City Feasibility and Short Term Rental Studies

City Feasibility Study Analysis

The City Feasibility Committee has been working diligently for the past year to study the advantages and disadvantages of transitioning to a City.

There will be an informational presentation for the public on June 5th at 6pm at Park Place with a Q & A session to follow. If you are unable to attend the meeting, please send your questions to cjressel53@gmail.com for the committee to review and add in the final draft.

To view their findings, please click on the link below.

Download a File:

City Feasibility Study (PDF)

City Feasibility Study

The June 13, 2022 Council Meeting saw the Appointment of the Committee to investigate becoming a city, creating the City Feasibility Study Committee.

Motion by Angell-Powell, supported by Palmer to approve the appointment of the following people to a committee chaired by Trustee Ressel-Hodan to investigate the Village of Pentwater becoming a city. The additional members will be Trustee Dave Bluhm, Amy LaBarge, Kathy O'Connor, Kyle Jansen and Sue Johnson.

Trustee Ressel-Hodan read the following goals of the committee: to study and understand the process of becoming a city, develop a pros and cons list, explain how the change will affect the Village within the Township, study the changes in tax that would occur and develop a question-and-answer forum for the public.

ROLL CALL VOTE: YES: Angell-Powell, Bluhm, Griffis, Nugent, Ressel-Hodan, Palmer and Hodges.
NAYS: 0. ABSENT: 0. Motion approved: 7-0

Short Term Rental Study

The November 14, 2022 Council Meeting saw the Appointment of the Committee for the Short- Term Rental Moratorium.

Motion by Bluhm, supported by Angell-Powell to approve the following appointments to an Ad-Hock Committee to study the current Short-Term Rental industry in the Village of Pentwater to bring the information back to the council; Amy Roberson, Arron Boyko, John Perles and Jason Vanderstelt.

Discussion: Trustee Nugent, Griffis, Angell-Powell and Palmer would like to see the committee blended with the Planning Economic Development Committee which would include Council Members on the Committee. President Hodges stated he would consider this as he fills the other seats.

ROLL CALL VOTE: AYES: Angell-Powell, Bluhm, Nugent, Ressel-Hodan and Hodges.
NAYS: Griffis and Palmer. ABSENT: 0. Motion approved 5-2.

Download a File:

Planning and Economic Development Minutes about Short-Term Rentals (PDF)

Short Term Rentals

The Pentwater Village Council at their February 13th Meeting lifted the Moratorium on Short-Term Rentals.

The Application Process is now open and will remain open for 60 days. Completed applications must be submitted to the Village Manager, Chris Brown, for approval. Applications are available online and at Village Hall.

If you currently have a Short-Term Rental license, you may file the short form, Renewal Form.

If you have been operating without a license, you are required to pay for the preceding two years fees along with the current fees. You are also required to have a site plan of some type indicating the property, buildings and parking. You must also provide a layout of the house indicating square footage and room locations (especially sleeping quarters), as well as a list of rental rules and your Michigan Sales and Use Tax Number.

Upon application approval you will be issued a permit that will expire on December 31, 2023.

The deadline for Short-Term Rental Applications is April 14, 2023. We will not be accepting applications after this date unless authorized by resolution of the Village Council.

Please refer to the Village of Pentwater Short Term Rental Ordinance #153 enacted on June 30, 2019 or contract the Village Manager, Chris Brown with any questions.

Download a File:

Short Term Rental NEW Application (PDF)

Short Term Rental RENEWAL Application (PDF)

Short Term Rental Ordinance (PDF)