The Suttons Bay Township Board approved a revised shortterm rental (STR) ordinance at their Dec. 13 meeting, which will limit the number of occupants and require owners to notify their neighbors, among other things.
While introducing the draft ordinance, zoning administrator Steve Patmore reminded the board that the township was the first municipality in the county to adopt an STR ordinance back in 2016 and has served as a model for some surrounding municipalities’ own ordinances. However, earlier this year, a committee reviewed and discussed the ordinance and found it was time to make some changes.
Besides improving the “structure” and “flow” of the document, Patmore said the new ordinance applies to the entire township, rather than just the residential zoning district as it did before. There are also new occupancy limits, which are determined by the lesser number of people that the septic system can support or the amount of parking available.
Owners will also now be required to notify their immediate neighbors of their application for an STR permit and the phone numbers for a designated 24-hour local contact and township’s hotline for STR complaints. Township trustee and planning commission member Debbie Slocombe added that the commission is working on a “good neighbor policy” that will go out to STR applicants.
According to Patmore, there are currently about 50 STRs in the residential district. Since the revised ordinance now applies to all districts of the township, that number will go up by 30-40 rentals, most of which are in the agricultural district. The new ordinance retains the limit of 150 STRs set in 2016. Patmore added there will be no “grandfathering” and all STRs will need to conform to these new rules.
The township board also passed several resolutions of appreciation. The first was dedicated to Marge Johnson, who served as the township’s recording secretary for over 12 years and who passed away in early October. The award praised Johnson for performing “consistently with excellence and accuracy” as recording secretary for the township board, the planning commission, and the zoning board of appeals.
The board also awarded resolutions of appreciation to former township supervisor Tom Nixon and former township trustee and parks supervisor Bill Drozdalski. Nixon served as supervisor starting April 2022 and resigned in Oct. 2023, citing “petty and inane personality conflicts” between township staff and residents.
Nonetheless, the board thanked Nixon for his service, particularly for helping introduce new policies and procedures. Nixon accepted his award in person, shaking hands with the new supervisor, Doug Periard. Drozdalski, however, opted not to pick up his award in person.
In other business, the township board: - Accepted a notice from Networks Northwest terminating their agreement with the township for planning services. Patmore said the contract allowed for termination, and Networks Northwest cited staffing issues as the reason.
- Approved the purchase of new QuickBook software for township clerk Jean Moe.
- Agreed to collect the summer tax levy for Northwest Education Services.
- Scheduled next year’s holidays and regular board meeting dates, which will continue to be held at 5:15 p.m. on the second Wednesday of each month.
- Reviewed an updated community park, recreation, and open space plan for 2024-2028. Slocombe said that a public hearing to review the plan will be held on Jan. 3, and the parks and recreation committee hopes to adopt it at their next meeting on Jan. 10.
