FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Park Township, Michigan – West Michigan non-profit Park Township Neighbors (PTN) files appeal, continuing legal efforts to keep existing short-term rentals legal.
On Nov 4th, 2025, Ottawa County Circuit Court Judge Jon Hulsing wrote in his opinion how “it is undisputed that for nearly 50 years [Park] Township did not take enforcement against any homeowner who rented his property on a short-term basis. In fact, various Township employees, including former zoning administrators, regularly opined that the zoning ordinance did not prohibit STRs.”
At least 6 different township representatives all provided written opinions stating that fact to those who inquired regarding short-term rentals. Many property owners were verbally told the same thing, up until at least early 2022.
Yet, the judge ruled in favor of Park Township, stating that upon statutory analysis, a nearly 50 year-old zoning ordinance from 1974 equated renting a house short-term to being a motel, despite decades of township employees interpreting and advising property owners that the zoning ordinance allowed short-term rentals.
Park Township officials know better.
In March 2024, Park Township leaders passed a new zoning ordinance amendment (their third attempt in 18 months) to expressly prohibit anyone from renting their home for less than 28 days.
Township attorney Dan Martin presented at the township Board of Trustees meeting that this was a “clarifying ordinance” and that its purpose was to “provide a definition of short-term rental, and to essentially prohibit STRs in the residential zoning districts.”
In other words, the goal of the ordinance was to make clear what a short-term rental was, and to explain why renting a home short-term “for a period of 28 or fewer consecutive days and nights at a time” was somehow an illegal and commercial use of property, but renting for longer than that would be considered a legal and residential use of one’s property.
Do the right thing.
If residents and property owners cannot rely on official emails, letters, statements, and sworn depositions from township officials, then what can be trusted of the current body of leadership in Park Township?
All along, Park Township Neighbors has been asking current township leadership to simply do the right thing by honoring what previous township administrators and employees have told property owners for decades – that short-term rentals were legal.
Instead, the current iteration of leadership in Park Township (starting around late 2022) has been trying its best to skirt around the Michigan Zoning and Enabling Act (MZEA) and deprive a very small group of property owners and residents of their property ownership rights. These properties account for less than 1.2% of the total Park Township housing units*.
And township leaders have continued spending taxpayer dollars in an attempt to take away property ownership rights. This will have the effect of making Park Township (home of Holland State Park) less inviting to visitors and even more exclusive.
Park Township Neighbors is now filing an appeal of the Circuit Court decision to the Michigan Court of Appeals. With utmost respect for the judge, PTN believes that Park Township and the Zoning Board of Appeals got this one wrong. Township officials have (as the judge presents in his opinion) interpreted the zoning ordinance to allow short-term rentals for decades.
Park Township’s stated values are “Integrity, Respect, and Genuine”. These values dictate that the right thing for Park Township leaders to do is a simple one: Choose to allow the properties that were renting short term prior to the zoning ordinance change in March 2024 to continue renting short term.
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Media contact:
Jeremy Allen, neighbors@parktownshipneighbors.com
About PTN:
Park Township Neighbors (PTN) is a 501(c)(4) non-profit social welfare organization established by families, individuals, business owners, and community leaders working together to improve everyone’s experiences in Park Township. For more information, visit ParkTownshipNeighbors.com.