Spring Lake City Zoning Code
ARTICLE X
Short-Term Rental/Overlay District
§ 390-64 Intent.
A.
The Village is committed to preserving the residential character of its neighborhoods, minimizing potential nuisances, and maintaining the Village's small-town character. The Village intends to protect its residents and visitors from the potentially negative or harmful effects that can arise from commercial rentals, including the potential impact on the appearance, tranquility, and standard of living in the Village's prime residential areas.
B.
However, the Village also recognizes the potential benefits of tourism and additional lodging opportunities for visitors, as well as the financial benefit that short-term rentals can bring to property owners in the Village. Therefore, the Village wishes to achieve a balance between these considerations by providing that short-term rentals are allowed as special land uses, based upon a consideration of the standards in § 390-134 and in this Short-Term Rental Overlay District.
§ 390-65 Permitted uses.
The uses permitted in the Short-Term Rental Overlay District shall be the uses permitted in the underlying zoning district, plus short-term rentals as special land uses.
§ 390-66 Design requirements.
The design requirements of the underlying zoning district shall apply to the Short-Term Rental Overlay District.
§ 390-67 Property included in the Short-Term Rental Overlay District.
§ 390-68 Special land use standards.
A.
The following standards shall apply to all short-term rentals.
(1)
A short-term rental must be located in the Short-Term Rental Overlay District.
(2)
A short-term rental must comply with the Village's Registration of Rental Units Ordinance as now or subsequently amended, consisting of Chapter 271 of this Code.
(3)
The applicant shall submit a floor plan of the dwelling unit and a site plan of the property drawn to a scale of not less than 1/8 inch equals one foot.
(4)
The rental unit must maintain the existing residential character of the subject property.
(5)
If the subject lot does not meet the underlying district minimum lot area, has other dimensional nonconformities, or has an existing nonconforming use, the Planning Commission may deny approval, or it may condition approval on measures that mitigate potential adverse effects of operating a short-term rental on the lot.
(6)
Parking shall be located on the lot and comply with these requirements in addition to any other requirements for the applicable underlying zoning district in question.
(a)
For subject properties in the CC and CBD Districts where parking is not available on-site, parking shall occur within those parking spaces devoted to use by the subject property.
(b)
The applicant shall provide parking location information on the site plan. This shall be considered the designated parking area and include the following information.
[1]
A minimum of two off-street parking spaces shall be provided per unit (up to six occupants), plus one space for every three occupants over six, based on approved occupancy for the dwelling unit.
[2]
Any proposed expanded parking area must be shown on the site plan and will be subject to review by the Planning Commission and Zoning Administrator. Parking on the grass is prohibited.
(7)
Where they exist, fire pits be a minimum of three feet from any lot lines and shall meet the requirements of the fire code and any other applicable codes.
(8)
The number of overnight guests in a short-term rental shall be based on occupancy limits established by the International Property Maintenance Code as referenced in the Michigan Building Code. All guests shall sleep in an approved bedroom. No guest may sleep on couches, the floor, in tents, or in trailers on the lot.
(9)
No separate cooking facilities shall be allowed in bedrooms.
(10)
All short-term rentals shall be subject to the following performance standards.
B.
Outdoor areas intended for the congregating of guests (e.g., porches, decks, pools and pool decks, gazebos, fire pits, etc.) must meet the following requirements, in addition to other requirements established by this chapter.
(1)
Decks, porches, and patios which qualify as a structure must meet the minimum setback requirements as established in the underlying zoning district.
(2)
At grade patios and decks, or those which do not meet the height requirement to be considered a structure, must be a minimum of three feet from any lot line.
(3)
Pools, hot tubs, and similar devices must meet the minimum setback requirements as established in the underlying zoning district.
(4)
If any of the above features are present on the lot and legally nonconforming in status, the Planning Commission may require the area to be fenced in or screened with landscaping. Additionally, the Planning Commission may require any outdoor congregating area to be fenced in or landscaped in order to help buffer the short-term rental from neighboring properties. The Village shall consider lot sizes in the area and of the short-term rental lot, surrounding land uses, topography, and other considerations deemed relevant by the Village.
[Amended 9-18-2023 by Ord. No. 386]
C.
The following site modifications are subject to review and approval by the Planning Commission as an amendment to the special land use; otherwise, these modifications shall void the approval of the existing special land use:
D.
If the conditions of approval for a special land use permit allowing a short-term rental are not satisfied, the Village shall send written notification to the owner, explaining the alleged violations. If the alleged violations are not promptly resolved, the Village may schedule a public hearing before the Planning Commission pursuant to § 390-136.