Board, planners meet to talk short-term rental issues

The joint meeting of the Laketown Township Board of Trustees and Planning Commission to discuss the process for reviewing Laketown Township’s short-term rentals (“STRs”) ordinance is 7 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2025, at the township hall, 4338 Beeline Road.

The meeting will be used determine the process and the timing of how the board of trustees and the planning commission will (a) continue to collect public input, such as holding more meetings specifically for the purpose of collecting public comment, (b) learn more about the economic and social benefits and costs of STRs, (c) learn how other communities regulate or do not regulate STRs, and (d) evaluate potential changes to the Laketown STRs ordinance.

Residents are always encouraged to share their thoughts on short-term rentals in writing to the township and can do so at this meeting during the public comment period as well, but the main comment gathering will be during the future meetings.

The comments and discussion could lead to changes in the township ordinance for short-term rentals.

To contact the township, call (616) 335-3050 or email office@laketowntwp.org.

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.

Township Supervisor and Interim Manager Steven Ringelberg said, “When a property owner does short-term rentals of accessory dwelling units, the primary use of the property is as the owner’s residence, and the STR is an ‘incidental commercial use.’  When a standalone property is used as an STR, the only use of the property is for commercial purposes. That is part of the reason why this issue merits scrutiny by the planning commission and the board of trustees.”