Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Short Term Rentals topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Planning Commission tables short-term rental ordinance after wide-ranging review
Summary
The Cedar Springs Planning Commission reviewed draft zoning and regulatory ordinances to limit short-term rentals, including a proposed five-permit trial cap, occupancy tied to the International Property Maintenance Code and enforcement pathways; the commission voted to table the drafts for further edits and input from absent members.
The Cedar Springs Planning Commission on April 1 reviewed paired zoning and regulatory draft ordinances aimed at governing short-term rentals and then voted to table the proposals until next month for further revision.
Mr. Moore, the city planner, walked the commission through two documents: a zoning amendment that formalizes short-term rental as "a commercial use distinct from a residential use," and a regulatory ordinance that would create a non-transferable permit, require inspections, and tie allowable occupancy to the International Property Maintenance Code. "A permit is unique to the permit and is not transferable," Mr. Moore said, and he noted the drafts move appearance, impervious-surface and parking requirements into zoning where the attorney recommended they belong.
Why it matters: the drafts would set parking minimums (one space per dwelling for the first two bedrooms, plus one space for each additional bedroom) and cap the initial number of permits at five as a trial to prevent rapid proliferation. Mr. Moore said the five-permit limit was intended as a pilot: "it's a trial period so we just want to see what's going on." The regulatory draft would also require a local operator on file—either the owner or a state-licensed broker—and require availability to respond within 30 minutes.
Commissioners pressed staff on enforcement and appeals. Under the draft, the city may revoke a permit after repeated municipal civil infraction determinations; Mr. Moore explained that revocation would typically bar a property from offering short-term rentals for a year. The draft leaves open whether revocation would require a city council hearing or whether the city manager could revoke with an appeal to the construction board of appeals. "I don't want to put too much on Miss Darla and then she's drowning," one member said when discussing administrative responsibilities.
Members also discussed fines and hearing costs. The draft referenced a civil infraction fine amount (the draft cited $500 as a possible cap); commissioners discussed escalating fines and whether appeal publication costs should be borne by the appellant.
Outcome and next steps: Commissioners agreed more input is needed from absent members and the city attorney and asked staff to revise the language on revocation, appeal fees and permit mechanics. A motion to table the short-term rental ordinance drafts until next month's meeting passed by voice vote. The commission expects staff to return with a revised draft and absent members present.
