Park Township Neighbors, a nonprofit group of over 100 short-term rental owners, allege the township improperly amended its ordinances to expressly state short-term rental properties are prohibited in residential areas. Its members are appealing the amendments.
“There were a few hundred folks there at the meeting and, of everybody that made public comment, I think 3 to 1 people came out in support of allowing a group of property owners like ourselves the right to continue short-term renting their property.”
Jeremy Allen is President of Park Township Neighbors. He says STR owners have been operating rentals for decades under the township’s zoning ordinance; an ordinance that, in the past, did not explicitly prohibit them.
“We’re asking the Zoning Board of Appeals to do the work that a court would do and that is interpret the zoning law and there’s a lot of material that was given to them, so I think it’s totally prudent for them to take a few weeks.”
The Zoning Board paused the meeting and will continue it April 21st. Allen says if the board denies the group’s application, they will immediately appeal to the Ottawa County Circuit Court.
