St. Joseph City Commissioner Michael Fernandez says short-term rentals have a role in the community, but he believes they should be limited to specific areas to protect neighborhoods for year-round residents.
Speaking on the WSJM Morning Show with Ken & Friends as part of a candidate interview series, Fernandez said the city has historically managed rentals through zoning, preventing the kind of turnover seen in other coastal communities.
“We’ve been able to avoid becoming a city where almost nothing but short-term rentals exist,” Fernandez said. “That’s been instrumental in keeping families here.”
In St. Joseph, a short-term rental is a dwelling unit rented for periods less than one month (or less than 30 consecutive days), as opposed to longer-term residential rentals which are for one month or more. These short-term rentals require a permit and must comply with city ordinances, including specific zoning requirements, particularly in the downtown district where they are now allowed.
Fernandez said one of his earliest votes as a commissioner involved approving short-term rentals in vacant spaces above downtown retail shops. He called that decision “a no brainer,” pointing to the economic benefits of placing visitors in the heart of the city, where they can easily access restaurants, shops, and the beach.
However, Fernandez cautioned against allowing rentals in residential neighborhoods.
“We want families raising their kids there, retirees enjoying what they’ve worked for, and working families contributing to our year-round economy,” he said.
Fernandez noted that maintaining stable, full-time residency helps combat population loss while supporting local businesses throughout the year.
Fernandez also acknowledged that rentals can sometimes bring additional traffic and noise, which he said is better suited to commercial areas rather than residential zones. “There’s a time and a place for short-term rentals,” he said. “In downtown, they make sense. In neighborhoods, we want to preserve family life.”
The commissioner tied the issue to a broader theme of land use and city planning, stressing that St. Joseph must make careful decisions about how its limited space is used. He said that was part of his thinking in recent debates over development projects, including the Marquette proposal, which includes 32 luxury condominiums and 68 market-rate apartments in downtown St. Joseph.
Fernandez is seeking re-election to the City Commission in November. Click here to watch the full interview.
