Next short-term rental meeting set for Nov. 5

The Laketown Township group looking into short-term rentals has scheduled one more meeting to collect public comments and share information before the 6-month moratorium is set to expire.

The joint committee of the Laketown Township Board of Trustees and Planning Commission met for a third time on Oct. 1, 2025, and set a fourth meeting for Nov. 5 at 6 p.m. at the township hall, 4338 Beeline Road.

Prior to the November meeting, joint committee members will receive a copy of all correspondence submitted about short-term rentals, copies of the short-term rental policies from area communities, and a comparison chart of those short-term rental policies. Public comments will also be taken.

Contacting the township

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.

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

Meetings

At the Oct. 1 meeting, township attorney Ron Bultje explained the township’s current rules and what options the township has to regulate short-term rentals.

The township uses a combination of zoning through a special use requirement and licensing requirements. The Graafschap Fire Department handles rental registration. Township staff enforce the rules.

For more on rental rules, visit graafschapfire.com, click on “Community Risk Reduction” and scroll to “Rental Unit Registration,” or click here.

The zoning ordinances for short-term rentals are in Chapter 38, Sections 38-494, 38-266, 38-240, 38-367, 38-183, 38-217, and 38-212.  Rental regulations are in Chapter 10, Sections 10-46 through 10-55.

Visit the laketowntwp.org and click on “Ordinances & Legal Notices.”

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 public comment.

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

At October’s meeting, seven people addressed the group.

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.

The moratorium expires Nov. 19. The township has not yet discussed whether it will continue the moratorium or end it.

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.