PM Township Vote May Improve Services

Sutton's Landing boardwalk (photo by jhy)

based on a news article in the Ludington Daily News July 31, 2014

Pere Marquette Township, Mason County's charter township, has an outstanding system of parks and services for quiet recreation. The popular Mason County Campground with the associated Pumped Storage Project trails, picnic area and disc golf course; Buttersville Park and the Pere Marquette Shrine; Sutton's Landing with picnic facilities and an accessible fishing pier; and Memorial Tree Park are all part of the township system.

A proposal on the August 5 ballot requests that the township dissolve the Pere Marquette Parks Commission and its powers and assets transferred to the township's board of trustees.

Commission Chair, Jim Christensen, is behind the effort to get the question placed before the public for a vote. He's concerned that people will assume this means the township is no longer going to support its parks. In fact the opposite is true.

Other townships, for the most part, use a different system to manage parks and recreation with an appointed advisory board. Currently, PM Parks Commissioners have to be elected. The Parks Commission meets seven times a year, while the township board meets 24 times a year. Projects that must go through the separate parks group are slowed considerably by the low number of meetings. The Parks board does not meet at all in the winter, a good time to get some things accomplished in the off season.

Christensen noted that some people may be concerned that this gives the township too much power, but he notes that the township always controls the treasury, and must approve any parks projects anyway.

The expected result of this structural change is that actions should be approved in a more timely manner, and the administrative structure will better fit with other townships. The change may also facilitate grant requests, as those generally come from township boards.

If you live in Pere Marquette Township, which also includes the city of Ludington, consider these issues as you vote on August 5.

Follow- up- This vote passed 501-90. The Pere Marquette Parks board will now be appointed and function as described above. (JHY as reported in the Ludington Daily News)

See Pere Marquette Township
See Sutton's Landing (recently updated)
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Deed Restrictions May Block Bike Trail

from information on Top of Michigan Trails Council

The Boyne City to Charlevoix bike trail is still just a dream, and another measure of uncertainty has just been introduced. Deed restrictions on highway rights-of-way purchases from the 1950s may exclude uses other than vehicular traffic.

Although the concept for the trail exists, through Young State Park and Horton Bay to the Little Traverse Wheelway. Charlevoix County is prepared to own and maintain the trail.

The ultimate plan is to connect Charlevoix with Elk Rapids and then to the TART trail near Williamsburg.

Grants for phase one have been applied for. Yet, a snag has been found in the old deeds. The Charlevoix County Road Commission was contacted by Bay Township residents who realized that their deeds said that the right of way may be used for "highway purposes" only.

The language appears in at least six parcels of property which the trail would need to cross. It is not known how many other deeds contain this clause.

The question, manager Pat Harmon said, may be: Does a bicycle path qualify as a "highway use."

See Boyne City - Charlevoix Trail
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Saugatuck May Purchase South Denison Dunes

Denison Dunes(Photo by kmh1967. The author or licensor of this image does not endorse me or my work and their image is protected under an attribution license)

from a news release of the Grand Rapids Press, "Saugatuck agrees to apply for state grant to help buy southern portion of Denison duneland," by Dave Muller, Jan 12, 2009 and other sources

Following a public meeting on January 12, the city of Saugatuck has agreed to attempt to raise $25 million to purchase 160 acres of the property commonly known as the Denison Dunes.

Billionaire Aubrey McClendon agreed in July 2008 to sell the southern portion of the parcel to the city. Previous negotiations had either ended unproductively or with McClendon offering to lease the land to the city.

Now, the city plans to apply for $15 million from the Natural Resources Trust Fund. The approval for that plus an additional $10 million need to be acquired before March 2, when the offer expires. The Nature Conservancy and the Land Conservancy of West Michigan are helping with the negotiations.

The parcel of land in question includes the mouth of the Kalamazoo River, and is considered one of the last great undeveloped treasures in west Michigan.

also see Billionaire may be willing to part with 160 acres of ex-Denison dune land, Grand Rapids Press, Jul 31, 2008
Deal Would Let Saugatuck Lease Part of Dunes Land
Sides Step Back from Denison Dunes Confrontation
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Deal Would Let Saugatuck Lease Part of Dunes Land

The following is an excerpt from a story which we believe is worthy of reading, but would lose too much of its value if it were re-written for presentation on this blog. Please link through for the rest of the story, but hurry back! ... Editor

by Ken Kolker

"The city could lease the south half of the old Denison dunes property for $1 a year as long as it maintained and protected the land, according to an attorney for the Oklahoma billionaire who owns it.

The attorney discussed the lease with the mayor and city manager in a telephone conference on Monday, though no agreement has been reached.

