New code to halt Airbnb’s in Bayville

Putting an end to short-term rentals

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The Village of Bayville approved a code change at Monday’s board of trustees meeting that addressed complaints from residents about a home at 18 Deans Lane that they said was rented often as an Airbnb offering, disrupting the neighborhood. Trustees voted unanimously in favor of the change. After it is filed in Albany, which Village Attorney Peter Weiler said might happen as early as Friday, it will be illegal to rent out a home in Bayville for less than 14 days.

The board had been working on the code change for a while, Mayor Bob De Natale said, in order to address residents’ concerns. “I think this will give some clarification to keep things in order,” he added. “It’s intended to address the Airbnb issue.”

The new code states that the introduction of internet-based “for rent by owner” services has dramatically increased the number of short-term home rentals, often only for a weekend. As a result, Bayville residents frequently experience excessive traffic congestion, the blocking of neighboring driveways and noisy disturbances caused by short-term tenants and their guests.

De Natale said he was only aware of the Deans Lane home, but added that the new code would discourage other residents from getting involved in short-term rentals.

The code also indicated that the village board believes that short-term rentals threaten the residential character and quality of life of the neighborhoods where they occur.

At a village meeting last August, residents complanied that there was loud music until the wee hours of the morning at 18 Deans Lane and cars were parked in front of neighbors’ homes, sometimes blocking their driveways. The waterfront house, which has a view of Bayville Creek and a pool, had been listed on Airbnb as a “luxury beach house perfect for couples or groups.” The three-bedroom “villa” was listed at $699 a night, and had a five-star rating.

But without a code change, village officials could do little to stop the temporary rentals there.

According to the new code, booking or advertising a short-term rental will also be a violation. Weiler said that a first offense would carry a fine of $1,000, and the penalty would increase to $1,500 and $3,000 for the second and third. “It builds up,” he said, “especially if there are consecutive violations.”

Trustee Bob Nigro said that residents who become aware of a violation should contact the village building inspector, Doug Groth, by calling the village, at (516) 628-1439, and asking for extension 121. Groth will conduct an investigation, and anyone found to be in violation of the code will be directed to appear in village court. If a complaint is being made on a weekend, it was suggested that the complaint investigator, Sal D’Agate, be contacted. He can be reached at extension 122.

When the trustees voted to enact the code, residents applauded.

Another topic of discussion at Monday’s meeting was the proposed dog park at Charles E. Ransom Beach, which is owned by the Town of Oyster Bay. Bayville residents cannot use the dog park in Massapequa, also managed by the town, or the one in Glen Cove, so many have welcomed the plan for one in their hometown. But De Natale said that village officials had never been asked their opinions on the location.

“From what I was told it passed by 81 percent,” said resident Rory Cohen, referring to an online town survey. “Why are you so against it?”

Deputy Mayor David Wright said he was in favor of having a dog park in Bayville, just not at Ransom Beach. The village, he said, is looking for another, equally nice place.

De Natale said he and the board had been asked not to speak publicly about the issue by the town. “We’re in the middle of pinpointing a couple of spots,” he said, “that are much prettier.”

Nigro said that trustees had asked residents who would be affected by the dog park’s location at Ransom Beach before looking elsewhere. “This will be a town park, and people will come from all over,” he said.

The town put the Massapequa dog park on an unused piece of property, Nigro said. The village would like to find a similar location that wouldn’t be across the street from restaurants.