To view or leave comments on this story, click HERE.
The Grand Traverse County Road Commission Board has denied an application to designate Bluff Road as a “Natural Beauty Road.” In a letter to Peninsula Township Supervisor Rob Manigold dated August 1, 2017, Road Commission Manager Jim Cook stated:
“Due to the residential development on both the waterside (with docks, landings, etc.) and high density of homes with a majority of non-native plantings along much of the road, the Board denied the petition to designated Bluff Road as a Natural Beauty Road. This determination coincides with written comments provided by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources via email.”
Old Mission Gazette is Reader Supported.
Click Here to Keep the Gazette Going.
The idea of designating Bluff Road as a Natural Beauty Road came up during the Road Commission’s recent improvements to Bluff Road, when more than 300 trees were marked for removal just weeks before the road work was scheduled to begin (read more here). This prompted several Bluff Road residents, led by Jim Floraday, to organize and circulate a petition to designate the road as a Natural Beauty Road.
At a special meeting on March 30, the Peninsula Township Board passed a resolution to designate Bluff Road as a Natural Beauty Road; the resolution was then hand-delivered to the Road Commission by Township Supervisor Rob Manigold. The Road Commission Board held an informational meeting about Natural Beauty Roads at the Peninsula Township Hall on June 20, and a public hearing on July 18. Download a copy of the Road Commission’s Natural Beauty Road guidelines here.
Comments from Old Mission Peninsula residents at the public hearing were mixed, with many opposed to the idea of designating the road a Natural Beauty Road because of the possible increase in traffic. In a letter to the Township Board dated July 15, 2017, Bluff Road resident Cynthia Lattin wrote:
“I live on Bluff Road and have property extending to the water’s edge. I have small grandchildren who cross the road and I do not want to see more traffic on the road. So, I will vote NO for the Natural Beauty Road. We also have a lot of bike riders and walkers on this road, and I am one of them. That is sufficient! Let’s keep it a natural beauty unspoiled by noise and traffic.”
SUPPORT YOUR INDEPENDENT LOCAL NEWSPAPER: I started Old Mission Gazette in 2015 because I felt a calling to provide the Old Mission Peninsula community with local news. After decades of writing for newspapers and magazines like the New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Family Circle and Ladies' Home Journal, I really just wanted to write about my own community where I grew up on a cherry farm and raised my own family. So I started my own newspaper.
Because Old Mission Gazette is a "Reader Supported Newspaper" -- meaning it exists because of your financial support -- I hope you'll consider tossing a few bucks our way if I mention your event, your business, your organization or your news item, or if you simply love reading about what's happening on the OMP. In a time when local news is becoming a thing of the past, supporting an independent community newspaper is more important now than ever. Thank you so much for your support! -Jane Boursaw, Editor/Publisher, Old Mission Gazette
To keep the Gazette going, click here to make a donation.
To view or leave comments on this story, click HERE.
Thanks, Jane, for the coverage. If the GT Road Commission now acknowledges that Bluff Road has a high density of homes, it should take the lead with the township and the state on reducing the speed limit from 55 to 35 or at least 45 mph between Blue Water and Boursaw Roads. Previous rejections of this request from residents have been based on the road commission’s view that not enough people live along the road. If the trees came down for safety, reducing the speed limit would be consistent. The speed limit on Peninsula Drive south of Bowers Harbor does not exceed 45 mph.
BIG surprise. The GTCRC has no interest in nature or the welfare of the Peninsula.
I can remember when that road was closed to traffic!!
Heartbreaking!
The only mile of natural beauty is shown in this picture? And it’s man made. The rest 5 or 6 miles is just house after house. What is natural or bueatful about that?
I agree
Why?
From Jim Cook, GT County Road Commission manager: “Due to the residential development on both the waterside (with docks, landings, etc.) and high density of homes with a majority of non-native plantings along much of the road, the Board denied the petition to designated Bluff Road as a Natural Beauty Road. This determination coincides with written comments provided by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources via email.” Click through to read more: https://www.oldmission.net/2017/08/bluff-road-natural-beauty-road-denied/
[…] 3. Refusing to designate Bluff Road as a Natural Beauty Road pursuant to P.A. 451 of 1994 in spite of a petition of more than 25 property owners and a resolution of the Peninsula Township Board of Trustees on March 17, 2017, supporting the petition. Read more about the Township’s Natural Beauty Road resolution and GTCRC’s denial of same here. […]