City officials say they want a long lease, but the attorney for Aubrey McClendon said the length hasn't been determined.... "

finish the story at the Grand Rapids Press - see FAIR USE notice.
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What Is the DNR Land Consolidation Strategy?

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is committed to the conservation, protection, management, use and enjoyment of the State's natural resources for current and future generations. As part of fulfilling that mission, the Department currently holds title to approximately 4.5 million acres of Michigan's land surface, almost 6 million acres of its mineral rights, and 25 million acres of Great Lakes' Bottomlands on behalf of the citizens of this State.

A portion of these lands were purchased specifically for the natural resource and outdoor recreation values using restricted funds including, but not limited to, revenues from the hunting and fishing licenses, state park fees, and sale of forest products, to name but a few. The Department has acquired important lands through grants from the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund which is based on funds derived from the extraction of oil, gas, and minerals from State-owned mineral rights. The Department has also acquired key lands in part with federal funds such as Pittman-Robertson Fund, Wallop-Breaux Fund, and Land and Water Conservation Fund.

Still, the majority of the lands managed by the Department came into State ownership as a result of tax reversion in the 20th Century. Most of these lands tax reverted after being clear cut. The Department healed these cutover lands through reforestation and fire protection programs through most of the 20th Century. Those conservation programs made these lands valuable once again for forestry, wildlife habitat, and outdoor recreation.

While most of these lands acquired through tax reversion contribute significantly to helping the Department fulfill its mission, some do not. The costs associated with managing some of the more scattered land holdings may outweigh the conservation and outdoor recreation values those lands provide.

Income from the sale of those tracts that are determined to contribute little to fulfilling the Department's mission would provide funds to acquire important private in-holdings within the State's lands.

This land consolidation strategy includes the review and update of DNR project boundaries; the review and classification of parcels that fall outside of the DNR project boundaries; and a process by which certain parcels may be exchanged or sold, as appropriate. Further detail on each phase of this process, along with the status of each phase, may be seen by following the link below.

from a news release of the Michigan DNR
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Sides Step Back from Denison Dunes Confrontation

Wednesday evening's meeting of the Saugatuck Township Board ended by again tabling the decision as to the level of development that will be allowed on the property known as the Denison Dunes. But it was a decision that both sides were generally happy with.

The property belongs to Aubrey McClendon, billionaire owner of the Seattle Supersonics. He purchased the 412 acres for $39.5 million, winning out against a local group that had hoped to buy the land for $37.5 million.

McClendon plans to build million-dollar homes on the north half of the property, which abuts Saugatuck Dunes State Park. The southern half adjoins Oval Beach Park.

James Bruinsma, a spokesman for McClendon, read from a statement. "We are working hard to be thoughtful and responsible new stewards of this special land," he said. The attorney asked the board to postpone their vote on the initial request (to change the zoning to allow for more homes) until new, specific plans could be offered in the spring. He tried to assure the crowd of 300 people who turned out for the meeting that the development plan is not as large as people are imagining.

Bruinsma said that McClendon has hired environmentally friendly engineers, architects and conservation consultants to help with plans for his development.

Conservationists simply say that the land is special and should be preserved in its untouched state.

The board voted to table the item until they see the plans which McClendon will present this spring.

from WZZM TV, "Proposed lakeshore development put on hold", Jan 2, 2008
from the Grand Rapids Press, "No rezoning of duneland yet", Jan 2, 2008
See Wednesday Meeting Critical for Saugatuck's Denison Dunes
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Saugatuck Residents Turn Out in Force to Oppose Development

A large group of interested people attended Wednesday evening's meeting to share their views on the plan of Oklahoma billionaire Aubrey McClendon to build homes on the dune property.

The land was zoned R-4, allowing one house on every five acres, at about the time McClendon completed his purchase. He claims he was not properly notified, and that he has the right to build one house on every 1.5 acres.

Residents support the township's R-4 zoning. They cite the natural beauty of the area as one of the greatest resources for attracting tourists.

The Saugatuck Township Board was scheduled to vote on an agreement with the developer at Wednesday's meeting, but the township board tabled it instead.

from WZZM TV, "Big crowd shows up to oppose billionaire's development plans", Dec 19, 2007
See Wednesday Meeting Critical for Saugatuck's Denison Dunes, Dec 17, 2007
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Update- Chicago Scouting Council vs Blue Lake Township

An eyewitness account of the December 7 court date

Scouts Rally "United we stand to save Owasippe - intact" photo courtesy Scarlet Sassafras

Friday afternoon, December 7, was the 10th and final court date in Muskegon County Circuit Court presided by the Honorable William Marietti. It went on for approximately three hours. This trial is reportedly one of the longest court cases in Muskegon County circuit court history. It is being watched with great interest by local citizens of North Muskegon County as well as by many other small municipalities and townships within Michigan and surrounding states.

