OBSERVER Photo by Braden Carmen Kim Collins, a short-term rental property owner in Cassadaga, is a prominent figure in the Cassadaga Property Alliance.

CASSADAGA — The people of Cassadaga want to be heard regarding short-term rental properties in the village.

The Cassadaga Property Alliance, a group of residents and interested parties regarding property rights in the village of Cassadaga, has submitted an extensive proposal to the Village Board ahead of the upcoming meeting tonight at 7 p.m. at the village hall.

In the most recent village meeting on Aug. 10, interested parties spoke for nearly 90 minutes on their stance on the proposed Short-Term Rental Moratorium in the village during the public hearing portion of the meeting. After that point, the Village Board decided to table the discussion until the next meeting.

In the meantime, the Cassadaga Property Alliance drew up an agreement that short-term rental property owner Kim Collins said, “was based on extensive research into the best practices and fair for all of other similar communities throughout the United States.”

In the proposal, the Cassadaga Property Alliance outlined the following points: Purpose, Definitions, Conditions (1-14), Compliance, and FAQs (frequently asked questions). Also included were “Guiding Principles of the CPA,” which included requirements of rental property owners and their guests.

The alliance also suggested a yearly permit requirement at a rate of $100 for a primary property listing and $200 for each additional property listing, along with a $20 initial application fee. The alliance also recommended a background check through the New York State Office of Court Administration, which costs $95.

Also required in the proposal is a 24-hour emergency contact, property insurance, and a 5% lodging tax administered by the Chautauqua County Department of Finance. More information about the proposal can be found online at CassadagaPropertyAlliance.com

Susan Asquith, who wrote the proposal, shared on the CPA Facebook page, “The greatest concern for me personally is that this exercise to establish zone code language for short-term rental properties is about taking away people’s personal property rights.”

Many others shared Asquith’s sentiments about certain freedoms being taken away at the last meeting. Asquith claims, “The document the Cassadaga Property Alliance has proposed was met with criticism that it didn’t fit what the zone review committee is looking for in terms of controlling who can own/operate.”