By Peter Calvert

Planning Board Meeting, January 12

Planning Board:  Bill Palmer, Chair, Cricket Keys, Cyndi Wright, Eric Van Benschoten, Frank Winkler, Greg Evans, Joanne Callahan. Support Staff: JoAnn Boerner, Clerk, DelCo Kristen Janke.
A Public Hearing was held on the proposed sale by Scott Seidenstock of 22 acres of his 36 acres at 1731 Canada Hollow Road to the City of New York through a minor subdivision. One neighbor was present and, upon hearing the specifics of the deal, offered no objections. The hearing was closed and the subdivision was approved. The meeting adjourned after that one agenda item and the Planning Board stayed for informal discussions on these topics: Airbnbs permit compliance; Zoning for Town and Hamlet; and Workforce Housing.

Airbnb and short-term rental permit regulations and fees were adopted April 12, 2022 by the Town Board following extensive research by the Planning Board, but numerous establishments are advertising their short-term housing availability in Andes without registering their businesses under existing laws. A ballpark figure of 200+ short-term rentals are being publicly advertised in the Town and Hamlet of Andes and 13 only are currently registered. At the January 2026 Town Board meeting, Zach Haverly, the Andes Code Enforcement Officer (CEO), mentioned that a list exists of Delaware County’s short-term rentals paying bed-tax. Those Andes short-term rentals would receive mailed reminders to register annually for their Town permit and be inspected for building safety by the Town CEO.
Following several years of non-registration by Andes short-term rentals, the CEO also proposed the Town approve the levying of fines of $1,000 per violation if those owners did not register their short-term rentals with the Town and pay the initial $300 fee. Annual registration is $100 to renew in subsequent years. The fines for a rental night occurring without a town permit would accrue following each rental night. i.e. a three-night un-permitted weekend rental would thus result in a $3,000 violation. These fines would continue to accrue with each subsequent violation and, if in arrears, could be attached to annual Town property tax bills.

Planning Board members recognized the CEO’s frustration as the current law lacks teeth to compel compliance but also looked for ways to educate Airbnb owners as to the required registration process. The Planning Board believes owners would comply if they were more aware of the rules, which can be learned by contacting the Town Clerk, Carol Ames at (845) 676-4791. Ultimately, the Planning Board voted to tell the Town Board they are in favor of the $1,000 violation fee if it comes up for a vote.

Kristen Janke, DelCo rep to the Planning Board, brought up the issue of consolidating the zoning regulations for the Town and the Hamlet. Following a voter referendum, on December 31, 2003, the Village of Andes was dissolved into the Town of Andes to form one government entity and the Hamlet term was used to differentiate between that “urban” section of the Town and the homes and farmland and countryside and woodlands beyond the limits of the former Village. Certain zoning regulations from the Village have carried over into the Hamlet. However, all of the Hamlet and Town zoning regs need to be typed page by page into Word docs from the current print-only handbook versions. Kristen believes she can corral the workforce necessary to do that task. Once in Word format, the zoning can be uploaded and become accessible to topic search and retrieval in online venues to assist the citizens and property owners of Andes.

Workforce housing needs were again brought up by the Planning Board. The County has conducted a housing study, still in draft format, eventually to be published. Their recommendations will then be revealed but it is evident that workforce housing is a burning Countywide and Nationwide issue. Sidney has private/public projects that are potential models.~