To the editor:

I am in support of the position and goals of the Lake Placid Residents for a Sustainable Community. RSC is a residents group that is concerned that our community is being seriously and irreparably damaged by the conversion of residential housing into commercial enterprises. These for-profit businesses are destroying the essence of our neighborhoods, making them unaffordable to working people and eroding Lake Placid’s economic sustainability. RSC’s goal is to restrict short-term rentals in residential neighborhoods through effective, consistent enforcement of the joint Lake Placid-North Elba land use code. Transient (short-term) rentals are not included as a permitted use or a conditional use in residential districts in the current land-use code. I support the need for regulation to address health, safety and nuissance issues, recognizing there is a difference between the owner/resident-occupied rental use and those houses that are owner investment properties.

Our elected officials need to consider the following points in regard to the proposed STR legislation.

1. Available housing to residents and workforce has been depleted by apartment/house conversion to STRs. The studies commissioned by the town and village (http://www.northelba.org/files/Final-Report-Short-Term-Rental-Assessment-Town-North-Elba-NY.pdf) has provided strong evidence showing that Lake Placid-North Elba is at a critical point of becoming a vacation and second-home community. There are significantly fewer workers living in Lake Placid and a declining year-round population. The number of families living in Lake Placid has declined, as has the school population. The increase of STRs and decrease of available workforce housing are certainly connected. This trend is not sustainable to the economic well-being of our community.

2. The current land use code is intended to protect residential neighborhoods. Transient short-term rentals are not included as a permitted use or even a conditional use in residential districts in the current land use code. How is the new legislation not a violation to the land use code?

3. The permit system proposed in the new legislation appears to legitimize STR use in residential neighborhoods.

In closing, I advocate for a transparent, public process through which the existing land use code can be examined, strengthened if necessary and enforced properly. I hope our elected officials consider the residents sincere concerns before making their final decision on the proposed STR legislation.

Edward Lis

Lake Placid