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Editor’s Note: OMP resident and farm owner Kerry Duggan says the winery lawsuit is bigger than wine. “It’s about preserving history, farmland, community, and the voice of the community.” Read on for her thoughts, and if you’ve got something to say, write it up and send it to me, [email protected]. -jb
When my sister — now the Township Supervisor — moved to the Old Mission Peninsula in 2013 after her husband retired from the Marine Corps, OMP quickly became a deeper part of my family’s life. My son took his first steps in the Great Lakes here. My kids live for time in the water on West Bay, ice cream at the nearby lavender farm, and old-timey treats from the Old Mission General Store.
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I live for looking up at the stars at night, watching the critters during the day, and riding my bike up to the beach for some rare, quiet alone time at sunset. Maura, an elected Republican, and I don’t see eye to eye on every issue, but it’s nowhere near as contentious as the national partisan divide might suggest.
As a farm property owner here, I can tell you: I stand with the residents of OMP. As Maura recently noted, “For nearly 40 years, this community has worked hard to strike a balance — supporting wineries while preserving farmland and the agricultural character that makes this place special. The wineries have thrived because of these preservation efforts.”
Now, that balance is under threat. As Maura also said in her response to the Wall Street Journal, “The wineries want unlimited commercial uses including full restaurants, event centers, late-night receptions, and amplified music. This would destroy the very agricultural character that makes their businesses successful and the township so special.”
She laid out a sober, realistic assessment of the options — and the wineries’ attorney dismissed her leadership as “a stunt.”
Meanwhile, the wineries have repeatedly said, “it’s not about the money.” Yet this fight has left residents bearing the brunt of an all-or-nothing winery group that sued their own neighbors for $200 million. Who does that?!
I think back to Detroit’s “Grand Bargain,” when I was embedded in City Hall as deputy of President Obama’s task force. In that dark time, the entire city came together, collaborated, and preserved the iconic Diego Rivera Industry murals at the DIA during bankruptcy. It would be a travesty for OMP to lose its assets, culture, and heritage to the fallout of this lawsuit.
I am friends with winery owners. I know how much pride they take in their craft, and I love supporting their businesses. That’s what makes this so painful — this is a small community, and there has to be a better way forward.
Because this is bigger than wine — it’s about preserving history, farmland, community, and the voice of the community. And that voice has been clear for the last 40 years.
The 2024 Master Plan says it best on page 43: “Among all attributes, residents say they like living in Peninsula Township mostly because of the rural, quiet atmosphere, followed closely by scenic views and the quality of the environment.”
That’s the OMP worth fighting for.
– Kerry C. Duggan, OMP farm owner
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During an appointment in Traverse City, I heard a conversation in the waiting area about
How sorry they felt for the people living on the peninsula. The conversation went on and it wasn’t pleasant as a resident to hear. Evidently between these two people, the wineries are seen as Destroying the Peninsula.
Karen, I have been a winery customer and enjoy time in their places of business, however, this lawsuit is an assault on residents. The original agreements to operate were clear to the wineries and all of us have to live with Peninsula Township rules and regulations. The damages will ultimately come to us residents to pay and we have to reflect that injustice on the wineries as they triggered the judgment through the lawsuit. Frustrating as many of these wineries have been a big part of OMP but have now put profit over community.
Absolutely and well said, Chris.
I believe the wineries want to make more money from their businesses, with a total disregard for the residents. The farms and the serenity of the peninsula have always been special and an important aspect of this unique peninsula. Wineries could come to a compromise and not expect to run their businesses as if they are in an urban setting. Wineries are also expecting way too much money from residents who are living their lives and don’t have $49 million to give the wineries.
Bravo, Kerry! Perfectly stated.
Thank you for this piece, Kerry. Well stated and how many of us who live on the Peninsula feel.
Kerry and Chris M., my feelings exactly!
Well stated. Thanks for speaking out.
Kerry, thanks for saying what needed to be said. How do winery owners hold their heads up in public? Decades of Ag preservation on Old Mission created picture-perfect winery settings. Winery owners bought their Old Mission Ag land cheaper because it was zoned Ag. They got lower property tax rates because of Ag zoning. Two winery properties got taxpayer-funded PDR money meant for Ag preservation, and signed conservancy agreements to remain Ag and open space. The Old Mission community bought some really mediocre wine to boost winery sales. How did the winery owners repay the community that did all that
? They ambushed the Township and everyone in it with a claim for $203,000,000 that is destroying neighbors’ peace of mind and threatening the Township with bankruptcy. How do they hold their heads up?
Thank you for sharing your message Kerry. We share your feelings as well.
Kerry, everyone is entitled to their opinions on the purpose, impact, and future of OMP based on the winery businesses and its related lawsuit. What should not be opinion are the facts in this case, and you are continuing to spread lies to defend your sister’s irrational behavior. I dare you to provide one shred of evidence in this case that points to the intended uses you tout will destroy the character of OMP. No they don’t want to run full service restaurants, blare music at all hours or stay open until the wee hours of the night. If you doubt that go ask them. That hasn’t been and aren’t the intended uses. The uses are tangential to the current uses and are complimentary if anything. Truly repeating lies will never make these become truths because they aren’t that!
