Cleveland Township short-term rental (STR) program is now in its second year and continues to operate at capacity. Zoning Administrator Scott Sheehan reported that all 36 available permits are currently issued, with six additional applicants in line and a few more residents have expressed interest.
“We’re full up,” Sheehan said. “There are probably another dozen people asking about next year.”
The board then threw around the idea of expanding the number of STR permits but ultimately agreed to maintain the cap through 2026.
“I think it would be premature of us to consider any changes at this point,” Stein said. “We need to go a little further with our short term rental ordinance and follow it through for an additional year to get a better handle on whether or not we’re actually accomplishing what we set out to do, which is retain the nature of our residential and agricultural community, and not become a weekend rental community.”
Board member Todd Nowak noted the ongoing tension between rental demand and housing affordability, “If we could get a percentage of people to switch to monthly rentals instead of this short term rental (it would help with housing), because you got people at the fire station that can’t live in this area because the cost is astronomical.”
A key part of the STR discussion centered around Granicus, a third party software that the township uses to identify and verify STR activity online. Sheehan questioned whether the township could reduce costs by relying on resident reporting instead, but Stein argued that keeping Granicus is critical at this early stage in the STR program.
“I think it was helpful at the beginning to give us our base but I don’t know if it’s needed going forward. I think there’s enough community policing,” said Sheehan.
“I’m not sure I’m comfortable with that yet,” replied Stein. “Granicus gives us the documentation we need if we have to issue a municipal infraction ticket, which I think we’re going to have to start issuing next year. I think we would be remiss at this point to pull back from a monitoring system.”
The board informally agreed to continue with Granicus in 2026.
To wrap up the STR discussion and correct a clerical mistake, the board voted to amend its short term rental resolution to formally state the number of permits allowed each year - 36. Stein said the change would bring the document into alignment with board intent and township practice.
In other news, Supervisor Tim Stein kicked off the meeting with a report stating that due to some state budgetary changes, Cleveland Township will see a 2% reduction from state revenue sharing, which equates to $2,404.
“I don’t mean to make light of $2,404, that’s a lot of money,” said Stein. “But as it impacts our total budget, I don’t think we’re in dire straits.”
Zoning administrator Scott Sheehan made an appearance to give an update. Sheehan said that seven land use permits were issued in October, mainly for new homes and decks. He also outlined an ongoing complaint about construction debris along Mueller Road that has caused a number of flat tires. Stein reminded Sheehan that the road was recently graded and suggested that it could also be debris from that process that is causing damage.
