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Pinckney-area couple, Amy and Jeffery Bennett, purchased a home on Portage Lake as a short-term vacation rental through VRBO after being told it was allowed by the real estate agent. However, they soon received a code violation from Dexter Township for violating zoning regulations that prohibit short-term rentals. The Bennetts proposed amending the township's ordinance to allow short-term rentals in lake districts and adopting regulations similar to those of neighboring Hamburg Township.

    Amy Bennett stated at a Planning Commission public hearing that she and her husband are committed to being responsible owners, but they cannot afford to sell the property if they can't rent it out. The planning commission postponed voting on the proposal until February 25 to gather more information and review other communities' ordinances.

    Township staff discovered an estimated 20-30 short-term rentals operating in the township last year, with only one complaint filed against the Bennetts. Some residents expressed concerns about safety, theft, and disruptions caused by short-term rentals, while others spoke out in favor of allowing them, citing benefits such as supporting local businesses and property renovations.

    The planning commission voted to request the township Board of Trustees establish a task force to study short-term rentals, which would ultimately be responsible for changing the ordinance. Several residents suggested considering different types of residential properties for short-term rentals beyond lake districts.