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(Editor’s Note: Hello, OMPers! Jane here, subbing in for Township Supervisor Maura Sanders this week. Read on for updates on the East Bay Boat Launch, Kelley Park Boat Launch, Road Endings debate, an unauthorized dredging violation and more. -jb)
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April 13, 2025
Greetings, Neighbors! Did you see that big beautiful pink moon last night? Over here on Bluff Road, I saw it coming up across the Bay and grabbed my camera to get a few shots. Didn’t get the tripod out, which would have made for a clearer shot, but I think it’s not bad for just holding my camera. Good thing I didn’t wait, because after about five minutes, it disappeared behind some clouds.
Here’s a roundup of Peninsula Township news this week…
Letter to Realtors. Maura sent a letter to Aspire North REALTORS about Peninsula Township’s new fees for those who violate the township’s zoning ordinance regarding short-term rentals (less than 30 days). Read more here.
East Bay Boat Launch. Maura took a deep dive into the files stored in the Township basement and uncovered some boat launch documents from the 1970s. Meetings took place between the DNR and the Planning Commission (Helen Sullivan was the PC chair, and Ray Carroll was the Township Supervisor). The documents indicate that the DNR promised to never have more than 36 cars in the boat launch parking lot, and that the toilets are located too close to the lot line. Also, the Township owns a strip of water access, and the DNR’s proposed new exit onto East Shore Road would block that water access. The DNR will need to apply for a Township land use permit in order to proceed.
Kelley Park Boat Launch. Consumers Energy has agreed to pay for removal of some of the electrical infrastructure (not all, as some is connected to private properties north of Kelley Park). The Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE) had previously requested that the wetlands area be mitigated, but they are waiving that, as it’s a small area and part of the U-shaped driveway goes through the wetlands. Township Clerk Becky Chown noted that the cost of the annual dredging would come out of the Parks budget. It is estimated to be about $1700. Permit applications have been submitted to EGLE and the Army Corps of Engineers. The goal is to have a public hearing by this fall, with boaters being able to use the launch next year. View the engineering plan in the Board packet from the April 8 meeting here.
Unauthorized Dredging Violation. On March 24, EGLE issued a second violation notice to property owners on Whispering Trail regarding “unauthorized dredging of Lake Michigan bottomlands and the relocation of spoils.” EGLE observed this during an inspection on Jan. 9, 2025. A request for information was sent to the property owners on Jan. 14, with a written response requested by Feb. 13. An “Order to Restore” was sent on Feb. 14, requesting a restoration plan by March 13. EGLE has not received any correspondence from the property owner. EGLE is requesting that a restoration plan be submitted by April 10 and the project completed by May 15. Failure to comply may result in civil and/or criminal enforcement action. For more info, view the letter from Logan Banning/EGLE in the April 8 Board packet here.
Road Endings. Last year, the Township held a “Road Ends” study session to discuss and clarify what activities are allowed or not allowed on public beach areas at road ends. These include Swaney Road, Old Mission Road and Wilson Road. It has been a contentious issue, because it has never been clarified in Michigan regarding who controls these road ends. Maura has spoken with the Grand Traverse County Road Commission, and discussion is taking place regarding Peninsula Township taking control of road ends and declaring what uses will or will not be allowed. Signage may be installed at the road ends sometime this year. Watch for more info in the Gazette (and I will also update this story).
Updates from Down the Hall
Zoning: The Township is still seeking an additional Ordinance Enforcement Officer. The Sheriff’s Department is assisting with outreach to some of the retired force to see if there is any interest. Please share the job description with anyone who might be interested.
Looking Ahead to Next Week
Ag Advisory Committee. The group will meet on April 15, 2 p.m. in the Township Hall. Agenda items include a proposed new ordinance “wish list,” and discussion regarding changes to the current ordinance, including reducing/eliminating acreage minimums for farm-based processing, adjusting setback requirements to provide flexibility for small farms and more. View the full agenda and meeting packet here.
Township Board Meeting. The Board will hold a special meeting on April 14, 4 p.m. at the Township Hall. They will discuss pre-construction consulting services proposals for Fire Station #1. Three bids have been received, and the Board will discuss these bids and pick one. From Maura’s update last week:
The Request For Proposal (RFP) for pre-construction consulting services on the potential new Fire Station #1 is out to the public. We have received a few calls from contractors/builders and are looking forward to seeing what the cost analysis is for new construction. We have two sites picked out. Site 1 is on Township property on the north side of the township offices. Site 2, the more favorable site and privately owned, is on Center Road across from the Peninsula Market. Read more about the Peninsula Township Fire Department here, including fire prevention and safety tips. Read more about the history of the fire department here.
Good Friday Closure. Peninsula Township offices will be closed on Thursday, April 17, in observance of Good Friday.
On the Horizon
***Shoreline Regulation Education Session*** This session is scheduled for April 24, 2025, 7 p.m., at St. Joseph Catholic Church. The Township will host members from the Army Corps of Engineers; Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE); the Grand Traverse Bay Watershed Center; and Dr. Richard Norton, Ph.D, J.D, from University of Michigan’s Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning.
Non-Motorized Planning. The Non-Motorized planning process is underway. So far, there have been four small group stakeholder meetings to help the planning consultants understand the important issues in our community, and learn more about what makes the Old Mission Peninsula unique. A larger public input meeting to seek ideas and information related to non-motorized transportation in our community is scheduled for June 24. Watch for more information once details are available.
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Extremely disappointed to hear yet another year before we have a usable boat ramp since the one at Haserot. It’s been years since we have had a usable boat ramp, maybe a decade or more with delay after delay, how disappointing…
Jane, this “update: report on Peninsula Township is excellent — clear, objective, informative — a real service to the community. Thank you. Grant
Hi Jane. Thanks for the information. Could you also update the Gazette readers on an important item that was mentioned at the last township board meeting? Maura indicated she had approached MDOT about the unattended shoreline located on the stretch of beach across from her house which is owned by the state. She said MDOT was working with legal to craft a memo (MOU) indicating that the township would not lease the land yet would take control. She then stated that the shoreline would be added to Peninsula Township’s parks and would operate under Peninsula’s park ordinance. Is this something the township board will ultimately approve & vote on? Since a portion of the shoreline is directly across from the supervisor’s private property, is there a conflict of interest? What input did the park committee & public have wrt taking control of this land? Does a process need to be followed to make this happen ? Since beach access to this stretch of shoreline is available but parking lots are not (new signage directing even more cars to the already overflowing parking lot by the lighthouse) will the township designate a parking area at one of the trailheads? I agree the parked cars are a public nuisance but people still need easy access to the parks which the township should embrace. Local residents who do not have access to the water would welcome a safe place to park their cars to access the beach. So, I believe there are enough questions on this to double back & get clarification from Maura. It would be awesome if she could submit an article addressing the above items. Thank you for pushing this along.