Greilickville neighborhood residents came out in force at the Elmwood Township board meeting Monday to support a two-year-old motion calling for the removal of short-term rentals (STRs) in their neighborhood’s subdivisions. The board approved sending this request to the planning commission by a 4-3 vote.
The board appeared to repeat their earlier directions to the planning commission to remove the STRs “using an overlay district or amendment to the zoning ordinances,” with township trustee Kyle Trevas recommending they consult maps provided by former township supervisor Jack Kelly.
The motion passed by a narrow margin with township supervisor Jeff Shaw, treasurer Chris Mikowski, and trustee Terry Lautner voting no. The township planning commission’s next meeting is scheduled for Dec. 19, 2023, at 6:30 p.m.
Kelly, a vocal opponent of STRs, had been requesting the board for an opportunity to present on the issue since late October outside of the three-minute periods allotted to each audience member for public comment at the beginning and end of their meetings. He got his chance when the board set an agenda item specifically for his presentation on Monday evening.
“It was clear to me that the township board, at the end of the Sept. 30, 2021, meeting, clearly and unambiguously intended to take some action to protect the Elmwood Township neighborhoods, and just for a variety of reasons that there’s no sense even going into, it just fell by the wayside. Well, tonight, I would very much appreciate you rethinking that and taking that banner up once again,” Kelly said.
“We’re asking for tonight is to help you fulfill the clear and unambiguous intent of that motion that was passed to remove short-term rentals from Greilickville’s residential neighborhoods at the end of that Sept. 30, 2021, meeting, and all we’re asking for is to be treated and made whole just like all the STR owners at the time were made whole. I view this as a total win-win situation,” he continued.
Kelly served as township supervisor from 2008 to 2016, and the position is currently held by Shaw. Shaw noted that there are now 93 short-term rentals in the township. He said that so far, they have received just three complaints related to STRs, all from the same person –— one about light shining in his yard, and two about parking.
Shaw also expressed concern that changing the township’s zoning laws to create a nonconforming use, such as banning STRs, could have unintended consequences, and similar amendments have led to “fallout” for the township in the past.
The township board also:
• Approved a $157,478 contract with an unnamed contractor for the Brewery Creek parking lot project.
• Adopted the salary resolutions for 2024 to include $55,000 for the township supervisor and treasurer; $60,000 for clerk and $3,925 for trustees plus a $100 per diem per special meeting.
• OK’d an hourly pay increase from $15 to $18 per hour for election workers and chairpersons, “in keeping with surrounding townships in Leelanau County.”
• Transferred $40,000 from the Greilickville water operating fund to the general fund to pay off a bond for the 2022 watermain construction.
• Agreed to continue meeting at 6 p.m. on the second Monday of the month, with a few exceptions.
• Approved the purchase of a replacement back blade for the township tractor at a cost of $1,895.
