The Saugerties Town Board unanimously voted to join a joint agreement with Ulster County that will allow the town to gain access to a county-sponsored digital platform that seeks to document all short-term rental properties in the town.
“They’re finding out how many parcels are short-term rentals and their location,” board member Leanne Thornton said, speaking of the county’s initiative at Wednesday’s Town Board meeting. She said as municipalities adopt short-term rental regulations such as permitting, then county officials can see which properties have a permit and take an inventory of what’s in each town and see which new facilities are becoming short-term rentals.
The vote comes as several residents have complained about loud noise, all-hours partying and litter emanating from short-term rental guests in residential neighborhoods, particularly in non-owner occupied units at the past two town meetings.
At Wednesday’s meeting, one resident took to the floor during the public comment period and described how he’s experienced non-stop noise this summer emanating from a non-owner-occupied short-term rental home next to him that has played host to numerous parties, including one that lasted five days and a graduation party with college-age guests that lasted to all hours of the day and night. He also complained of issues like an open-pit fire left unattended when guests at the short-term rental went to buy more alcohol.
The resident said his homeowner’s insurance also shot up 30 percent as a result of having such an operation next door, which began after the home was sold in March.
As he closed his comments, he pleaded for town officials to pass regulations on short-term rentals, which he said are definitely full-blown commercial enterprises, expressing frustration that the process has dragged out over two years.
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