Property owners in Pittsford Village provide input on proposed laws pertaining to short-term rentals

Pittsford, New York – Legislation that may have an effect on the future of Airbnb and other short-term rentals in the area is being considered by the Village of Pittsford.

The proposed legislation was the topic of a workshop held by the village board of trustees on Tuesday.

“We have enacted a moratorium so we could take a look at possible legislation,” said Pittsford Village Mayor Alysa Plummer. “Now, we’re in the throws of what that looks like for our community. Do we want to not have short-term rentals? Do we want to have some kind of a mix? Where should they be?”

According to the board, a few locals are worried about short-term rentals being allowed in residential neighborhoods.

Attending the workshop, a man stated that since they are businesses, they shouldn’t be in neighborhoods and that there should be a distinct boundary. The rentals reminded him of motels.

“What if outside investors were going to come in and buy up a whole bunch of houses in this charming village, and they all became Airbnbs or Vrbos or short-term rentals?” said Plummer, who was raising questions posed by residents against their presence. “We want to make sure that the fabric of our neighborhoods are protected as well.”

“If you read the legislative intent and what we talk about many times, it is to protect the stock of residential dwellings, to maintain historic character,” said Board of trustee member Lisa Cove.

Many of those worries, according to the village’s property owners, are baseless.

“They’re trying to regulate a problem that doesn’t exist,” said Erin Eder, who has property listed on Airbnb.

“Airbnb and Vrbo, they regulate you through ratings,” explained DeeDee DiMarco, who co-owns places with Eder. “If you get a bad rating, no one’s coming to your Airbnb. There’s no partying going on. People aren’t loud. It’s just not the case.”

On State Street in the village, there is a short-term rental property owned by Mark Caramanna. According to him, many locals frequently rent out his home when they are in the region, which generates income for the neighborhood’s small businesses.

“They’re bringing their kids back to see grandma or to see snowflakes for the first time, or to spend Christmas here,” he explained. “All we’re trying to do is provide a service so people can bring their families in for whatever need that may be and love the village just as much as we do.”

The owners are hoping the village can come up with something that doesn’t endanger their land.

“Our thought is if they want to govern what we have now, if they want to legislate it, if they want to permit us, we follow their rules,” Caramanna said. “We’re OK with that.”

“We’re just asking for reasonable regulations, and for them not to completely shut down this service that, frankly, a lot of people who come back to the area or come to visit really really love,” said Eder.

A second workshop meeting is scheduled for Monday, June 24 at 6 p.m. As talks continue, the board is also scheduled to vote next week on whether to continue the eight-week moratorium on short-term rental homes.