Скачать или смотреть Michigan lawmakers weigh long-term campground living amid housing shortage

Northern Michigan’s housing crunch has some lawmakers looking to an unconventional stopgap: letting people live at campgrounds for longer than current state guidance allows.

Rep. Rachelle Smit, a Republican who represents the 43rd District, is backing House Bill 5430, which would expand what qualifies as “temporary” occupancy at licensed campgrounds.

Smit said, “Michigan’s housing supply crisis is not just a shortage of permanent housing but also a crisis level shortage of temporary and rental housing. These supply issues affecting every corner of the state have served to drive costs even in rare instances when housing options are available.”

Under the proposal, staying at a campground for more than 180 days would be possible if certain criteria are met.

Smit said the change would apply “in areas where a state of emergency has been declared, where a documented housing shortage exists or where a specific workforce shortages exist.”

How long someone can stay at a campground has been difficult to define under current Michigan law.

In a 2024 letter from the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy, a standard was outlined that tied “temporary” to about six months.

John Lindley of the Michigan Association of Recreation Vehicles & Campgrounds said, “While current Michigan statute governing the operation of a licensed campground in Michigan clearly states that campgrounds are for temporary living quarters. These two notices together serve to provide notice that EGLE had arbitrarily set the limit on temporary at six months or 183 days.”

EGLE has cited infrastructure and safety concerns as reasons for that window, including the design of campground utilities.

Dylan Gebhard of the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy said, “Water and sewer systems that serve campgrounds are usually designed to be operated seasonally and are not designed for the year-round operations through the cold temperatures experienced in Michigan. Converting to year-round water and sewer service may require significant source water and distribution upgrades along with collection and treatment upgrades.”

Gebhard said longer-term residency would require additional site standards.

“Any individual campsite intended to expand residency must contain an individual water site connection sewer connection and electrical connection and campgrounds intending to offer expanded residency must place fire hydrants within the campground according to local specifications,” he said.

Supporters of the bill argue that allowing longer stays at qualifying campgrounds could ease pressure on limited housing supplies, particularly in areas facing emergency conditions or workforce needs.

“People seek these alternative living arrangements include utility linesmen and women sent to the northern Michigan for nine months following last year’s ice storm. Visiting nurses and other health care providers temporarily serving in a rural community and the list goes on and on,” Smit said. “By expanding this definition and not allowing Eagle to implement its arbitrary rules we can help solve the housing problem in our state.”

Similar legislation has been introduced in Lansing before with little success, though the latest version includes modifications aimed at improving its chances. The bills are currently in committee.

READ MORE: https://upnorthlive.com/news/local/mi...

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