Traverse City Planning Commission Public Hearing Tomorrow on Increasing Dwelling Units Per Parcel in R-2 District, Tomorrow Peninsula Township Planning Commission Considers a Resolution for Short-Term Rental Policy and Fine Structure, Food for Thought: Yoni Appelbaum’s “Stuck in Place” on Why Americans Stopped Moving Houses and Why That’s a Very Big Problem
Tomorrow (Tuesday) is a busy day for local housing policy considerations as both the Traverse City Planning Commission and the Peninsula Township Planning Commission consider housing policy items. Tomorrow night, the Traverse City Planning Commission is hosting a public hearing to discuss increasing allowable dwelling units per parcel in the R-2 Mixed Density Residential District from 2 dwelling units to 4. That same night, the Peninsula Township Planning Commission will consider a resolution for a short-term rental policy and a fine structure. Last but not least, an interesting article that is getting a lot of headlines on the issue of decreased housing mobility in America, why it is a big problem, and how we can fix it.
1. Traverse City Planning Commission Public Hearing Tomorrow on Increasing Dwelling Units Per Parcel in R-2 District
This Tuesday, March 4th 6 pm at the Grand Traverse Governmental Center (400 Boardman Avenue, Traverse City) the Traverse City Planning Commission has a Public Hearing scheduled to discuss a proposal to amend the R-2 Mixed Density Residential District to allow up to four dwelling units per parcel, an increase from the current limit of two. This change would be in alignment with Traverse City’s Master Plan completed this past August and broader efforts to address local housing needs. This R-2 proposal was originally part of a 2023 zoning amendment package (summary of 2023 zoning amendments on page 1 and 2) recommended by the Traverse City Planning Commission to promote housing diversity, however, no action was taken on the R-2 density adjustment. Attend this Traverse City Planning Commission Public Hearing tomorrow, Tuesday March 4th 6 pm at the Grand Traverse Governmental Center (400 Boardman Avenue, Traverse City) to lend your voice to this conversation.
2. Tomorrow Peninsula Township Planning Commission Considers a Resolution for Short-Term Rental Policy and Fine Structure
At Peninsula Township’s February 11th Regular Meeting (page 7) discussion was had about adopting a violation penalty schedule. As you may know Peninsula Township does NOT have a short-term rental ordinance and only allows Bed and Breakfasts to rent to “transient tenants.” Peninsula Township specifically states in their zoning ordinance that Rental of Non-Owner-Occupied Dwellings may be provided if “the minimum length of time that the dwelling may be rented is 30 days.” However, with the intention to enforce compliance with Peninsula Township’s Zoning Ordinance they will be looking to adopt a violation penalty schedule. Their discussion included considering the establishment of a violations bureau to allow the township to issue violation notices and collect fines directly, instead of through the courts. The Peninsula Township Planning Commission will be drafting a resolution for the Peninsula Township Board’s consideration.
The next Peninsula Township Planning Commission Meeting is this Tuesday, March 4th at 7 pm at the Peninsula Township Hall (13235 Center Road, Traverse City) where you can offer your input. At this meeting, the Peninsula Township Planning will be considering a resolution for Short-Term Rental Policy and Fine Structure (resolution on pages 21 to 23).
3. Food for Thought: Yoni Appelbaum’s “Stuck in Place” on Why Americans Stopped Moving Houses And Why That’s a Very Big Problem
An article recently published for the Atlantic’s March 2025 cover story has been widely circulating arguing that Americans’ lack of mobility is the single most important social change of this past half-century. The author Yoni Appelbaum argues that describing America as in a housing crisis is not quite right, the problem is a disparity of housing and opportunities across the country, or to quote Appelbaum “In many parts of the country, housing is cheap and abundant, but good jobs and good schools are scarce. Other areas are rich in opportunities but short on affordable homes. That holds true even within individual cities, neighborhood by neighborhood. As a result, many Americans are stranded in communities with flat or declining prospects, and lack the practical ability to move across the tracks, the state, or the country—to choose where they want to live.” Appelbaum argues that to restore mobility, as well as American prosperity and the American Dream, three simple principles should be followed:
- “Consistency (rules that apply uniformly across a city will tend to produce neighborhoods with diverse populations and uses)
- Tolerance (organic growth is messy and unpredictable, but the places that thrive over the long term are those that empower people to make their own decisions, and to build and adapt structures to suit their needs)
- Abundance (the best way to solve a supply crunch is to add supply and in places that are attractive and growing, so that housing becomes a springboard)”
You can view the Atlantic’s press release for the Stuck in Place article here as well as access the full article here (Atlantic Free Trial or subscription required). You can also hear Yoni Appelbaum speak on this topic on the podcast Plain English with Derek Thompson.
