Planning Project Manager Molly Gaudioso, of Colliers Engineering and Design, gave a presentation about the draft of short-term rentals regulations. Colliers recently completed the rebranding of Bergmann Architects, Engineers, and Planners, and Bergman is now part of Colliers. One potential benefit of a STR is that is that property owners can diversify potential streams of revenue.

“It is an opportunity for some people to help defray the costs of homeownership,” Gaudioso told approximately 25 residents.

Gaudioso also noted that other potential benefits are the village may see an increase in local economic activities and tourisms as well as an increased supply can restrain price growth for STRs and make traveling more affordable.

Some potential STR issues, Gaudioso outlined, include overcrowding and increased transiency in neighborhoods, increasing housing costs or units being taken off the rental and ownership markets, and a negative impact on employment and hospitality industry due to the shift to STRs from traditional hotels.

Molly Gaudioso, of Colliers Engineering and Design, gave a presentation about the draft of short-term rentals regulations Monday. P-J photo by Michael Zabrodsky

“We’re looking at kind of updating and revising the short term rental regulations. A big piece of that is making sure that there’s consistence,” Gaudioso said.

Mayor Randy Holcomb said the village is trying to bring the village’s short-term rental code up to date.

“This is a great turnout. It’s what we (trustees) were hoping for,” Holcomb said.

Gaudioso said the permit process includes receiving a special-use permit which is valid for one year from the date of issuance. The permit will not be transferable to new owners. New owners will have to apply for a permit.

“An inspection is a part of that (the permit) for enforcement purposes, and payment registration for occupancy tax is required,” Gaudioso said.

Gaudioso also noted potential location restrictions. Permits are prohibited in districts R-1, single family; R-3, mobile residential; and L-1, light industrial.

Permits may be issued in districts, R-2, multiple family; B-1, retail business; B-2, highway, and B-2.1 overlay auto.

Holcomb said the draft could be revised where permits may be issued in portions of R-1.

At their Oct. 9 meeting, village trustees voted to extend, effective Nov. 9, the short-term rental moratorium period for will be extended for another 180 days.

In May 2022, the board adopted a moratorium on STRs in the village. Then, Holcomb said a moratorium gives the village time to review zoning regulations.

The law states “recent trend of existing residential structures being used by owners for the primary purpose of renting to short-term rental occupants has created the concern that the residential character and economic base of the village is threatened. The Board of Trustees hereby finds that more specific zoning provisions are appropriate to address this increasingly popular land use activity and that short term vacation rentals create conflicts with their residential neighbors, and have the potential to degrade residential neighborhoods by introducing crime, noise, parking congestion and other detrimental impacts while also adversely affecting the traditional neighborhood character that results from a community of owner-occupied properties.”

Holcomb said previously that the village is not trying to put an end to short-term rentals, but the moratorium gives trustees time to looking at regulations that do not address rental properties. The moratorium limits any new short-term rental occupancy within three village zoning districts: single-family residential, multiple-family and mobile residential. It also prevents property owners from being able to apply for a permit to turn their homes into a short-term rentals. Properties already used as short-term rentals in the village will not be impacted by the local law.

The public comment period is open until Nov. 6. During that time, residents may go to the village hall and fill out a community survey. On the survey itself, there is a QR code box in which residents have the option to scan the box on the mobile device and fill out the form electronically.

Trustee Ellen Barnes said the comments will be compiled by Colliers and then given to the STR committee, and then the revised STR law will be presented to trustees.

Barnes noted that concerns had been aired since 2014.

“We (trustees) realized that the laws were inadequate as they were written. This is a new land use, so we needed to redo the laws. It’s a lengthy process,” Barnes said.

To view the STR regulations draft, visit lakewoodny.com.