Staff photo / Ashley Fox This 211 Diana Drive home that was used as an Airbnb location will be on Poland Village Council’s agenda tonight. A decision is anticipated as to how to zone properly the house, which is owned by Dan and Sunny Sneddon.

POLAND — Owners of an Airbnb closed last week in Poland Village are apologizing to the community.

“We are law-abiding citizens and wish to stay that way,” Dan Sneddon said.

After the Airbnb location at 211 Diana Drive was ordered to cease and desist last week, Sneddon and wife Sunny released a statement on social media.

Asked if he would like to comment, Dan Sneddon referred to the posting — which explains how the couple decided to choose Airbnb.

The controversy around the home is due to the zoning, village officials said last week.

The residence is zoned residential and would need a conditional use permit, zoning administrator Tim Clavid said.

There is a guest-house code within the village that requires a conditional use permit through the board of zoning appeals, which would be considered a temporary rental as the family does not live at the Diana Drive location.

Village officials have been working to figure out how to zone the house properly, as it is not a bed and breakfast.

A decision is expected at tonight’s village council meeting, where the Sneddons said they are hopeful they can work with the village.

A Zoom meeting will be held at 7 p.m. Information to listen to the meeting can be found on www.polandvillage.org, then by choosing the “live meetings” menu.

“We hope we can apply for the correct permit as soon as possible after the meeting,” they said jointly.

The Sneddons said they researched local laws and did not see anything prohibiting short-term rentals. This is where they “first faltered,” they noted.

They also said they contracted a third-party vendor to assist with the permits and filings procedures. They have since sought legal guidance.

In September, the couple found their “dream home” in the Diana Drive residence, where they would be able to raise their three young boys.

The Sneddons decided to put their current home up for sale in New Springfield and move into the Diana Drive house, but those plans were impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, they said.

They decided to stay in their current house, as Sunny’s grandmother lives with them, and there is a separate area to allow distance.

It was then that the Sneddons decided to use Airbnb to help make payments on two mortgages, they said.

When the home was listed on Airbnb, and also Vrbo, the Sneddons said the response was “overwhelmingly positive” with interest from nonlocal individuals.