After months of heated debate and passionate testimony from residents, the Southold Town board voted 4-1 last night to adopt legislation setting a 14-night minimum for short-term rentals.
Today, members of the board — Justice Louisa Evans had to leave early to catch a ferry back to Fishers Island — reflected on why they decided to vote yay or nay for the measure.
“It was a tough decision for me,” Southold Town Supervisor Scott Russell said today. “I needed to think really hard about the impacts of short-term rentals. I came to realize that the cumulative impacts over time would be detrimental to the communities where they are located and the very real likelihood that the homes availing for rent year-round will disappear. Short-term rentals are very lucrative and people will, sooner or later, start to look at this business model instead of opting to offer their investments to the year-round rental market. It’s already happening.”
Russell said there are other consequences to consider. "The intensity of use of these properties has already changed to a use that's commercial. These homes were bought as single family dwellings, they were issued COs as single family dwellings, and that is the use these owners are entitled to. No rational argument can be made that this new use is consistent with that fact. I had to choose between tourism and quality of life. I chose the latter."
Southold Town Councilman Bob Ghosio, meanwhile, said he’s “very pleased” with the outcome and the board’s decision on the definition of transient rentals. “There was a lot of testimony and letters from all around the town that represented many different demographics of our town and offered many different opinions. During the hearings it became very clear to me that current code is being violated, and not necessarily on purpose.”
Ghosio said he believes people “did not know or fully understand the current code. We now have a concrete definition of ‘transient rental’ in our code that further clarifies what is allowed in residential zones. For me, this is a good step toward ensuring that the quality of life we have come to expect in our neighborhoods is maintained.”
Councilwoman Jill Doherty was the sole “no” vote. She said she thinks a better definition of ‘transient rental’ would be seven days, something she’s long maintained. “Also, I think we can do more by hiring code enforcement,” she said. Last night, the board did just that, voting on a resolution to green light the process of hiring another part time code enforcement officer.
Councilman Jim Dinizio, who also voted for the 14-day minimum, said he did so because it accomplishes his overall goal of not allowing the commercial endeavors in the town’s residential zones.
“Our current code is clear that owner occupancy is required for short term rentals of seven days or less in a residential zone. The zoning board of appeals made that decision years ago. As a conservative, I don’t like to add new restrictions, such as seven days to 14 days; however, it became clear to me after the August 8 meeting that supporters of the airbnb businesses were unwilling to even admit that they had established a business in a residential zone in direct violation of our code. They have an avenue to address their situation and that is to go to the building department and explain to him their business plan and let him make the decision.”
Councilman Bill Ruland added, “It is the right thing to do.”
