<div> TO THE EDITOR: I read Mr. Fraley’s article, “Tourism authority supports local control of STR regulation,” published July 16. I found the article interesting, and I agree with Mrs. Lukaskiwicz that short term rentals should follow similar requirements as hotels and motels. I think missing from the conversation is how zoning is important to understand when discussing STR. The state of Michigan has given local communities the ability to govern land uses via the Michigan Zoning Enabling Act 110 of 2006. If a zoned community, zoning requires a use to be allowable in the district, for that use to be undertaken. Generally, uses have to be defined in the districts in which they are allowable, if they are not defined in that district then they are not allowable. While there are exceptions to this, this is the general rule. This is why I am not allowed to operate a slaughterhouse in my residential backyard. The part that is interesting is Section 210 of the act reads, “Except as otherwise provided under this act, an ordinance adopted under this act shall be controlling in the case of any inconsistencies between the ordinance and an ordinance adopted under any other law." This defines that when a land use is governed by another law the zoning ordinance regulations is binding over the other law. In many communities, even the ones mentioned in the article, the zoning ordinance doesn’t allow for STR. How then are governments allowing STR to exist in our residential neighborhoods? STR are essentially hotels, being allowed to operate illegally in a land use district provided for residences. Are STR needed in our community, absolutely, but they should be regulated like all land uses via the zoning ordinance and should have to comply with the same requirements sanitary, building, and land use regulations as other commercial lodging is required. The state should not exercise preemption removing our local communities and local policymakers’ ability to amend their zoning ordinances. This allows our communities to flourish through the support of tourism, while exercising local expertise within our communities. Mike Szokola Manistee </div>

Mountain View, CA

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Szokola: Short-term rentals need same rules as commercial lodging

Reader: Short-term rentals are essentially hotels, being allowed to operate illegally in a land use district provided for residences.