May 6th Traverse City Planning Commission Short-term Rental Public Hearing; Application Submitted for a Short-Term Rental Ordinance in Whitewater Township; NAR Priority Issues Survey Results
Another big week for short-term rental discussions as the Traverse City Planning Commission holds a public hearing this Tuesday (May 6th) on proposed reductions to the allowed percentages of short-term rentals in the commercial, development and industrial zoning districts. In response to Whitewater Township’s consideration of prohibiting the rental of a non-owner-occupied dwelling for less than 30 days a citizen group has submitted an application for a short-term rental ordinance in Whitewater Township. The National Association of REALTORS priority issues survey results have been sharing issue priorities of local and state REALTOR associations across the country.
1. May 6th Traverse City Planning Commission Short-term Rental Public Hearing
This coming Tuesday, May 6th at 6 pm the Traverse City Planning Commission will be holding a public hearing on proposed changes to the allowed percentages of short-term rentals (STRs) in the commercial, development, and industrial zoning districts. The table of proposed changes is listed below and in the Traverse City Planning Commission May 6th agenda packet (page 1).
Zoning District |
Current Allowed Percent of STRs |
Proposed Percent |
Proposed Change |
|---|---|---|---|
HR: Hotel Resort |
100% |
100% |
n/a |
C-1: Office Service |
25% |
25% |
n/a |
C-2: Neighborhood Center |
25% |
25% |
n/a |
C-3: Community Center |
100% |
35% |
-65% |
C-4a: Regional Center |
100% |
50% |
-50% |
C-4b: Regional Center |
100% |
50% |
-50% |
C-4c: Regional Center |
100% |
25% |
-75% |
D-1: Development |
100% |
25% |
-75% |
D-2: Development |
25% |
25% |
n/a |
D-3: Development |
100% |
25% |
-75% |
I: Industrial |
100% |
0% |
-100% |
You can view the Traverse City Planning Commission’s past discussions regarding STRs here. You can also view the full drafted ordinance changes which you can view here (on pages 3 and 4) as well as a table showing how these potential changes would limit the allowable STRs by specific Traverse City addresses, including a reduction in the number of currently operating STRs allowed per building. At this time, there does not appear to be any language in the ordinance that grandfathers in the right of currently operating STRs to continue to operate if they exceed the proposed reductions proposed. If you are a short-term rental manager, or concerned citizen on this topic, be sure to attend the Traverse City Planning Commission Meeting tomorrow, May 6th at 6 pm at the Governmental Center (400 Boardman Avenue, Traverse City) to lend your voice to these proposed changes.
2. Application Submitted for a Short-Term Rental Ordinance in Whitewater Township
As covered in last week’s GAD Top 3, on April 18th the Whitewater Township Board considered 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. In response to this a citizen group, known as Whitewater Residents for Responsible STRs, has submitted an amendment review application to the Whitewater Township and Township Planning Commission. This amendment review application has been included in both the May 7th Whitewater Township Planning Commission meeting packet (pages 40 to 51) and the May 8th Whitewater Township Board meeting packet for their discussion.
Members of Whitewater Residents for Responsible STRs is encouraging those who wish to express their support for this ordinance to do so by submitting a letter of support to Whitewater Township (contact information can be found here) before the May 29th joint meeting of the Whitewater Township Board and Planning Commission. As additional updates become available they will be provided in future GAD Top 3 posts.
3. NAR Priority Issues Survey Results
Each year, the National Association of REALTORS (NAR) surveys state and local Government Affairs Directors (GADs) to better understand their advocacy priorities for the year and to solicit their feedback on some of the NAR’s advocacy priorities. The results are in and NAR’s created a Key Findings doc to communicate the results, along with the webinar linked here. Some of the key findings include:
- 67% of state and local REALTOR associations have said their top legislative or regulatory priorities in 2025 are:
- Availability
- Affordability
- Zoning Reform
- 76% of respondents expect their associations to engage in zoning reform efforts in 2025. State and local GADs find that zoning reform and permitting efficiency are key to increasing housing inventory.
- Tax Incentives are viewed as critical to boosting housing supply. The most effective tax incentives include:
- Federal incentives for faster permit approvals
- Tax breaks for home builders to construct starter homes
- Doubling the capital gains tax exclusion
- Incentives for commercial conversions
- Over 60% of respondents expect to engage in rent control issues in 2025. Rent control issues are emerging as significant threats with high concern about rent caps and just-cause eviction policies.
- 79% of respondents identify large institutional investors buying starter homes as a problem with over one-quarter stating that it’s a major issue.
