Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Hotel Licensing topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Cascade Charter Township amends hotel licensing ordinance, narrows camera requirement and clarifies occupancy and kitchen rules
Summary
After a yearlong compliance review of 16 hotels, the Cascade Charter Township Board voted to amend its hotel licensing ordinance to remove the mandatory requirement for cameras in pools and fitness areas, tighten the definition of recreational areas, and replace "kitchenette" with "full kitchen" for extended-stay units.
Cascade Charter Township officials voted to amend the township's hotel licensing ordinance after a staff presentation and public comment on enforcement and privacy concerns.
Jade (staff) opened the discussion, noting the ordinance was introduced in mid-2024 and that staff worked with all 16 hotels to obtain completed applications: "In 2025 we had 16 completed applications... To date, we have 3 of the 16 issued, 2 out of the 16 are requiring remediation plans, and 9 of the hotels are in limbo right now waiting for this discussion tonight," she said. Staff presented compliance findings, remediation plans for specific properties and a downward trend in calls and fire runs at many hotels.
The core amendments the board considered were: remove the mandatory requirement for cameras in pools and fitness rooms, clarify what counts as a "recreational area" by square footage, and adjust extended-stay unit language (including replacing the term "kitchenette" with "full kitchen"). Staff emphasized privacy concerns and the risk that guests perceive cameras as a substitute for supervision; law enforcement staff said some higher call counts reflect proactive enforcement activity rather than increased crime.
Public comment was sharply divided. A commenter identified as "2570 Orange" urged the board to retain cameras in pools, gyms and hallways as "an essential safety tool," and cited township incident history, including a 2021 murder at the Clarion Inn and a July 2024 shooting at the Red Roof Inn, to argue surveillance aids investigations and deterrence. Jade and other staff replied that hotels may still install cameras voluntarily but the amendment would remove the township's requirement for pool and fitness-area cameras.
Trustees debated safety trade-offs and administrative impacts. Staff noted that if the camera requirement remained, nine hotels would remain noncompliant and could not receive licenses in the near term; Jade cautioned this could, "in theory, be shutting down 9 hotels," if the requirement were strictly enforced. Fire-prevention staff recommended occupancy limits match available bed space; the board discussed inspection burden and legal/privacy risks raised by hotel counsel.
Trustee Shipley moved to approve the amendments as presented, including replacing "kitchenette" with "full kitchen," and Clerk Slater seconded. The board adopted the ordinance amendments by roll call vote; the clerk recorded affirmative votes and the motion carried.
What changed and next steps: the ordinance language will be amended to (a) remove the mandatory camera requirement for pool and fitness areas while keeping hallway coverage as required by the licensing framework, (b) add or clarify the recreational-area definition by square footage in the draft ordinance, and (c) require full kitchens for units designated as extended-stay rather than using the term "kitchenette." Staff said they will continue inspections and remediation work with hotels and return to the board if additional enforcement decisions or deadlines are needed.
