Short-term rental lawsuit remains undecided

BY STAN MADDUX

There was discussion but no decision by the New Buffalo City Council on a lawsuit over short-term rentals.

During a special city council meeting Monday, Feb. 6, council members voted to go into closed session to discuss legal strategy with their attorney in the federal case brought against the city.

City Manager Darwin Watson said no details from the closed talks could be shared but nothing was decided on the matter.

Watson said both sides are engaged in standard talks to try and settle the matter out of court to avoid having to go to trial.

“We got one more round to go on some mediation and negotiation,” he said.

Watson said there are 27 plaintiffs and 17 properties represented in the lawsuit.

The legal action was taken after the plaintiffs were unable to obtain a permit to operate their homes as short-term rentals.

A moratorium on short-term rentals in New Buffalo was imposed in 2020 to give city officials time to draft new rules governing STRs.

The moratorium was lifted in November 2021 after a considerable number of teeth added to the regulations was adopted by the city council.

Existing short-term rentals were allowed to continue but a ban was imposed on additional ones in all three of the areas designated as residential districts.

The council met behind closed doors for about 30 minutes before resuming what turned out to be a brief public session.

The council scheduled public hearings on requests to vacate municipal right of way at two separate locations.

A portion of one right of way would be vacated to allow water and sewer service to be extended to an undeveloped residential lot at 315 S. Clinton Street.

Watson said the property owners want the ground to have access to utilities because they plan on putting the property up for sale.

“It makes it more marketable,” he said.

Municipal right of way vacation is also being sought on S. Kenzie Street between E. Detroit Street and E. Clay Street near the high school.

Currently, Watson said the right of way extends into the west end of the track circling the football field.

If approved, the school district would be able to access the ground to cut the trees and trim the branches that could potentially fall and damage the rubber surface of the track.

Watson said vacating that right of way would also open the door to somehow connecting aesthetically the athletic facilities to the new pickle ball courts and other recreational amenities going in across the street.

The public hearings will be held during the regularly scheduled city council meeting Feb. 21.

HIKERS TO WANDER OFF THE TRAILS ON FEB. EXCURSION

The Harbor Country Hikers will learn about bushwhackingor off-trail hiking - from the group’s president, Pat Fisher, on its Saturday, Feb. 18 hike at 2 p.m. at the New Buffalo Area Schools Nature Trails.

Fisher will show how, while mapping unmarked trails or planning new ones, he must explore without the aid of blazes, worn paths or a trail map. He will walk the group through the planning stages and reveal his methodology to make hiking off the beaten path a pleasant experience.

The Feb. 18 hike will be two hikes - an easy one-mile hike or a longer and more rugged three-mile trek. Those who attend are advised to dress in layers, wear a warm cap and sturdy shoes or boots and bring plenty of water. Depending on the weather, there may be some muddy or icy areas along the trail. Although membership is preferred, all are welcome to join this hike.

The Hikers offers an all-terrain rollator, which is a wheeled walker with oversized tires for unpaved surfaces, on a first-come, first-served basis by emailing harborcountryhikers@gmail.com.

For directions to the Nature Trails and other details about this hike and the Harbor Country Hikers in general, visit harborcountryhikers. com or go to the group’s Facebook page, Harbor Country Hikers.

— STAFF REPORTS