Clarkstown May Ban Short Term Rentals In Wake Of Shooting

NEW CITY, NY — The Clarkstown town board will hold a public hearing March 8 on a proposal to ban short-term rentals.

It's a reaction to the shooting incident Saturday on Turnberry Court, where five people from Brooklyn shot at people who had rented No. 3 — to shoot a music video, according to news reports — and were caught by police as they drove away. SEE: Police ID Men Involved In Weekend Shooting In New City

The 6-bedroom, 5,468-sq-ft luxury house, which features among other things a sauna, jacuzzi and heated saltwater pool with spa, was sold in December for $950,000, according to redfin.com.

It had recently been listed on Airbnb for $640 a night, CBS New York reported.

The Rockland Business Journal questioned the town's proposal, calling it a "knee-jerk reaction".

The RBJ pointed out that it is a way for homeowners to cope with the Hudson Valley's steep property taxes and cited Airbnb data that "the Hudson Valley and Catskill regions are among the top ten most profitable areas in the country for new hosts."

Also, the Business Journal said, Clarkstown already has a law on the books about short-term rentals. Property owners are already supposed to obtain a $250 permit from the town to use a home for short-term rentals. They must carry insurance, and there are limits — a maximum of 90 days a year. The penalties are stiff: $3,500-$5,000 for a first offense up to $10,000-$15,000 for a third.

The owner of 3 Turnberry Court did not have a permit to use the house for short-term rentals, a Clarkstown official told Patch.