A proposal to relocate the boat launch from Lake Street to Glen Haven foundered, and is now sunk.

The Glen Arbor Township Board voted unanimously Tuesday night to abandon efforts to relocate its boat launch to Glen Haven. Action came after a recommendation from its boat relocation committee, chaired by Treasurer Terry Gretzema.

“I feel bad we didn’t make any progress,” Gretzema told his fellow board members. “We were up against two immovable forces.”

The Lake Street launch lacks adequate parking and is not protected from prevailing winds. As a result, the committee sought a “compromise” with the National Park Service, which had steadfastly opposed relocating the launch to a site within Sleeping Bear Dunes. Three road end locations all within 500 feet of the old M-209 road end were suggested, and it was the position of the Leelanau County Road Commission that the sites were within its control.

Park Service officials did not agree, but said they were willing to review the locations and, according to Gretzema, even offered to consider a site located between the two remaining private houses on the easternmost portion of the D.H. Day main loop. The Park Service later responded that no site would be considered, he said.

“ …They have no interest in locating the ramp, under any conditions, within park property,” Gretzema said.

The Road Commission was initially supportive of the township’s request to relocate the ramp to Glen Haven, but never acted on the township’s permit application. In the end, committee members – who also sought support from state and federal legislators – recommended to abandon their relocation effort and retain the Lake Michigan launch at the Lake Street location.

Gretzema said continuing to exert political pressure would result in a “long drawn-out affair” and initiate extensive additional research and impact studies by the Park Service. Committee members also felt that asking the Road Commission for the permit (to relocate) would put them in a ‘compromising position.’

“We believe we no longer have the necessary support,” he said. “We’ve been told (that) a launch permit approval would be met by an immediate court injunction by the NPS.”

Through further discussions, committee members have determined that a “close-in” site to the Glen Haven dock piling may be hazardous in foggy and dark conditions without appropriate warning devices.

Assistant Park Superintendent Tom Ulrich responded sensitively to the board’s decision.

“I think it’s a realistic decision,” he said. “We would have loved to support their efforts, but we couldn’t and be true to what we’re supposed to be caring for.”

Ulrich said he sympathized with the problems posed by the Lake Street location, but didn’t believe siting it in Glen Haven would be appropriate with the mission of the National Lakeshore.

With the project abandoned, the committee is now expected to be disassembled.

All board members expressed disappointment at the failed attempt, but credited the committee for its efforts.

“I think we’ve beat our heads against the wall long enough,” Trustee Kent Kelly said.

by Amy Hubbell
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