Public input sessions set for short-term rentals

Laketown Township is moving ahead with its examination of short-term rentals, setting meetings in September, October and possibly November to collect public comments.

The meetings to gather input are Wednesdays Sept. 3 and Oct. 1, and if needed, Wednesday Nov. 5, from 6-8 p.m. at the township hall, 4338 Beeline Road. Comment is limited to 3 minutes. In-person comments will be heard first, followed by Zoom comments. Correspondence received will be read at the meeting if there is sufficient time available.  The meetings will end at 8 p.m. because the planning commission meeting will start at that time.

Residents may write or email the township with their comments at any time. Send letters to the township at 4338 Beeline Road, Holland, 49423, or email office@laketowntwp.org.

The Laketown Township Board of Trustees and Planning Commission met in a joint session on Aug. 13, 2025, to talk about the process of fact-finding about short-term rentals.

About 50 people attended the meeting in person. About 30 people were on Zoom.

Co-Chairperson Chad Nienhuis thanked residents for attending the meeting.

“We’re here to do what’s best for Laketown Township,” he said.

More information

All township meetings use the same Zoom code. To attend a township meeting on Zoom, click on https://zoom.us/j/4556718351

The meeting ID is 455 671 8351.

To join by telephone, call (312) 626-6799.

Twelve people spoke during the meeting’s public comment session.

Minutes from the meeting are available here.

A recording of the meeting is available here.

A packet with information is available here.

A packet with correspondence received before the meeting is available here.

Besides setting the public listening sessions, the joint board on Aug. 13 asked that, at future meetings, the township attorney explain the current ordinance and the township’s powers to regulate short-term rentals, have a presentation on enforcement options, and have township staff present a list and comparative table of surrounding communities and their short-term rental policies.

No revisions to the rental rules will be made by this joint group, but the public meetings will help give directions to the planning commission which could make changes. Any changes then proposed by the planning commission need approval from the township board.

Moratorium

The township board enacted a six-month moratorium on free-standing short-term rentals effective May 19 in an effort to decrease complaints and preserve housing.

Unlike other types of short-term rentals where the owner lives on the property and complaints from neighbors about noise or disruptive behavior are almost non-existent, the owners of free-standing short-term rentals do not live onsite.  Some owners of such properties do not even live in the township, and they often use an outside property management company.

At the Aug. 13 joint meeting, the group tabled the idea of developing an appeal process for property owners impacted by the moratorium. Members said they wanted more input from the public.

Three owners have asked for an appeal.