25 people were in court supporting the defense of Blue Lake Township while there was only one person supporting the prosecution by Chicago Area Council (CAC) Boy Scouts of America, Jim Stone, their Scout Executive. Representing CAC Scouters and other Friends of Owasippe were Ron Kulak, Steve and Irene Kantorski, Bob Halston, Bob Kurth, Wayne Schimpf, Dottie Humbert, Wayne Hanson, and Jim Schlichting. The others in attendance were citizens of Blue Lake Township and officials of the township government.

In an alleged conversation with a person prior to the trial, Stone expressed his surprise over the extent of the cost of mounting the lawsuit against Blue Lake Township. He was not asked by this person to quantify CAC's legal cost. However, one can only imagine how expensive this has become, especially in light of what CAC spent in 2006 for professional fees per their IL990 report, ie. more than $460,000.

Detailed testimonies were given by township witnesses Jim Cordray of one of Blue Lake Township commissions and Paul LeBlanc, a professional planning consultant and President of LSL Planning, a professional planning firm hired by Blue Lake Township to assist with amending their master plan. Both witnesses gave good testimony supporting the township's defense of their FR-I zoning (a zoning class for ALL six camps within their township). Both held up very well under cross examination by attorney Doug Dozema

It should be pointed out that Blue Lake Township's Master Plan was previously and unanimously adopted by their township board and further ratified by the Muskegon County Board.

On numerous occasions, both attorneys objected to the questioning by the other. It appeared that Judge Marietti seemed to be fair-handed in dealing with both and did permit additional evidence to be submitted by both attorneys.

The defense and the prosecution rested by 5pm and mutually agreed to submit their final arguments and summaries in writing no later than December 21 to the judge. The judge exclaimed interest in eliminating redundancy and in making their arguments to the point as he already had received many boxes of briefs and submitted evidence from both sides, enough to virtually fill up a small room. In addition, the judge had each trial hearing videotaped and is having the audio portions transcribed. The videos and transcriptions will be available to the public once posted under the U.S. Freedom of Information Act...for a fee.

Everyone is hoping that Judge Marietti will render his decision by the end of December, however the judge can deliberate longer if he feels he needs the time.

So, we wait...hope...pray.

by Ron Kulak, Scouter and Scarlet Sassafras editor

read more at "Oldest Operating Boy Scout Camp Still Fighting for Its Life", Jul 30, 2007
read more at "Bench Trial Continues for Camp Owasippe and Blue Lake Township", Nov 25, 2007
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Forest Service Announces Open Space Conservation Strategy

Forest Service Chief Abigail Kimbell announced on December 6, 2007 the release of the Forest Service’s Open Space Conservation Strategy.

"Our vision for the 21st century is an interconnected network of open space across the landscape—one that supports healthy ecosystems, renewable resources, and a high quality of life for Americans," said Chief Kimbell. "We plan to achieve this through collaboration and partnerships—by working with willing landowners, conservation groups and state and local governments to promote voluntary land conservation."

The Open Space Conservation Strategy is the product of extensive public comment and collaboration, with over 22,000 comments received – nearly all supportive. The public also expressed strong support for open space conservation during USDA’s Farm Bill listening sessions.

The Strategy charts a path forward for the Forest Service to conserve forests, grasslands, farms, ranches, and urban greenspaces that provide vital ecosystem services and benefits for society. Open space benefits American citizens by providing clean air, abundant water, outdoor recreation, connected fish and wildlife habitat, scenic beauty, improved human health, renewable resource products, and quality of life.

USDA’s Farm Bill proposals would strengthen and enhance the agency’s ability to achieve the goals of the Strategy. The USDA proposals would provide increased financial and technical assistance to willing landowners to conserve open space, advance ecosystem service private markets to compensate private landowners, enable states to work across boundaries to identify priority forest landscapes for conservation, and help communities protect working forests.

The loss of open space threatens the sustainability of the Nation’s forests and grasslands. We lose approximately 6,000 acres of open space each day across the United States —a rate of four acres per minute. Land development is outpacing population growth, especially in rural areas where the trend is low density, dispersed growth. The new Forest Service report "National Forests on the Edge" projects that over 21 million acres of rural private lands near national forests and 44 million acres of private forest land will undergo increases in housing density by 2030.

Growth and development in wildlands increases the risk of wildfire for people and property, affects the Forest Service’s ability to manage the public lands for healthy forests and public enjoyment, and reduces the capacity of privately owned land to provide water, recreation, habitat, and other public benefits.

news release of the USDA Forest Service
The Strategy can be found at http://www.fs.fed.us/openspace. The site also shares research findings, success stories, and resources for open space conservation.
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