Final special meeting on short-term rentals is Nov. 5

The final meeting of a special committee gathering information on short-term rental issues in Laketown Township will be at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2025, at the township hall, 4338 Beeline Road.

The group, made up of the Laketown Township Board of Trustees and Planning Commission, will examine how neighboring communities handle short-term rentals. The group will also take public comments.

The joint committee will not make any decisions about short-term regulations. The planning commission and the township board will independently make decisions.

The special committee plans to dissolve after the Nov. 5 meeting.

Participating

There are several ways to participate in the meeting and contact the township about short-term rentals.

Besides attending in person at the township hall, you can participate through video.

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.

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.

Minutes from the past meeting are available on the township website laketowntwp.org under “Boards & Commissions.”

Videos are available on YouTube. Search for Laketown Township.

History

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.

The moratorium expires Nov. 19. A discussion of extending the moratorium is on the agenda for the Wednesday, Nov. 5, planning commission meeting that immediately follows the meeting of the joint committee.

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.

The joint committee met for the first time in August and about 50 people attended the meeting in person and another 30 on Zoom. Twelve people spoke during the public comment period.

In September, two people spoke during the public comment period.

At October’s meeting, seven people addressed the group. At that meeting, township attorney Ron Bultje explained the township’s current rules and what options the township has to regulate short-term rentals.