A long-running dispute is underway in the Town of Holland, where the Town Board is attempting to override the Board of Zoning Appeals in order to grant variances to the land use codes. The focus of the issue has been a plan by American Orthodontics to use a dwelling on Pine Beach Road as a sort of Lake Michigan getaway for its customers, potential customers and employees who would be able to stay at no charge. A group called Citizens of Pine Beach Road had successfully argued before the Board of Zoning Appeals to deny the application of American Orthodontics for such use.
Now, the Citizens argue that the Town Board has been trying to change the zoning codes in response, effectively overriding that successful appeal. The Citizens argue that the change to Zoning Code 330 opens the doors to short-term rentals which would fundamentally change the nature of the shoreline community with its corporate guest lodge, and extend beyond to possibly allowing data centers on farmland.
The next battle comes during a Plan Commission Public Hearing on Thursday, April 2nd at 7 PM in the Town of Holland Hall, which will be followed by a special Town Board Meeting. A large turnout is expected for both.
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