From left Lakewood Village Trustee Nancy Jones, Mayor Randy Holcomb, Trustee Richard Fischer, and Trustee Ellen Barnes, discuss business Monday. Trustee Ben Troche was absent. P-J photo by Michael Zabrodsky

LAKEWOOD – Village Trustees, Monday, approved a public hearing date for Lakewood’s short-term rental law.

The hearing, to accommodate more people to attend, is scheduled to be held April 15 at 7 p.m., at the Busti Town Administration Building, 125 Chautauqua Ave., Lakewood.

At their Feb. 26, trustees discussed some potential short-term rental revisions via Zoom call with Planning Project Manager Molly Gaudioso, of Colliers Engineering and Design.

“We are right at the end of this, the finalization,” Trustee Ellen Barnes said. “At that point, we are going to be scheduling our public hearing for the short-term rental law. The consultants will be present here for that (hearing).”

Barnes added that after the public hearing, at a future meeting, trustees will take action on the law.

“So we’re very close to completion here,” Barnes said. “And I thank everybody for their time and patience, and we hope we have a law that will withstand the tests that may be coming its way.”

In October 2023, Gaudioso gave a presentation about short-term rental regulations. One potential benefit of a STR, Gaudioso said then, is that property owners can diversify potential streams of revenue. 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 short-term rental issues, Gaudioso outlined in the October meeting, included 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 short-term rental from traditional hotels.

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 in which an inspection is part of the permit for enforcement purposes, and a payment registration for occupancy tax is required. There are 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.

At their Oct. 9, 2023 meeting, village trustees voted to extend the short-term rental moratorium period that will be extended for another 180 days. The extension went into effect on Nov. 9, 2023. In May 2022, the board adopted a moratorium on short-term rental in the village. Then, Mayor Randy Holcomb said a moratorium gives the village time to review zoning regulations. To view the short-term rental regulations draft, visit lakewoodny.com.

In a related matter, trustees approved a change order not to exceed $4,000 for Colliers Engineering and Design.

“The change order is for services that were performed beyond the current contract. And they (services) include additional meetings, edits, and writing of the short term rental (draft),” Barnes said. “The request was made for the amount of $4,000 to cover their expenses. And I think the job they’ve done is well worth it.”

In other business:

Trustees approved to move their meeting scheduled for April 8 to April 15 due to the occurrence of the solar eclipse on April 8.

Trustees approved to remove Deputy Treasurer Stephnie DePonceau off of her probation period, and increase her salary to $41,600.

Trustees accepted a three-year bid of $529,200 from Beichner Waste Services, Inc. of Sinclairville for a weekly residential garbage collection and recycling.

“It might be better to look at a three-year period, because we know it’s going to be the same for the three year,” Trustee Richard Fischer said of the garbage contract.

Trustees approved the village-wide garage/yard sales on May 31, and June 1.

Trustees approved the annual “Junk Pickup” on June 3.

Trustees approved a public hearing on April 15 at 6:45 p.m. regarding the village’s tentative budget. The hearing will be held at the Busti Town Administration Building, 125 Chautauqua Ave., Lakewood.