But I’m curious…if you think the wineries are destroying OMP why did you just recently buy property on OMP? You have been here less than two years all while the lawsuit has been in play. But moreover your home/property are actually a rental property, seeking nearly $20,000 per month in rent. So it seems you don’t mind profiting by being a landlord of a short term rental on OMP at a handsome profit per month, which some would argue ruins the character of OMP far more than any farmer/winery.
I would suggest that if you are going to support your sister’s bombastic comments you do so with facts and data but moreover don’t exhibit the hypocrisy of being a landlord not farmer or resident of OMP.
Cindy, I’d like to address your comments directly. Let’s focus on the facts.
You asked for a “shred of evidence” to support the claim that the wineries want to destroy the character of the Peninsula. The evidence is the lawsuit itself. No business sues their neighbors for $200 million over “tangential and complementary” uses. The scale of the lawsuit, and the financial damages they are seeking, is the clearest evidence of intent to secure unlimited uses.
You’ve also raised a point about my property and my personal life, which is interesting. First, this is not my first property on OMP. Second, you’ve suggested I’m a hypocrite for profiting from a rental property, which I never have. The fact is, my farmhome is my retirement plan and the farm is a budding business for when I have more time to be on OMP, which I cannot now as a single mother. It is not a short-term rental; and if I were to rent it, I would follow the local ordinance (30-day minimums). I feel fortunate to share the character of OMP with my friends, family, and (perhaps) future guests.
Back to the core issue. This lawsuit is about the future of a community that has successfully balanced agriculture and tourism for decades, which is why I was attracted to OMP in the first place. The suit shifts that balance when the Wineries of Old Mission Peninsula sued their own neighbors for a staggering sum of money. The community’s master (read: voice) plan should matter.
Kerry,
The greatest myth in your narrative is that the wineries sued their neighbors. If you had a 25 year history living on OMP as I do you would realize this is simply the “my way or the highway” township who drags their heels on revising the zoning for one reason only…to stop growth and lock the door behind those who move onto OMP. Further this isn’t their first swing at bat in trying to limit progress and measured growth on OMP, nor is it PTP’s first loss in court! With history you would realize other projects such as Peninsula 81 was stopped needlessly by both the no-growth Township and slam the door behind us PTP. See how that worked out? Go drive through Peninsula 81. It’s hardly an eyesore. Further, take your calculator and figure out the tax base on there on what was vacant acreage for decades. So in case you or your sister wonder who paid/pays for amenities your sister wants to sell on OMP…,it’s revenues from those who dared like Peninsula 81 and the wineries! That is who enables new boat launches, beautiful park land, etc! Not the homeowner from 1976 whose tax base hasn’t moved in decades.
Let me conclude by saying that as a person who makes a living on sustainability, would you rather have a winery on 150 acres that has a few beautiful weddings a year and quartet playing on their deck, or would you rather have one house per 5 acres which would be 30 homes? Want to calculate the emissions and carbon footprint from one versus the other? If you care about the character about OMP you should ponder this because the day these beautiful wineries have had enough of the Township’s nonsense they will sell the land for a subdivision which is a use by right! I’d like to hear your comment on character then!
No, they didn’t sue their neighbors. As a logical person who embraces change, in 25 years of residency the wineries didn’t ruin the character of OMP one bit! But what may come next may really be a shock to the anti change residents of OMP!
You may need to ponder that!
Cindy, your argument that the wineries didn’t sue their neighbors is ludicrous.
That’s LITERALLY what they did. As in by their exact actions literally.
They want to argue ‘it was the only way’, it was ‘targeting “The Township”’, it was only ‘to bring them to the table’. Stop. Just stop. However they got to the lawsuit, by intent or ignorance, they got there. Now the ENTIRE community stands to pay for their greed. Period. Prove me wrong. I’ve never seen so much flip-flopping – go talk to them/they won’t talk, you didn’t take the settlement/we had the judge hide it, it’s not about money/they deserve for their ‘damages’.
A couple last thoughts –
1. It’s clear you stand to gain from your relationship with the wineries. I don’t mean it theoretically, like ‘we all love what the wineries bring to our community.’ I mean like dollars and cents.
2. Why, why on Earth, have you made this personal? Why did you feel the need to personally lecture Kerry, bring her PERSONAL LIFE into the discussion? Oh, I know why – because you’re a BULLY.
Todd, let’s leave it simply that facts and data are clearly not your best friend. Your ignorance on this whole matter is stunning. Your assertions that I personally have something to gain is laughable. Plainly laughable. Your business partner, Kerry, who asserts she is a “farmer” and resident but merely owns a house with 7 acres that is a short term rental, lacks zero historical perspective to assert the wineries have or will destroy the character of OMP. Live on OMP for 25 years and watch the evolution then speak from experience not protecting your wife and her sister who lacks the leadership to navigate this township through this mess! Call me names all you desire…facts don’t lie. You and your business partner need to get your facts straight…then likely go back to something other than spouting off about changes in OMP you know nothing about!
Agreed, Kerry, Grant and Todd. Thank you for saying what so many of us would articulate.