OLD ORCHARD BEACH — The town is putting restrictions on a few cottage rental businesses, citing code violations.

The council Tuesday night, under the recommendation of the town’s administrative board, voted to postpone the renewal of the business license for The Landings, allowing the time for the code enforcement officer and the owner to address any concerns.

The pending renewal of license for The Landings, located at 29 Saco Ave., limits the rental period for the nine cabins from May 1 to Oct. 15, and requires an inspection of the cabins within six months of license approval.

The council also voted, with Malorie Pastor and Jay Kelley opposing, to grant the renewal of business licenses for Fern Park Cabins, located at 74 Saco Ave., and Crosswind Cottages, located at 142 East Grand Ave.

Per their town licenses, these cabins are also limited to seasonal rental, and the Fern Park Cabins cannot be rented out to foreign students in town for summer jobs on a J-1 visa.

Ed Jackson, owner of The Landings and Fern Park Cabins, said he was told there were some police concerns. He said he looked at police logs and most of the calls were related to stray cats and medical concerns. He said there were a few calls related to student parties, but “no major issues.”

“I bought the place because it had a year-round license,” he said. “I’m willing to fix whatever needs to be fixed.”

He said he didn’t understand why the town wanted to make the proposed changes.

“I can assure you that the issues that prompted police calls were not restricted to stray dogs and stray cats,” said Town Manager Larry Mead. “There are a lot of problematic issues there, dealing with domestic disputes, drugs, alcohol, criminal behavior, repeated police calls.”

However, he said, what prompted the concern about winter rentals were code issues.

Code Enforcement Officer Dan Feeney said there were “numerous violations” at the nine cabins at The Landings, including illegally hooked up electricity, gas and plumbing. Feeney said there were also space heaters too close to furniture. He said extension cords were running from one window to another, and there were broken windows. Several had a small room used as a bedroom that did not meet size requirements.

“They are not suitable for year-round housing,” he said.

Feeney said he found frozen pipes, sewer backed up, and fecal matter in a sink and in a tub.

“The conditions are horrendous,” he said.

The Fern Park Cabins haven’t been rented out in the winter, but in the summer, they are crowded with international students, posing safety concerns, said Mead. He said it’s difficult to keep track of the students, and thus the town was restricting this use.

Feeney described the Fern Park Cabins as in fair to poor condition, with outdated fixtures.

“They are packed to the ceiling with mattresses for J-1 students,” he said.

Feeney said hotel staff told him they fill the cabins with as many students as they can.

“They need repairs, serious repairs,” he said.

Councilor Malorie Pastor said if Jackson, who lives in Florida in the off-season, was not going to be in town in the winter, he needed to have staff who would run a tight ship.

“This is way below the bar,” she said.

She said she wanted Jackson’s cabins shut down.

“This sounds deplorable,” she said. “Our town deserves better than this.”

Pastor said it seemed like Jackson was blindly looking past the code violations.

“I don’t feel like you care enough,” she said.

Jackson said he didn’t have many complaints.

“Small stuff, that’s it,” he said.

Councilor Michael Tousignant said there had been controversy with the Saco Avenue cabins for many years with previous owners.

Mead said the town is limiting the Crosswinds Cottages to seasonal under the suggestion of the owner, who didn’t want to deal with winter rentals any more.

— Staff Writer Liz Gotthelf can be contacted at 282-1535, ext. 325 or [email protected].