Grand Traverse County Commission Public Hearing on Proposed Onsite Wastewater and Sewage Disposal Regulation; Local Municipalities Reconsider Short-Term Rental Ordinances; Recap of the 37th Annual Fair Housing Workshop Series Virtual Event
Last week was busy with policy considerations in Northwest Michigan. Leading off, we review the Grand Traverse County Commission Public Hearing on the proposed Onsite Wastewater and Sewage Disposal Regulation and will consider enactment of the regulation on May 21st. Next, we go over to Antrim County, which had not one but three recent meetings (Village of Elk Rapids, Milton Township, and Whitewater Township) wherein greater short-term rental restrictions and even short-term rental bans were discussed and considered. Last, we have a quick recap of the 37th Annual Fair Housing Workshop Series Virtual Event.
1. Grand Traverse County Commission Public Hearing Held on Proposed Onsite Wastewater and Sewage Disposal Regulation
This past Wednesday, April 23rd at a Grand Traverse County Commission Study Session a public hearing was held to consider the adoption of the Grand Traverse County Regulation for the Evaluation of Onsite Water and Sewage Disposal Systems at the Time of Property Transfer. Aspire North REALTORS provided a public comment on the proposed Onsite Water and Sewage Disposal Regulation (the draft regulation is on pages 8 to 17). Grand Traverse County Health Department officials and Grand Traverse County Commissioners expressed support and agreement with numerous changes that have been requested by Aspire North REALTORS in a letter originally provided by Aspire North REALTORS at the February 19th Grand Traverse County Commission Meeting (covered in the Feb. 24th, 2025 GAD Top 3). Grand Traverse County Commissioners noted that letters submitted by East Bay Charter Township and FLOW (For the Love of Water) also requested overlapping or similar changes to the regulation as those proposed by Aspire North REALTORS. Grand Traverse County Commissioners requested all of these duplicate change requests be changed in the draft regulation or at least be given strong consideration.
The Grand Traverse County Health Department was instructed by the Grand Traverse County Commission to make these alterations to the Onsite Water and Sewage Disposal Regulation before the May 21st Grand Traverse County Commission Regular Meeting where the regulation will be considered for acceptance and potential adoption. We at Aspire North REALTORS welcome your member feedback on the Grand Traverse County Onsite Water and Sewage Disposal Regulation (the draft regulation is on pages 8 to 17). Check out this letter of regulation amendments already proposed by Aspire North REALTORS as of Feb. 19th, 2025 thanks to input from Aspire North REALTORS members (member input provided by Matt Dakoske, Kara Gelven, Pam Mork, Nan Ray, Peter Read, Rick Stein, and Clint Wheeler). Please send any of your feedback to connor@aspirenorthrealtors.com.
2. Local Municipalities (Elk Rapids, Milton, and Whitewater) Reconsider Short-Term Rental Ordinances
Shout out to Aspire North REALTORS agent Kellie Sergent who made Aspire North REALTORS aware of Short-Term Rental Discussions being held recently in Antrim and Grand Traverse County. Short-term rental policy considerations in the Village of Elk Rapids, Milton Township, and Whitewater Township appeared to be initiated very abruptly with potential action considered in a very short timeframe. Below is a short breakdown of each locality’s meetings held and the information our association has at this time on their short-term rental considerations.
- Beginning with the first held meeting, on Friday, April 18th Whitewater Township held a Special Meeting on Good Friday at 8 am. At this meeting, the Whitewater Township Board considered a draft municipal civil infraction ordinance including a schedule of civil fines (pages 3 to 11, page numbers listed for information available in the proceeding link), a potential resolution formally prohibiting the rental of a non-owner-occupied dwelling for less than 30 days and adopted these civil fines against the operation of short-term rentals (page 12 to 15), and to pursue misdemeanor action against a specific property owner operating a short-term rental property that has been cited as unresponsive (page 16). These actions would, in effect, ban the operation of short-term rentals in Whitewater Township. No action was taken at this Whitewater Township Special Meeting. To ensure concerns are heard on this issue, consider attending the next Whitewater Township Board Meeting scheduled for May 8th at 6:30 pm located at the Whitewater Township Hall (5777 Vinton Road, Williamsburg, MI 49690).
- On Tuesday, April 22nd the Village of Elk Rapids Planning Commission held a discussion on removing the transfer of short-term rental licenses from seller to new owner. More specifically, they considered a draft ordinance which would amend the Village of Elk Rapids Short Term Rental Ordinance adding a section (pages 8 to 16) which prohibits the transfer of short-term rental licenses unless the transfers are made “to immediate family members” or are “reallocations of entity interests holding a short-term rental license among existing entity owners” (specific proposed edits are on pages 13 and 14). At this time, we are not aware of any action that was taken by the Village of Elk Rapids Planning Commission on this proposed ordinance amendment. Additional updates will be provided in the GAD Top 3 as it becomes available.
- On Thursday, April 24th a Special Meeting was held by Milton Township to discuss changes to their Short-Term Rental Ordinance, no additional details were provided on their township website. When we have more information we will make it available in GAD Top 3.
If you were in attendance for any of these short-term rental policy considerations and/or you have additional information to share on this topic please reach out to us at connor@aspirenorthrealtors.com.
3. Recap of the 37th Annual Fair Housing Workshop Series Virtual Event
This past Thursday, April 24th the Fair Housing Center of West Michigan held their 37th Annual Fair Housing Workshop Series Event virtually on Zoom. The topics covered during the event included:
- Fighting for Fair Housing: Recent Key Cases (available for one-hour of Fair Housing Continuing Education credit) - This covered specific current fair housing rights being advocated for across the country including: fair lending practices, accessibility claims, tenant screening, and exclusionary zoning
- Expanding Housing Choice: Source of Income Protections in Michigan - Provided an overview of the new source of income law requirements enacted this year that prohibits the use of source of income by landlords who own more than 5 units.
- Fostering Communities of Opportunity: Neighborhood Initiative - A presentation given on the National Fair Housing Alliance’s successful lawsuit against Fannie Mae to improve housing opportunities in low-income neighborhoods across the United States and an overview of the projects in Michigan funded by the lawsuit settlement in Michigan.
For more information, you can view all the 37th Annual Fair Housing Workshop Series Event handouts here. You can also view my notes from attending the event here.
