Letter to the Editor: Pleasant Lake subdivision residents no longer feel safe
September 13, 2019
My husband and I bought our home not long ago, on Pleasant Lake in Freedom Township. The Happy Hollow subdivision is a small residential area of 30-plus homes nestled on the northwest side of the lake. We bought this home because of its quiet, peaceful and safe environment. A place where people like me can retire or for others to raise a family. However, this has all changed!
Earlier this year the home at 5202 Happy Hollow was sold to two ladies who told us they planned to use it for their meeting place as one of them resides in Ann Arbor and the other in Jackson. In other words, they planned on using it for their recreation and family. Neighbors took them at their word and welcomed these new people to our nice neighborhood. The reality was, our new owners bought the RESIDENTIAL ZONED lakeside cottage to run a short-term rental business. It wasn’t long before 5-35 people started showing up at the small cottage with 6 or more vehicles spilling into and over the narrow one lane privately maintained road. Renters were partying, drinking, disrupting the area, and being rude to fellow neighbors. Throwing garbage into neighbors’ trash containers, disrobing (completely naked) during the day and changing clothes on private property not attached to the rental. Driving at unsafe speeds (our speed limit is 15 mph) as we have elderly, children, grandchildren and pets walking and playing in the area. This has turned our sleepy, quiet Happy Hollow subdivision into an unsafe living hell!
This neighborhood was nice and naive as we trusted our new neighbors were ethical and honest people. When I spoke with these women one day, they were aggressive and defensive when I asked if they were running a bed and breakfast. They denied this and stated that they just had a lot of friends and family members. Well, you would think that those family and friends would know how to get a hold of them. As Hattie Carson, the neighbor next door to them, stated, “some of the renters came to them wanting to know how to get hold of the owners as they could not get into the house using the key pad.” I also have had conversations with some of the renters who were from California. They were asking why we were fencing off our private property next to the rental. I explained to them that a majority of the short-term renters were under the impression that this piece of land was for their use. While we were conversing, I asked them if there were any septic problems (the septic is over 20 years old), and they informed me there were sticky notes everywhere in the cottage, specific to the restroom and kitchen areas. The California renters also admitted they were renters and had problems very similar in their neighborhood at home. They also stated they were fighting the same type of short-term rental problems and how it has changed the dynamic of their neighborhood.
There have been over 250 people who have stayed at this small cottage from May through August and since then, there have been more to date. After the people (renters) came to ask our friend and neighbor how to get hold of the landowners we checked on Airbnb.com and sure enough they are listed as a rental for 1 day, 2 days, or a week for $200.00 per day. This makes it a commercial enterprise which is in a residential zoned area.
Freedom Township zoning laws allow for rentals of 28 days and multi years but it is a violation to rent lake property for less than 28 days. All of Happy Hollow is a residential district and Freedom Township zoning laws, do NOT allow short-term rentals except in a commercial district! We brought this issue to the attention of township officials and it was a major topic of discussion at the August 2019 Board meeting.
Township officials investigated and confirmed rental actions were being carried out at the Happy Hollow residence. The Freedom Township Zoning Planner sent a cease and desist letter to the owners concerning the rental use of the Happy Hollow cottage. Both the Township Supervisor and Clerk talked with one of the owners. That owner reportedly said, they would follow Freedom Township rules! It appears the cottage owners are ignoring the Freedom Township rental cease and desist letter.
More and more renters shown up at the lakeside cottage and more are scheduled for September and October. Just check the Airbnb.com site. They are creating noise, parking and septic issues as well as other problems. Several renters have brought their water toys, ex: jet ski, kayaks etc. One renter in particular brought in a jet ski and launched it without permission on private property launch. When we would not allow him to use our launch to get it out, he called the MI State Police. The renters were under the influence (alcohol), and belligerent. The Officer of record sided with the renters and stated he would not come back out if he was called because of loud or inappropriate behaviors that may happen that evening AND he would have our vehicles towed if we did not move them out of the way so that the renter could use our private launch. We aren’t even being protected by our police ... I and all of my neighbors are frightened by what is to come. It is so unsafe to have many transients, in a small private residential neighborhood.
At the September Freedom Township Board meeting, we were told the owner had responded with an attorney letter. Again, long-term Happy Hollow residents are incensed. If you say you are going to follow the rules, why do you need a letter from an attorney? What happened to following the zoning ordinance, ethics, honest neighbor relations, and fairness?
This is the same game that has been played by many other owners of rental units--not following local ordinances, using legal actions to try and evade local zoning laws hoping to wear down local zoning enforcement or that the laws set up in Lansing will soon change in their favor. What is Airbnb's responsibility for all of these issues? If a local official informed Airbnb of laws preventing short term rentals in Freedom Township, why is the firm not obligated to remove the listing from their site? It seems like many groups just want to make a quick buck at the expense of long-term homeowners, hotels and the government!
Pro-rental Michigan legislators tried in 2018 to pass bills in both the Senate and House limiting the authority of local government to control short-term rentals and Airbnb’s, but they failed. In 2019 House Bill 4046 was introduced by Rep. Sheppard to try the same tactic again. The MTA, MML and dozens of cities, villages and townships have passed resolutions against this new bill! Success of HB4046 could harm local growth and increase the burden on local infrastructure and government but not add any additional revenue. Do you want an Airbnb or Short-Term Rental (STR) next to your house or your family lake cottage?
Strong, well-enforced local zoning rules are critical to protecting our neighborhoods. Short term rentals change the character of neighborhoods and have been associated in many cases with increases in crime and vandalism. Case in point, there was a fatal shooting near Niles, Michigan (Howard Township) a bit more than a month ago. An 18-year-old, who had just graduated from high school, was shot and killed at a short-term rental. He was a local kid, from the neighborhood that this rental was located. We have seen this dangerous behavior from these renters first hand and understand the danger we are in. We are no longer safe!!
One of the major discussion points on this issue is owner property rights! What about the rights of the residents who have lived here for years paying taxes and following the rules, only to deal with new problems and crime due to short term rentals? What about the rights of Michigan local, county and state governments? Also, police and sheriff departments which are being impacted by the stress of the many new short-term rental problems with no additional taxes paid by owners to cover these calls they are creating so they can pay for their extra homes?
At the September Freedom Township Board Meeting more than 40 residents showed up and demanded additional action to protect Happy Hollow and stop this illegal cottage rental. The Board insisted our township attorney was actively engaged in reviewing the situation and enforcement options. They also passed a township resolution in Opposition to MI House Bill 4046. Happy Hollow residents thank the Freedom Township Board for their efforts.
I am writing this letter to make your readers aware that this serious short-term rental issue is now a local issue and negatively affecting communities all around Michigan and other parts of the United States. It is the cover story in the Detroit Free Press (9-12-19, City Plan Takes Aim at Short-Term Home Rentals) as I write this letter! The arrival of short-term rental of homes also impacted Manchester Township and is now happening in my neighborhood in Freedom Township.
Zoning rules are only as powerful as the township enforcement efforts and the ability to have local control. So, we ask the Freedom Township officials to do what they said they would do at the August and September meetings--be aggressive and enforce the current zoning laws, even if we have to take the issue to court! If this short-term rental, Airbnb mess has happened to us, it can happen to you--be aware!!!!!!
Theresa Langer
Freedom Township, MI
Editor’s Note: Views expressed in any Letter to the Editor are always exclusively those of the author. Do you have something you want Manchester the know? Send your Letter to the Editor to themanchestermirror@gmail.com.
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