Skip to content
Laketown Township Logo
  • Boards & Commissions
    • Township Board
    • Parks Commission
      • ODC – Outdoor Discovery Center Partnership
      • Parks in Laketown Township
    • Planning Commission
    • Zoning Board of Appeals
    • Building Authority
    • Graafschap Fire Board
    • Downtown Development Authority
  • Departments
    • Administration
    • Assessor
    • Graafschap Fire Department
    • Township Treasurer
      • More Property Tax Information
      • Online Tax Payments
    • Elections
    • Gibson Cemetery
    • Felt Mansion
    • Contractor Information
  • Forms and Ordinances
    • Forms (PDF Library)
    • Ordinances
  • Legal Notices
    • Legal Notices
  • More
    • Credits
    • Quick Facts & Links
    • The ‘Laketown News’ Newsletter

Welcome to
Laketown Township
A beautiful township in West Michigan known for its scenic beaches
and forests, rolling farms and dramatic dunescapes. The township is
located conveniently between Holland and Saugatuck.
Welcome to
Laketown Township
A beautiful township in West Michigan known for its scenic beaches
and forests, rolling farms and dramatic dunescapes. The township is
located conveniently between Holland and Saugatuck.
Homeadmin2023-01-31T18:49:06+00:00

Information

Schedule of Meetings for Calendar Year 2023

RENTAL UNIT REGISTRATION INFORMATION:

The attached documents will assist you through the process of registering your rental unit. If you have any questions please call the Graafschap Fire Department office at 616-396-4060 or email: rentals@laketowntwp.org.

Rental Unit Ordinance Amendment
Rental Unit Registration Application
Rental Unit Escape Plan Example
Rental Inspection
Rental Fee Schedule

Parks commission wants more ideas before considering home’s demolition

Laketown Township wants more discussion on the future of an 84-year-old house after a committee recommended tearing it down.

“Before I use the wrecking ball, I want to make sure it’s the right thing to do,” said Parks and Recreation Commission Chairperson Tom Shuff at the commission’s meeting Wednesday, Jan. 18. “I don’t like to tear things down.”

The commission decided to call in the township building inspector to examine the house at Huyser Farm Park, 4188 64th St. Shuff also asked for more ideas for uses of a restored house.

In the meantime, the commission instructed Brett Grams, facilities operations, to post “Keep Out” signs on the exterior to minimalize potential vandalism.

The committee

In November, the parks commission set up a special committee to look at options for the 1,559-square-foot, two-story home built in 1939 by Manuel and Lilah Huyser. Lilah, 85, died in 1996. Manuel, 90, died in 1999.

The township acquired the property in 2001 for a 102-acre park that includes the unoccupied home.

The special committee, led by Parks Commissioner Jeremy Van Hoven, met in December with seven community members who concluded the house should be torn down. Safety, cost and a lack of purpose for the house were key factors in the decision.

“It’s sad but it’s a liability for the township,” Van Hoven told the parks commission Jan. 18. “We’ve got to get the sentimental away from the sensibility.”

Discussion

Shuff thanked the committee for its work and said he wanted more ideas besides demolition.

Parks Commissioner Karen Simmons, who also served on the committee, said the participants came in with open minds and made the recommendation for demolition after thoughtful discussion.

Township Manager Al Meshkin said demolition is a last resort for the house.

“Once that’s done, it’s done,” he said. “I was hoping the committee would come back with ideas.”

Meshkin has estimated restoration at $100,000 to $150,000 including electrical, plumbing, heating, cooling and insulation.

Having the township building inspector look over the property is a key step, according to Shuff. If the renovation estimates are too high, the township might need to consider demolition.

“Let’s see what makes sense,” he said.

The parks commission will discuss the Huyser House issue at its Feb. 15 meeting. The meeting is 6 p.m. at the township hall, 4338 Beeline Road.

The parks commission will send its recommendation to the township board of trustees who will then make the final decision on the house.

Departments

Administration
Graafschap Fire Department
Township Treasurer
Online Tax Payments
More Property Tax Information
Elections
Gibson Cemetery
Allegan County Sheriff
Felt Mansion
Contractor Information

Newsletter

The quarterly Laketown Township newsletter is a key part of staying in touch with township news and information. The township does offer other ways to stay informed:

This website: This contains forms, applications, agendas, minutes and information for the township. The information is updated on the home page as needed.

