OBSERVER Photo by Gregory Bacon Ryan Burlingame stands during the zoning commission meeting Friday morning as he speaks to the audience.

CASSADAGA — The potential of the village temporarily banning new short term rental properties in Cassadaga has upset a number of local residents.

The Cassadaga Village Board scheduled a hearing next month for a local law that would place a moratorium on new short-term rentals opening up within village limits. This moratorium would only restrict new short term rentals from opening in the village, and would not impact individuals already operating.

Even though village officials have scheduled a public hearing on the moratorium, they admitted the language of the proposed law itself needs to undergo substantial changes.

The idea of a moratorium originated from the Zoning Review Committee. That committee was created in 2019 to help the village rework its entire zoning code. Recently the committee’s focus has been on short-term rentals, which isn’t addressed at all in the current zoning code.

The reaction to the potential moratorium law has not been well received by Cassadaga residents, many of whom believe that the moratorium is trying to solve a problem that doesn’t exist.

The Zoning Review Committee met Friday morning to work further on the language of the law, but instead ceded their entirety of the meeting to hear concerns from the residents, who came out in full force.

Around 30 people showed up to Friday’s meeting to voice concerns over the potential short term moratorium. Over the course of the two-hour meeting many people spoke, some of whom were short term rental owners, residents looking at opening up a short term rental in the future, concerned residents, or residents with vested interest.

The main concerns from the residents included transparency and why the committee is focusing on short term rentals, when there’s no apparent issues. They also criticized committee members who operate short term rentals, saying it appears they’re trying to shut down future competition.

Ryan Burlingame, who co-chairs the Zoning Review Committee, said that he was happy to see everyone in attendance Friday morning, and said the committee is receptive to hearing the concerns of the many residents in attendance. Burlingame added that their efforts in redoing the zoning code is to help protect Cassadaga.

“Right now, we have zero zoning that protects Cassadaga, protects residents, and frankly the operators and owners of the properties,” said Burlingame.

One of the most vocal individuals in opposing the moratorium is Pittsburgh resident Kim Collins, who has owned and operated The Blue Oar in Cassadaga for a decade. Collins spearheaded the big push for attendance to Friday morning’s meeting, and was upset Friday that Wednesday the board had already taken the first steps for a moratorium. She expressed her unhappiness about the lack of clarity she has felt around the whole situation.

“The lack of organization and transparency following proper procedure is appalling,” said Collins.

The reason the village is pursuing the moratorium law is not to limit short term rentals, which the representatives acknowledged the benefits of, but it’s to protect the residents, property owners, and the village from things potentially being done improperly, explained Burlingame. He added that they know that there have been no problems yet, but they are trying to take a proactive approach.

The public hearing on the proposed moratorium on new short term rentals is set for Aug. 10 at 7 p.m., prior to the regularly scheduled meeting.

One point the residents in attendance agreed on is that the zoning codes should be reviewed for the reasons Burlingame stated, and they are in support of changes. The main issue for them lies with the need for a moratorium, which is not necessary while the zoning code is being looked at.

Burlingame also encouraged people to keep attending the Zoning Committee meetings, the next of which will be Thursday, July 21 at 8:30 a.m. The meeting dates can be found on the Village of Cassadaga website at https://www.cassadaganewyork.org/, where minutes from the past meetings of the Cassadaga Village Board can also be found.