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Fact Checks

Have short term rentals always been illegal in Park Township?

Claim:

Short term rentals have been illegal in Park Township since 1974. The 1974 ordinance prohibits them in residential zones.

Facts:

There are no mentions of short, medium, or long term rental properties in the zoning ordinances at all.

And there is nothing in the zoning ordinances that says any of those types of rentals are prohibited.

Rentals are simply not mentioned at all.

While we can’t speak for the drafters of the 1974 zoning ordinances, it’s likely this is because the right to rent out one’s home was assumed to be part of the bundle of rights that are granted when someone purchases real estate in the United States.

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News

Death of short-term rentals looms in Park Township

Despite the fact that nearly 2/3 of Park Township voters favor short term rentals, a ban is still scheduled to go into effect this October:

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News

Nearly Two-Thirds of Residents Favor Vacation Rentals in Park Township

Nearly 60% of voters do not support the current short-term rental ban in Park Township scheduled to go into effect this October. And, nearly a supermajority of voters favor a reasonable alternative policy allowing a limited number of owners to short-term rent their home.

“Many are focused on this important issue,” said Jeremy Allen, President of the Park Township Neighbors (PTN), a nonprofit representing over 100 property owners in Park Township that support the regulation, rather than the prohibition, of short-term rentals. “We are excited to engage the Township and find a solution here through a local legislative process.”

PTN has continued to engage the Township and community members this year, including the Realtors Association at the local and State levels with important input from the National Association. Polling was recently completed to inform a better local solution to this important Township issue.

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News

Park Township’s recent press release

On August 22nd, 2023, Park Township sent out a press release regarding a survey on short term rentals. Park Township Neighbors (PTN) was not contacted prior to publication of the release.

Park Township’s press release stated that:

The citizen public action committee (PAC) Park Township Neighbors, a group favoring regulations rather than prohibition of short-term rentals in Park Township, circulated a survey to gauge residents views on this topic.

We have asked Park Township to clarify their press release, but have not yet received a response.

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Profiles

Meet Joe Filcik: Vacation Rental Owner & PTN Board Member

Meet Park Township Neighbors Board Member Joe Filcik. Joe is an engineer who works for a tech company based in Seattle, Washington. He grew up in Holland Township, went to High School at West Ottawa, and pursued college at Grand Valley State University and University of Michigan. He and his family have spent several months in Park Township every year for the past several years, visiting his parents and siblings who live in the area.

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Profiles

Meet Heather Davis: PTN Board Member & Vacation Rental Owner

Meet Park Township Neighbors Board Member Heather Davis. Heather moved to Park Township from Florida in 2000. Heather is an Associate Broker with Remax Lakeshore and has been working hard to preserve Private property rights through work with the National Association of Realtors, Michigan Realtors and West Michigan Lakeshore Association of Realtors since she started her career in real estate over 15 years ago.