Lanesborough Planning Board Votes 3-1 to Allow Year-Round Short-Term Rentals

LANESBOROUGH — February 17, 2026 — Lanesborough Planning Board votes 3-1 to allow short-term rentals 365 days a year. The board, chaired by Courtney Dondi, approved four votes on short-term rental framework elements at its February 17 meeting, adopting a zoning definition capping rental periods at 31 days or less, setting off-street parking minimums of two spaces for properties with fewer than three bedrooms and three spaces for properties with three or more bedrooms, and allowing accessory dwelling units to operate as short-term rentals subject to the new rules. Member Tara Mullett cast the lone dissent on the 365-day cap, citing neighborhood character concerns for densely settled areas. A request from Kirsten and Ralph Swartzer to reduce the 35-foot building height limit near Pontusic Lake to 26 feet was unanimously deferred to the July agenda after town planner Andrew Groff said a proper overlay district would require research the board cannot complete before the April 27 warrant deadline. Registration and inspection requirements and ownership limits for short-term rentals return to the board at its March 19 meeting.