The Village of Bellport appears to be one step closer to regulating its short-term housing rental market.
At a packed Village Board meeting Monday at the Bellport Community Center, the board rolled out its latest proposal for new residential rental laws while seeking public comment.
Then officials indicated a vote will happen at the Feb. 27 Village Board meeting.
The thrust of the proposal is it would limit the amount of renters to a single home over the course of the warmer months. It also calls for all instances of renting to be registered with the village.
“The intent of this new code is to protect the health, safety, and the welfare of the village,” said Bellport Village Mayor Ray Fell. “It is not an intention of the code to put frost on short-term rentals.”
But the board, which is recommending a 16-day minimum for renting (that means only one renter per 16 days minimum per unit, which would limit the people in and out), was met with stiff resistance from some homeowners who took to the podium during a public hearing.
Shane O’Neill said one of his short-term renters ended up moving to Bellport Village because of the positive experience in those short stays.
“If the people that came to my carriage house and stayed couldn’t visit for a short period of time… we wouldn’t have a new resident,” he said.
Still some other residents, such as Greg Thorvaldsen, said short-term rentals have in some cases resulted in weekend revelers who are disturbing their neighbors.
After nearly two hours of debate, the board decided to postpone a vote on the law until Feb. 26 to think about the people’s suggestions and consider changes.
One change in particular the board said they would reconsider is the time frame for the renting restrictions, possibly moving it to the peak summer months instead of spring to fall.
The 16-day rule will also be reexamined. No matter what happens, regulating rentals will be a work-in-progress going forward, Fell said. “Once the code is adopted, my suggestion to the board is to revisit it at the end of the seasonal renting season,” he said.
Bellport Village has become a favorite summer rental location because, while it’s reminiscent of the Hamptons, it’s potentially cheaper, closer to the city, and less crowded.
Residents and their renters also have access to village amenities, such as the golf course, tennis courts and Fire Island ferry to Ho-Hum Beach, which is also owned by the village.
