Shutting the door on short-term rental properties, Airbnbs in Town of Lewiston

Lewiston, N.Y. (WBEN) - There will be no Airbnbs or short-term rental properties in the Town of Lewiston. The Town Board this week voted to ban them, by a vote of 3-2.

"We never had many," Board member John Jacoby told WBEN on Thursday.
"They have never been legal or lawful."

Why did the board find it necessary to take this step?

The Village of Lewiston recently regulated them, allowing up to 50 short term rentals. Word got out that there were some operating in the town as well.

"My phone rang off the hook," said Jacoby. "It became clear that throughout the town, that no one wants them. The biggest problem, for me, is that you live next door to a property that's vacant for about five days a week and all winter long. That's not conducive to a sense of community or a neighborhood."

Town Supervisor Steven Broderick was not in favor of the ban.

"I think we could have regulated short term rentals and allowed them," said Broderick.

He lives in the village and has an adjacent property that is an Airbnb. He said the house is kept immaculate. Grass and landscaping are taken care of every week. But he can also point out other Airbnbs nearby that are in deplorable condition.

"In the town, since about 2016, we found out that there are up to 15 short term rentals that are operating and were never brought to the board's attention. There were no complaints, no police activity, no run-down properties," Broderick said.

But Broderick noted recently when a couple of houses on Lower River Road became short term rentals, people started complaining.

Make no mistake, Jacoby said the town is not pulling up the welcome mat.

"I would invite anyone to come to our Art Festival, Peace Festival, Jazz Festival or GardenFest ," which attracts thousands of people each year.

There are some exceptions for short term rentals in commercial areas of the town.

Otherwise, property owners have 30 days to cancel spring and summer bookings.

The neighboring Town of Niagara has also banned short term rentals.