Columbia Charter Township is considering a short-term rental ordinance. Short-term is defined as 30 days or less, and would cover Clark Lake and all of Columbia Township except Brooklyn. A draft ordinance is currently under review, and could be voted upon at the next meeting of the Township board on Monday, November 18th.
The ordinance covers number of occupants, parking, noise, events, responsibilities of the owner of the rentals as well as other details. To read the proposed ordinance, please click here.
The topic has been the focus of public comments at board meetings on both sides of the issue – from owners who rent their property, and nearby property owners who object. At the monthly board meetings, individuals have three minutes to address the board at the beginning and end of the session. Public comment is not meant to be interactive, meaning that board members aren’t required to answer questions or comment on opinions from speakers, although sometimes that happens. You can review some of those comments that took place at previous board meetings through the videos below.
July 15, 2024
June 17, 2024
May 20, 2024
Each of the above videos were part of stories about the Township meetings. If you click on them, you’ll also see other business that transpired at each.
The Township and Clark Lake Rentals – Clark Lake Spirit Foundation
Montessori, Hitt Farms Rezoning & Rentals at Clark Lake – Clark Lake Spirit Foundation
Airbnb’s at Clark Lake – Clark Lake Spirit Foundation
The proposed regulations seem a bit overboard. This is along the lines of turning Clark Lake into an HOA. This is not a gated community but rather a community of individual homeowners that should be able to utilize their property in whatever way they see fit within the legal limits of the law. Our families have owned property on the lake for about 70 years and i believe there are already enough laws on the books to address disorderly conduct, disturbing the peace or trespassing without counting how many people are in our bedrooms or who’s car is parked legally on a public street. People should be allowed to celebrate weddings, birthdays and remembrances without undue restrictions and within reasonable hours. Again , we already have laws on the books for that. We do not need more.
I don’t rent a place to anyone but seriously this is over the top. This attempted control of individual freedoms is ridiculous.
I’m sure the board will ask for more operating budget money when the lawsuits roll in. The only winner in this township will be the townships legal council. They will be burning through the required representation work hours & charging hourly pretty fast. This overreaching regulation can’t get approved.
Actually I have to laugh, last month they wanted to approve & pay for parking lots for outsiders. This month they want to regulate outsiders. This township board is totally acting on their own personal initiatives. People.
Please voice your opinions on FB & CL Spirit site.
My husband and I have been visiting family at Clarklake for 17 years. We finally purchased a home this year for ourselves. We are up several days to a week, each month, to enjoy our home and explore the area.
We have rented it out some to families and groups for get-aways. It is clearly laid out that there is to be no parties and what the maximum occupancy is. We had one rowdy group and they have been black listed to prevent return. Our neighbors know to feel free to call the police if any issues. We collect and pay extra occupancy taxes to the local powers for each rental stay that helps to support the local community and have information out about our local businesses and things to do.
The extra income from renting it out has helped with paying out the high real estate taxes. Our goal is to enjoy it as much as we can now and much more once we retire. Renting it out helps with expenses and maintenance.
Comments from families have been positive about the lovely home, peaceful lake, awesome Spirit Trail and marlevous community. I love the fact that other families can make memories here. As long as owners demand respectful behavior, quiet hours, and have proper parking space, pay the extra taxes, and maintain the property to avoid depreciation of the neighborhood, the owners should be able to utilize their own property as they wish. The local government already has ordinances regarding litter, parking, drunken or unruly behavior. No extra government regulations are needed other than ensuring parking is appropriate and not impeding traffic, trash truck pickup and mail delivery.
We have been on this lake since 1985 & 2 other area public lakes before that. If neighbors can’t resolve their own isolated issues, move to a private lake with a HOA. Pay fees for law suits, permits & they’ll rule your house paint & more.
This is putting a tourniquet on a butterfly. Have you ever heard of the butterfly effect? As a business owner, local businesses depend on these “new people” in the area to spend money in local shops, restaurants etc. This type of proposed regulation decreases that needed revenue & puts a “tone” that has no place here.
Try controlling the number of boats if someone needs a worthy cause.