Published in the June 8, 2016 edition
By MAUREEN DOHERTY
LYNNFIELD — Building Inspector Jack Roberto has ordered Alexander Styller to cease and desist from offering his 8 Needham Rd. mansion “available for lodging purposes on a short-term rental basis.”
The order was issued to Styller by certified mail on May 31, two days after a 33-year-old Randolph man, Keivan Heath, was shot inside the home and subsequently died during a Memorial Day weekend party hosted at the home by renters Styller met through an online website similar to AirBnB.
No arrests have been made in connection with Heath’s death.
According to Roberto’s letter, a review of the AirBnB website was conducted, which disclosed that Styller is using the site to rent out his home.
Roberto’s order indicates Styller’s action violate the town’s zoning bylaws because short-term rentals would be classified as a “hotel” or “lodging or rooming house” use, none of which are allowed in the town’s single-family zoning district where the home is located.
“A hotel use is forbidden in both districts. A lodging house use is likewise forbidden, except by special permit,” Roberto wrote, adding that a review of town records shows Styller has not obtained a special permit for the use.
In addition to ordering Styller to cease and desist “from violating the town’s bylaws,” Roberto has ordered Styller to “remove all mention of the premises from the AirBnB website and any similar marketing platform.” If he fails to do so within 30 days, Roberto will issue an enforcement order, which may include fines or suing Styller for injunctive relief in Essex Superior Court.
Styller has the option to appeal Roberto’s order to the town’s Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) within 30 days. If such an appeal is filed, Roberto would stay any enforcement orders until the outcome of the appeal is known.
