Burt Debates Zoning

The Burt Township Planning Commission met on Jan 2nd. Commissioner Jeff Cuthbertson stepped down from the commission and was thanked for his service.

Lively debate began on a zoning proposal regarding Short Term Rental properties. Calvin McShane, Zoning Administrator, voiced a concern about having the resources to manage the regulations under consideration.

The new zoning, should it be approved, would require residents of Burt Township to register Short Term Rentals and create a limit of 2 STRs per owner. There are currently an estimated 47 STRs in the city and the zoning objective would be to keep the STRs to 18%.

Also mentioned, In the Township Water District, STRs would be required to be at least 250 feet apart, outside of the Township Water District, STRs would need to be 401 feet apart. Existing rentals would be grandfathered in if permits and ownership were retained.

There was an occasionally heated debate concerning resources, registration and housing for full-time residents. Suggestions ranged from going door-to-door for registration to “pulling out a measuring tape.”

Consultant Pat Coleman indicated that violations are considered a civil infraction. Commissioner Christine Lundquist suggested the Township board should determine fines annually, leaving the option for fines to be significantly larger.

In the end, the matter was turned over to the Board of Trustees for review and further research.