Cold Spring Board Begins STR Review

Significant changes proposed for short-term rentals

The Cold Spring Village Board returned at its Wednesday (Oct. 16) workshop to its oversight of short-term rentals such as those booked through Airbnb.

Regulations were enacted three years ago but have not been enforced.

Chapter 100 of the Village Code was updated in July 2021 under Mayor Dave Merandy. But after a new board, including Mayor Kathleen Foley, was elected four months later, it deemed the STR regulations too cumbersome and beyond the village’s capacity to enforce. 

A committee of residents, including some STR operators and chaired by Jennifer Zwarich, made recommendations to streamline the law. But revisions were put on hold while trustees dealt with other issues, including a village parking plan.

The changes under consideration include removing the lottery system for issuing permits; reducing the number of STRs allowed from 49 to 40; requiring operators to live on-site, allowing one rental party at a time at each STR; limiting rentals to two guests per bedroom; and not having police officers handle enforcement.

At the Oct. 16 workshop, chaired by Deputy Mayor Tweeps Phillips Woods, Zwarich outlined issues still to be resolved, such as parking requirements, shared driveways, the legality of requiring STR operators to live in the village, enforcement and repeat offenders, permit fees and fines, inspections, one-time permits such as during West Point graduation week and the impact of paid and permit parking. 

A public hearing on proposed revisions to Chapter 100 will be required before any changes are adopted.