A judge just dismissed a short-term rental lawsuit in Park Township. From where?

PARK TOWNSHIP, Mich. — A judge on Thursday dismissed a lawsuit filed between Park Township and short-term rental property owners, allowing enforcement of the county’s STR ban in residential areas.

Judge Jon Hulsing said that in his view, the Ottawa County Circuit Court did not have jurisdiction over the case because the “entire stance” of the case had changed.

Short-term rental owners represented by the nonprofit Park Township Neighbors claimed Park Township improperly changed its ordinances in 2022 and 2023, but the county changed them again in March 2024. This time, according to Judge Hulsing, the changes were made “in an appropriate manner.” ” passed. Therefore, due to the new development, the court lacked “subject matter jurisdiction” over the case.

“In reality, there is no longer a legally recognized dispute before the court,” Judge Hulsing said, rejecting his injunction to enforce the ban.

“This decision preserves the family-friendly, residential character of our neighborhoods,” Park District Manager Howard Fink said in a statement to FOX 17. he said.

Owners of short-term rental properties are now required to present their cases to the Park County Zoning Board of Appeals as a way to “exhaust administrative remedies” before returning to court.

“The decision was somewhat expected, but still disappointing,” said Park Township Neighbors president Jeremy Allen. “The judge’s opinion is correct and I respect it.”

Allen and others who operated STRs in Park Township before March 2024 will now request nonconforming status from the county, which would allow them to be grandfathered.

“If the Zoning Board of Appeals says no, the next step would be to take the county to court,” Allen said. “Then we can stay in the same courtroom again.”

A judge just dismissed a short-term rental lawsuit in Park Township. From where?

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