frustrations. 'That bill was about swimming pools yesterday," Reno-Weber said in a statement to The Courier Journal. "This is the bull---- that makes people hate government. If we need to change a law, let's have a robust public discussion and craft laws that work — ideally at the level closest to the people most impacted.' Reno-Weber represents District 8, which encompasses Louisville's Highlands neighborhood. One of Reno-Weber's predecessors, former District 8 Councilman Brandon Coan, spearheaded the city's 600-foot rule in an attempt to cut down on the proliferation of short-term rentals in the district's neighborhoods. Winkler pushed back on the idea that short-term regulations are a "property rights" issue. "This is functionally allowing, without restriction, commercial operations in residential zones," Winkler said. Since 2016, Louisville has required all short-term rentals to register annually with the city, providing information on where they're located and who owns them. Louisville employees review each short-term rental application before it's registered to make sure it meets zoning, occupancy and other requirements. Code enforcement officers can cite rentals operating without a registration. Starting in 2019, short-term rentals were also required to receive conditional-use permits if they wanted to operate without a host at residentially zoned properties. Those rentals are not supposed to be within 600 feet of each other, though the Board of Zoning Adjustment has the power to approve permits with exceptions. Metro Council members directed city planning employees to again review short-term rental regulations in November 2022. The following year, the council approved several changes, including increasing the annual short-term rental registration fee, requiring an owner to live at a residence at least six months before registering it as an owner-occupied rental and prohibiting a new registration at a property if a citation has been issued there for unlawful short-term rental activity within the past 12 months. Under Osborne's amendment, cities can continue requiring short-term rental owners to register their properties and "impose reasonable fees," as well as "authorized taxes." Homeowners' associations can also still enact their own rules for short-term rentals. However, the amendment prevents local governments from imposing density limits, including on the number or percentage of short-term rentals in a building, zoning district or other geographic boundary. It lets cities require conditional-use permits or other forms of approval to operate short-term rentals. But officials cannot deny approval unless there is a "significant negative impact" on health, safety or resident welfare, like noise or nuisance issues. Reach reporter Eleanor McCrary at EMcCrary@ or at @ellie_mccrary on X, formerly known as Twitter. This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Kentucky bill would override some Airbnb restrictions in Louisville
