Traverse City planning commission advances short-term rental rewrite; public hearing set for May 6

The Traverse City Planning Commission on April 15 continued a months‑long review of proposed changes to the city’s short‑term rental rules, setting a public hearing for May 6 and asking staff to refine draft language before that hearing.

Commissioners and staff focused on several technical and legal issues that will shape the ordinance, including whether caps should be applied per building or per parent parcel, how grandfathered (nonconforming) short‑term rental rights will be handled, and how to count units in site‑condo or multi‑building developments.

Sean, planning staff, said the process remains active and reminded commissioners of a procedural limit: “Per the Zoning Enabling Act, the planning commission is not allowed to take a vote until a public hearing is held,” and staff has scheduled that hearing for May 6. He also described draft changes under consideration, including reductions in allowable short‑term rental percentages across most zoning districts; the industrial district use that previously allowed 100% of dwellings to be rented short term would be eliminated, while the hotel/resort district would remain at its current level.

The commission asked staff to clarify how the city will treat…