How would you feel if the lake cottage, or house next door, turned into a constant “Airbnb” or an unregulated hotel?

Imagine having strangers in your residential neighborhood most of the time, coming and going at the strangest hours, staying up late, or taking your parking spaces.

That is the potential result of two bills being considered currently by your Michigan senators and representatives in Lansing. The proposed laws would treat all short-term rentals as a permitted, unregulated use in any area zoned for residential use. The legislation would preempt local control and supersede local zoning regulations that seek to preserve residential neighborhoods.

These bills have all the appearances of making it easier for people in tourist areas to rent residential properties to short-term visitors. Some special interest groups support the proposed laws.

The Michigan Townships Association, which provides support to the 1,240 townships in Michigan, opposes the bills because they take away local control.

Right now your local government controls land and property use, if a zoning ordinance has been adopted.

These bills would take away that local control of land and property use.

Maybe short-term rentals are right for your community, but historically that type of decision has been left to the people most affected: local residents. If you agree that this is a matter where the State of Michigan should preempt local control, then do nothing.

On the other hand, if you believe the Michigan Legislature should not be functioning as a statewide planning and zoning commission, then contact your state senator and representative to oppose House Bill 4503 and Senate Bill 379.

The choice is yours. The bills are currently in committee as of Dec. 6, but could be moving quickly towards a vote.

One thing is certain: we will all have to live with the results.

Paul Sniadecki

Ontwa Township