Ulster residents and owners clash at public hearing over proposed short-term rental rules

The Town of Ulster opened a public hearing on a proposed local law to regulate short-term rentals in the town.

Ed Hill, a resident of Hill Court, told the board that the town should adopt a numerical cap and enforce existing code rather than legalize listings the town has not been policing. "We're only here because we're not currently enforcing the laws the town already has," Hill said, urging the board to authorize police to remove noncompliant renters and to ask Airbnb to delist offending properties.

Several other residents raised utilities concerns and neighborhood impacts. Ratiya Hill, who said she lives on Fawn Hill Court and that her community's water is currently tied to Cherry Hill on an emergency basis, argued that homes connected under emergency water service "cannot allow Airbnb" because supply must serve residents first. Short-term rental owners pushed back: Terry Tompkins said he is registered and enforces rules at his Glen Eyrie Lake Park property, and Christian Hague described restoring a 1770 house and using short-term rental income to maintain the historic home and support business for Kingston and Ulster.

Board members did not take final action on a specific ordinance text during the hearing; the public comment record will inform next steps. The board opened and then closed the hearing during the meeting and indicated further review of the draft local law.