By Stan Maddux
The party is over for people cramming into vacation rental homes during the summer in New Buffalo.
The city council on April 15 limited occupancy at two people for every bedroom.
Parking was also restricted to driveways and inside garages to keep vehicles from winding up in yards and beside long stretches of curb.
More than 20 new upscale cottages along Merchant St. near downtown were exempt from the parking restrictions after the homeowners association reported already having similar rules it actively enforces.
‘’Because they are our homes we use for ourselves often we monitor
our neighbors to make sure their guests are well behaved,’’ Bart Goldberg, president of the Merchant St. Homeowners Association.
Some Merchant St. residents like retired school teacher Julie Barr also complained limits on parking might cut into their vacation rental business they depend on to afford the higher property taxes on second homes.
Barr said pleasant evenings she and her husband enjoy at their home would not be possible if not for the money from opening their residence to vacationers.
‘’It would only have been a dream for us if we couldn’t have this income,’’ she said.
Under the ordinance, vacation rentals must be registered annually with the city and undergo an inspection by the city after they’re registered.
No guests are allowed to sleep in the basement unless there’s a door leading outside from the basement to guard against entrapment in the event of a fire. Fines for violations will be determined later.
A five member review board consisting of representatives from the city, law enforcement and the vacation rental community was also created to look into the validity of complaints.
City councilwoman Elizabeth Ennis said changes could be made to the ordinance, if necessary, after the summer.
‘’We’ll see how it goes,’’ she said.
According to city officials, the number of homes turned into vacation rentals has increased substantially over the past decade especially away from the lake where they used to be more concentrated.
$1,000 or more just for a weekend stay is a major incentive for homes to be made available during periods the owners won’t be there.
Complaints about loud parties, vehicles parked in yards and along the streets and litter have also gone up from full-time residents used to a more peaceful environment before the home next door or across the street became a vacation rental.
According to City Manager David Richards, the population of New Buffalo increases from about 1,800 to 18,000 during the summer when second homeowners come here more often to stay.
Tourism here doesn’t wait until summer, though, with events scheduled year round.
Among the upcoming events are the 2nd annual “Beer in the Buff” scheduled April 27 on the lakefront at Lions Park.
More than 15 Michigan breweries will offer samples of more than 60 different craft beers, ciders and meads.
Live music from JohnnyV, Jeff Robinson and Keith Scott will be provided throughout the festival inside a tent.
Food will also be available to purchase.
The annual St. Mary’s Festival to kick off the summer is scheduled May 23-27 at 718 W. Buffalo St.
Carnival rides, games, food and live music are featured during the fund raiser for St. Mary of the Lake Parish.
Year round attractions include Beer Church Brewery Co. at 24 S. Whittaker St. downtown and the new Ghost Isle Brewery at 17684 U.S 12.
Beer Church Brewery is entering its third season inside the former Water’s Edge United Methodist Church built when Abraham Lincoln was president.
Ghost Isle Brewery is in a newly constructed building overlooking a state designated critical wetlands a few blocks east of downtown.
Vicki Gudas, president and CEO of the Harbor Country Chamber of Commerce, said a growth in brew pubs and wineries locally is among the factors extending the tourist season late into fall.
Also helping has been Four Winds Casin
in New Buffalo Township and other venues like Blue Chip in Michigan City bringing in major entertainment.
Gudas said the Harvesting West Festival in October can bring as many as 8,000 people into the community. Mother Nature when she cooperates also plays a role.
‘’I can tell you with the mild November and December that we had, I had businesses tell me they did really well,” Gudas said.
She said the feedback on the Harbor Country Chamber of Commerce website is another indicator tourism always a bedrock in the New Buffalo area continues growing.
‘’70-percent of the people who come to our website are coming for the first time. As a former Chicagoan, I was convinced that everybody knew about Harbor Country and it’s just not the case. It’s good to see new people are discovering us every day,” Gudas said.
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