Facebook: Look here for regular postings on agendas, minutes, stories and breaking township news. Just search “Laketown Township” and you’ll find us.

Instagram: Pictures and videos of township events are here. Find us at “LaketownTwp.”

  • Winter 2023
  • Fall 2022
  • Summer 2022
  • Spring 2022
  • Winter 2022
  • Fall 2021
  • Summer 2021
  • Spring 2021
  • Winter 2021
  • Summer 2020
  • Spring 2020
  • Winter 2020
  • Fall 2020
  • Fall 2019
  • Summer 2019
  • Spring 2019
  • Winter 2019
  • Fall 2018
  • Summer 2018
  • Spring 2018
  • Winter 2018
  • Fall 2017
  • Summer 2017
  • Summer 2016
  • Spring 2016
  • Winter 2016
  • Spring 2017 Winter 2017 Fall 2016

Legal Notices

Legal Notices

News You Can Use

Participants grateful for hunt at Huyser Farm

Participants in the annual Huyser Archery Hunt in 2022 were grateful for the chance to use the Laketown Township park, surveys show, and several would like expanded hours and limits on non-hunters on the property.

The hunt at the Huyser Farm Park, 4188 64th St., was Oct. 1 through Nov. 14 and Dec. 1 through Dec. 31. The 15 participants are chosen by lottery. They are required to complete a survey that is submitted to the Laketown Township Parks and Recreation Commission.

Applications for the 2023 hunt will be available this fall.

“Given that so much local property is privately owned, Laketown Township is happy to offer deer hunters the opportunity to participate in the long-standing tradition of archery hunting at Huyser Farm Park,” said Karen Simmons of the parks commission.

“Surveys submitted by the hunting participants have been overwhelmingly positive. Hunters and hikers alike are able to respect each other. The township values input from both and will consider any recommended changes to improve the park for all during that time,” she said.

Survey results

Of the 15 participants, 11 returned the surveys.

“I greatly appreciate the township facilitating this opportunity and will apply again next year,” one hunter wrote.

“Wish I had more time. Thanks for the opportunity,” another wrote.

Respondents spent an average of 4.4 days hunting during their about two-week window. The most days spent hunting were eight, the least was zero.

Two hunters got deer. One deer was a four-point, the other an eight-point.

Hunters reported seeing deer, coyotes, skunks, squirrels and a variety of birds.

While in the woods, seven participants said they came across hikers, people walking their dogs and student field trips. Three did not see other people and one person did not answer that survey question.

One hunter who was in the woods eight days came across non-hunters each day.

“Some were very disrespectful. Lots of dogs off leash,” the hunter wrote in the survey. The hunter suggested closing the park to non-hunters during the event.

The park property remains open for hiking, fishing and other recreational activities during the hunting times. Signs are placed at the parking area notifying people that hunting is underway.

“Every day, including a large field trip and a man with an off-leash dog that ruined my hunt two mornings,” wrote another hunter who was out on eight days. “Need rules posted for people on what is expected of them when they see a hunter!”

Another hunter reported no problems and said the non-hunters were “very respectful.”

Other suggestions for improvement of the hunt include a bigger window for the hunters and permission to build blinds from material already on the property.

The hunt has been an annual event since 2008.

Poverty Exemption

More information on Property Tax Poverty Exemption

Quick Facts & Links
Credits

MISS DIG 811
Lakeshore Advantage

Forms & Ordinances

Forms and Ordinances (PDF library)
Ordinances



Welcome to Laketown Township - a beautiful township in West Michigan known for its scenic beaches and forests, rolling farms and dramatic dunescapes. The township is located conveniently between Holland and Saugatuck.

Contact Information

4338 Beeline Road,
Holland, Laketown, Michigan 49423

Phone: (616) 335-3050
Fax: (616) 396-5441

Email: office@laketowntwp.org

Office Hours 7:30 A.M. - 5:00 P.M.
Monday - Friday

LAKETOWN TOWNSHIP MAP, SOUTH WEST MICHIGAN

© 2023 Laketown Township | Sitemap | Privacy Policy
Website Design, Programming & Hosting by Murdoch Marketing
Manage Cookie Consent
To provide the best experiences, we use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behavior or unique IDs on this site. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions.
Functional Always active
The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
Preferences
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
Statistics
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
Marketing
The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
Manage options Manage services Manage vendors Read more about these purposes
View preferences
{title} {title} {title}
Go to Top