SKANEATELES, N.Y. -- The village of Skaneateles draws in thousands of visitors every year.
One place people can stay is Loft 42, but owner Robert Kiltz could soon lose his share of the tourists as the village considers a law banning some short-term rentals.
"I'm concerned that without the short term rentals, it'll become a summertime-only tourist town that is shut down throughout the rest of the year," Kiltz said.
Tuesday, many residents supported Kiltz's view at a village public hearing, but many others voiced concerns to short-term rentals.
"We don't need more rooms," one resident said. "We've got plenty of commercial rooms to adequately take care of the tourists that do come to town."
Other neighbors raised concerns about visitors that are noisy and disruptive, and Mayor Marty Hubbard says some property owners are ignoring current zoning laws and wrongly welcoming visitors.
"It's a very sensitive issue, but underscoring it all, it's very much a legal issue," Hubbard said. "We unfortunately in the village of Skaneateles are dealing with several property owners who are illegally operating their property."
But Kiltz and others said a select few visitors are ever-disruptive, and he believes that changes to the local zoning laws would unfairly discriminate against some business owners.
"Short-term rentals have brought amazing people, vibrancy, that learn about a community, spend money in the community, and share our lives," Kiltz said. "That's what's important in this law, that they're working on restricting free commerce."
Any changes to the zoning law will go through the village board, which will meet later this month to again discuss the issue. Right now, there is a moratorium on allowing new rental properties and enforcing codes on existing ones in the village. The freeze ends January 1. Officials hope to have a decision on regulations before that date.