On July 13, the village of Cassadaga Board of Trustees passed a motion to enact a local law that would put a moratorium on new short-term rentals in the village. A public hearing will be held Aug. 10 for residents to provide comments.

The village zoning committee is pushing an agenda as urgent without consulting with the public. There have been no registered complaints about an issue that has “real” economic risks for the community. The committee chairperson reported they have had several working meetings about the issue; done some research.

Unfortunately for residents, the research did not include us who own property in the village. No meeting agendas about the issue were publicly posted that the issue and its potential impacts were being discussed and any pending action would be taken.

People on the zoning committee who own rental properties are now making decisions about what others can and can’t do with their real estate. So why the urgency and secrecy? Rome is not burning.

If this is such an urgent concern, why not first work to identify the issues that are unique to Cassadaga and develop zoning law language that is beneficial and acceptable for the community? There are no procedures for short-term rentals even in place. Instead, now this “closed” process has created a feeling of frustration and distrust.

We should be better than this. The Village Board should reject this new law. I would ask the zoning committee to open the discussion first and then act.

If not, residents should take the time now to learn about their property options before their rights are taken away.

Kim Collins is owner and operator of Blue Oar Lakehouse in Cassadaga.