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Vol. 6 – No. 10 ♦
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The News Leader of the Pines
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FR EE
December 11 - December 17, 2021
Medford Lakes Bans Short-Term Rentals, Contending They Were Source of Complaints
BOARD-CERTIFIED CENSURE
New Law Designed in Particular to Eliminate Airbnbs and Vrbos Listed for Availability in Borough By Douglas D. Melegari Staff Writer
MEDFOR D LA K E S — Shor t-t e r m rentals, or the renting of dwelling units for “30 days or less,” has been prohibited in Medford Lakes Borough, a 1.2 square-mile municipality – nestled in the Pines with 22 lakes – described as “rustic” with some 1,500 homes, over 150 of which are considered log cabins. Borough Solicitor Doug Heinold, when an ordinance was introduced during Medford Lakes Borough Council’s Oct. 13 meeting to enact the ban, which subsequently passed during council’s Nov. 10 meeting, indicated that the measure was the result of a “a lot of discussion over the years” with a “particular” focus on Airbnbs (Air Mattress Bed and Breakfasts) and Vrbos (Vacation Rentals by Owners), though “not exclusive to that.” Heinold, in pointing out that there were active short-term rentals in the borough at the time of passage, maintained that “the borough never blessed” such rentals “as a permitted use,” and “this ordinance makes it clear that they are a prohibited use.” But by not having a law on the books until now, such a measure would take what has essentially been a legal activity, and by all accounts on websites that provide for rentals of Airbnbs and Vrbos, a flourishing economic activity in the borough, and shut it down.
Staff Photo
LeisureTowne sign.
A Marlton Resident Is Threatened Via Certified Letter Signed by the ‘LeisureTowne Board of Trustees’ with the Prospect of Criminal and Civil Charges for ‘Trespassing’ at One of Its Meetings to Distribute a Flyer Criticizing the Board, Although He Denies Both Any Responsibility and Ever Having Been There
By Bill Bonvie Staff Writer
SOUTHAMPTON—A 78-year-old resident of the Marlton section of Evesham Township who took part in a discussion on a social media site that involved comments about the Southampton Township-based LeisureTowne Homeowners Association’s cancellation of a 50th anniversar y observance, but who claims he has never set foot inside the privately run community, has been threatened via a certified letter from the LeisureTowne Board of Trustees with criminal and civil action for
possibly having “surreptitiously” entered a “governmental meeting” in one of its facilities for the purpose of distributing flyers critical of the board. The recipient, Robert Campbell, chose to share the letter, dated Oct. 29, with the Pine Barrens Tribune after reading a frontpage article that ran in this newspaper during the week of Nov. 27 (“‘Lost Cord’ Restored”) about some LeisureTowne homeowners having received notices ac cusi ng them of v iolati ng a r u le pertaining to firewood storage that had been modified by the board in late October without their prior knowledge.
An attorney for the board, Gregg A. Shivers, of the Cherry Hill legal firm of Hill Wallack LLP, to whom the board referred all questions pertaining to the firewood matter and who initially sent this reporter a letter defending the rule change, ended up claiming that someone had “misprinted it” and if anyone was fined as a result, all they had to do was “contact the office.” W hen subs e quently c ont acte d regarding the letter that Campbell had received, Shivers asked this newspaper See LETTER/ Page 8
See RENTALS/ Page 10
CHRISTMAS COUNTDOWN
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INDEX Business Directory...................................12
Local News.................................................2
Christmas Coloring Contest ����������������������5
Marketplace..................................................... 14
Christmas Countdown �������������������������������3
Worship Guide..........................................11
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