Each summer, Michigan’s lakefront communities host a high tourism season that brings a heavy influx of visitors, seasonal workers, and infrastructure demand. Many of these local economies depend on a successful tourism season to sustain their own annual operations and local quality of life. But while there is nothing like a Michigan summer, as another season comes to a close, many planners may be wondering how to best support residents and businesses who call their community home on a year-round basis. Here are our top recommendations for off-season planning.

Assess Permanent Housing vs. Short-Term Rental Needs

Short-term rentals provide an exciting opportunity for visitors to have a more authentic experience within a community, while offering an additional source of income to property owners. However, seasonal population influx often places undue strain on local housing resources, reducing the availability of homes for permanent residents while driving up housing costs.

Planners in lakefront communities should make a concerted effort to quantify their temporary housing demand and its impact to the wider community. It is essential to find a balanced, tailored policy approach that strikes a balance between local tourism and economic needs, and housing affordability and character. Depending on the community, short-term strategies might include short-term rental caps or other restrictions, or efforts to channel short-term rentals to specific zoning districts. In the long-term, planners should also consider amending their zoning ordinance to encourage diverse housing types, including cottage homes and ADUs, to increase housing supply for year-round residents.

Provide Off-Season Small Business Support

With significantly reduced staffing and foot traffic, small businesses often struggle to get by in the off-season. To prepare for this period of limited cash flow, communities should consider offering grants and low-interest loans to local businesses when possible, and should prioritize internal sourcing from local businesses, strengthening the local economy year-round. Marketing campaigns that promote the special perks of shopping in the off-season, as well as signature events (e.g., holiday markets or sports watching parties) and small business collaborations, can encourage permanent residents to experience their community with fresh eyes.

Invest in Sustainability and Resilience

Resilience planning is inherently designed to support a community in responding to, and bouncing back from, shocks and stresses, including those caused by economic shifts (such as high and low seasons) as well as weather events and climate change. Lakefront, seasonal communities should use the off-season as an opportunity to identify their risks and vulnerabilities and inform strategies to protect natural resources, shoreline properties and housing, utility infrastructure, and quality of life.

Resilience strategies can enhance safety and quality of life for residents and visitors alike. For instance, investing in parks and green spaces can help to reduce temperatures and retain rainwater in the summer, while providing year-round public spaces for permanent residents. Upgrading infrastructure and public services ensures communities are prepared for extreme weather – including both summer storms and winter snow – and maintains access and safety throughout the year. Expanding broadband access also supports public health, safety, and civic participation for all.

With careful planning, Michigan’s beloved lakefront communities can remain our favorite places to visit, live, play, and stay.

Taking Action at McKenna: McKenna supports lakefront and other seasonal communities in managing a fluctuating population through a wide range of planning, zoning, and engagement services. In 2023, McKenna partnered with stakeholders from the City of Saugatuck to develop a Short-Term Rental Task Force Action Report, to quantify short-term housing demand, impacts, and opportunities. The Report equipped the lakefront City with recommended plans, policies, and partnerships that will both bolster the vibrancy of the City’s tourism industry while retaining Saugatuck’s neighborhood character and residential affordability.

McKenna is also working on the Chikaming Township Master Plan, set to be adopted late 2025. This updated Plan emphasizes how seasonal tourism along the Township’s Lake Michigan shoreline affects housing availability and affordability, and outlines strategic zoning and planning priorities to help address these challenges.