HARVEY — The Chocolay Township Planning Commission will hold a joint meeting with the township board at 5:30 p.m. Monday at the township hall to discuss proposed 2019-2020 planning commission priorities.

The board unanimously approved a motion recommending the list be published as written during its regular meeting on Feb. 11.

According to the list, township staff is requesting that the board and planning commission review the 16-item list, which is ranked in order of priority, during Monday’s meeting to determine if they should be addressed in the coming calendar year.

Establishing rental language and regulations for all township zoning districts is listed among the high priorities for the planning commission’s consideration.

The township board received and rejected language recommended by the planning commission in May that would have added “rental dwellings” as a “permitted principal use” in the township’s commercial, agricultural and residential districts. Short-term rentals were not specifically addressed in the ordinance language, which seemed like the crux of the board’s rejection at the time.

In August, Supervisor Richard Bohjanen took a straw vote of language board trustees thought should be included in a rental ordinance.

The overwhelming consensus of the board was that rentals should be regulated with elements such as: a registration, or permit requirement for homeowners who wish to rent their property, including a nominal fee designed to offset the staff time required to process it; the recommended number of occupants in the unit; that township rules for garbage and collection dates be posted on the premises, as well as provide a secure place to store refuse until pickup day; and that a synopsis of the township’s outdoor burning, noise and fireworks ordinances and pet rules be posted on site.

Trustees had mixed views in August whether the ordinance should regulate short-term rentals exclusively.

Other high priorities to be considered at the meeting on Monday are items related to flood protection and flood insurance cost reduction throughout the township; the establishment of a capital improvement plan for 2019 through 2024; and determine ordinance status to either opt in or opt out of allowing non-medical marijuana facilities in the township.

Lisa Bowers can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 242. Her email address is lbowers@miningjournal.net.