The Chestnuthill Township supervisors are meeting April 2 for a conditional use hearing regarding a prospective short-term rental.

Green Mountain Top LLC submitted the conditional use application for a property it owns at 206 Merwinsburg Road in Effort. The property sits in an area zoned as a general commercial district. Short-term rentals are permitted as a conditional use in general commercial zones.

David Albright, the township manager, said the township’s Planning Commission has reviewed the application, but they did not make any formal comments.

“They only made suggestions of additional information that should be provided,” he said.

Albright said he wasn’t at that meeting and minutes have not been drafted as of the time of the interview, so he doesn’t have any further information about their suggestions.

“They need to follow the requirements of the conditional use process, part of which, as an example, is establishing evidence that the project comply with the Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code safety standards,” Albright said.

The owners of the property also will have to follow the township’s short-term rental ordinance adopted on July 16, 2019, which requires all owners of short-term rentals to get a license annually. They also have to provide a floor plan, site plan with parking spots, proof of a minimum of $500,000 in liability insurance, and a variety of other requirements.

If Green Mountain Top receives approval from the supervisors, this would be their first short-term rental in the township. Albright said he doesn’t know if they have any other short-term rentals.

This also would be the first short-term rental in Chestnuthill Township’s general commercial zoning district.

According to Realtor.com, the property sold for $420,000 in May 2023. It consists of a house built in 1936 with three bedrooms, and one and half bathrooms on 6.52 acres, plus a barn and other buildings. It was sold “as is” and was marketed as an investment property.

The description of the property states, “Investment opportunity property with multiple income sources. Corner lot, zoned General Commercial. Numerous uses include bed-and-breakfast, in-home business, family compound, numerous commercial uses.”

Albright said the property has never been a short-term rental, and as far as zoning, it doesn’t matter that it is an existing residential structure. That won’t weigh for or against allowing for its use as a short-term rental.