Aspire North REALTORS Provides a Letter of Support for the Traverse City Planning Commission’s Goal to Expand Housing Opportunities, Update on East Bay Township Short-Term Rental Ordinance Discussions, and Get on the Bus for the June 6th Ride to the Capitol Day!
This week we lead off with action taken by your association in the form of a Letter of Support for the Traverse City Planning Commission’s goal to expand housing opportunities, an update on the East Bay Township’s Short-Term Rental Ordinance discussions which has taken a turn towards a more and more stringent policy, and registration is open for the Ride to the Capitol Day!
1. Aspire North REALTORS Provides a Letter of Support for the Traverse City Planning Commission’s Goal to Expand Housing Opportunities
Building off of a public comment presented by me (Connor Miller, Government Affairs Director) to the Traverse City Planning Commission on February 13th, 2023 (view Feb. 13th public comment here). On the behalf of Aspire North REALTORS, a letter of support was submitted to the Traverse City Planning Commission for their goals to Expand Housing Opportunities in Traverse City. The Aspire North REALTORS Letter of Support is featured on the new Online Traverse City Story Map entitled: Creating Community Opportunity Through Housing Variety under the Industry Support for More Housing Opportunities tab. This story map was created to outline the Traverse City Planning Commission’s annual goal to expand housing opportunities and will be presented at Tuesday, April 18th’s Traverse City Planning Commission Study Session at 7 pm at the Governmental Center (400 Boardman Avenue, Traverse City). The draft redlined chapters of the zoning ordinance that would be impacted by the Traverse City Planning Commission’s actions on their annual goal will also be presented. Show up to learn more and/or to voice your opinion on this important topic regarding the potential future development of housing in Traverse City.
2. Update on East Bay Township Short-Term Rental Ordinance Discussions
East Bay Township has recently made some significant amendments to the latest draft of its Short Term Rental Ordinance (pages 3 to 20). These draft amendments were made by East Bay Township staff by March 30th, 2023 based on the input of the East Bay Township Board of Trustees at the February 13th, 2023 East Bay Township Board of Trustee Meetingand were presented at a Special Meeting of the East Bay Township Board of Trustees on April 5th, 2023. Notable amendments include:
- Requirement of a septic and well status report from the Grand Traverse County Health Department indicating the number of bedrooms the septic system servicing the short-term rental premises was designed to accommodate.
- Limiting the total number of short-term rental licenses issued to one hundred and forty-five (145) licenses. A reduction from one hundred and seventy (170) licenses. This number of short-term rental licenses is currently less than the number of short-term rentals currently licensed and operating in East Bay Township. Currently, licensed operating short-term rentals would be grandfathered in until through attrition this cap was reached. Ultimately this cap, if enacted and maintained, would effectively prevent any new short-term rentals from becoming licensed and operating likely for a long period of time. Board members agreed to review the number on a yearly basis and any future cap can be changed with a resolution in their discussion during the April 5th East Bay Township Board of Trustees April 5th Meeting.
- No more than one (1) short-term rental occurs in any seven (7) night period. An increase from four (4).
- No short-term rental premises shall be located closer than a thousand (1,000) feet to any other short-term rental premises. An increase from five hundred (500) feet.
All of these proposed amendments can be viewed in the East Bay Township Board of Trustees' April 5th agenda packet. To voice your opinion on the proposed East Bay Township Short-term Rental Ordinance look to attend the next regularly scheduled East Bay Township Board of Trustees Meeting on May 8th, 2023 at 6:30 pm located at the East Bay Township Hall (1965 N. Three Mile Road, Traverse City).
3. Get on the Bus for the June 6th Ride to the Capitol Day!
We will be heading to Lansing on June 6th on a bus made for 55 and we want to have you join us! The Michigan State Legislature and the Governor’s Office have made housing policy a top priority evidenced by Michigan’s Statewide Housing Plan. However, that doesn’t mean the policy actions they are considering are in the best interest of the real estate industry. There are troubling policy considerations that the Michigan State legislature is considering or have introduced that would require all housing providers/landlords to accept Section 8 housing vouchers without exception and a repeal of Michigan’s state ban on rent control. Studies and real-world examples have demonstrated that rent control rules and regulations lead to a reduced supply of housing and an increase in overall rental prices. Be the voice of real estate and help to influence state policy in the best interest of private property owners, the real estate industry, and our state by joining us on June 6th. Register Here!
