Glens Falls council tables short-term rental local law after public hearing, plans renotice with shorter sunset
January 14, 2025 | Glens Falls City, Warren County, New York
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A public hearing on a proposed local law to amend Chapter 220 (zoning) for short-term rentals in Glens Falls was closed and the council voted to table the draft local law so it can be renoticed with a three-year sunset clause.
Dr. Christine Thurlow Brenner, a new Glens Falls resident, addressed the council during the public hearing and urged the city to adopt rules now rather than wait until problems emerge. “Progressive future-oriented cities that are interested in where they're going and who they are becoming are communities that get out in front of issues,” she told the council, praising the city’s collaborative process and referring to guidance from the National League of Cities and a Warren County short-term rental database.
The hearing had been left open to take public input; after Dr. Brenner’s remarks the council moved to close the hearing. A motion to close the public hearing passed by voice vote. The council then discussed a remaining point of disagreement in the draft local law — the duration of a sunset clause on the ordinance. The committee had publicly noticed a four-year sunset period after an earlier compromise; one council member, Landry, favored a three-year period and asked members to consider that change.
Council members said they had received significant public comment and committee work on the draft, including a survey and three public hearings. Council members agreed it would be best practice to renotice a revised version rather than vote immediately to change the publicly noticed four-year sunset. The council voted to table Resolutions 4 and 5 (the SEQRA negative declaration and the local law adopting amendments to Chapter 220) and instructed staff to renotice the local law with a three-year sunset so the council can consider it on a future agenda.
Why it matters: short-term rental rules touch neighborhood character, enforcement resources and tax compliance. Council members said they wanted to balance protection of R-1/R-2 neighborhoods and administrative oversight while aligning the city code with new state requirements.
What’s next: The committee and staff will renotice the revised local law with a three-year sunset clause for a future council meeting. The council said no additional public hearing is required because the public had previously commented on the sunset period, but the text will be renoticed and returned for a vote.
Votes and formal actions recorded at the meeting are being renoticed and will appear on the next meeting agenda for final action.
Dr. Christine Thurlow Brenner, a new Glens Falls resident, addressed the council during the public hearing and urged the city to adopt rules now rather than wait until problems emerge. “Progressive future-oriented cities that are interested in where they're going and who they are becoming are communities that get out in front of issues,” she told the council, praising the city’s collaborative process and referring to guidance from the National League of Cities and a Warren County short-term rental database.
The hearing had been left open to take public input; after Dr. Brenner’s remarks the council moved to close the hearing. A motion to close the public hearing passed by voice vote. The council then discussed a remaining point of disagreement in the draft local law — the duration of a sunset clause on the ordinance. The committee had publicly noticed a four-year sunset period after an earlier compromise; one council member, Landry, favored a three-year period and asked members to consider that change.
Council members said they had received significant public comment and committee work on the draft, including a survey and three public hearings. Council members agreed it would be best practice to renotice a revised version rather than vote immediately to change the publicly noticed four-year sunset. The council voted to table Resolutions 4 and 5 (the SEQRA negative declaration and the local law adopting amendments to Chapter 220) and instructed staff to renotice the local law with a three-year sunset so the council can consider it on a future agenda.
Why it matters: short-term rental rules touch neighborhood character, enforcement resources and tax compliance. Council members said they wanted to balance protection of R-1/R-2 neighborhoods and administrative oversight while aligning the city code with new state requirements.
What’s next: The committee and staff will renotice the revised local law with a three-year sunset clause for a future council meeting. The council said no additional public hearing is required because the public had previously commented on the sunset period, but the text will be renoticed and returned for a vote.
Votes and formal actions recorded at the meeting are being renoticed and will appear on the next meeting agenda for final action.
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