Brownfield request supported; tunnel issue still pending

A plan to redevelop a "brownfield" into an upscale yacht club on M-22 in Elmwood Township received a glowing endorsement from the Leelanau County Board of Commissioners last week — but a related plan to construct a tunnel under M-22 to access the waterfront may face a greater challenge.

Local developer Ron Walters of West Bay Partners, L.L.C. has proposed cleaning up the old Zephyr Oil Bulk Fuel Terminal on the west side of M-22 and constructing boat storage facilities, retail spaces, a lodge and townhouses on the 11-acre parcel.

That portion of the project may be eligible for certain tax advantages and state funding through the county’s Brownfield Redevelopment Authority and was the subject of a public hearing last week in Leland.

The key to the project, however, is a 29-slip marina that can accommodate yachts of 50 to 70 feet in length. In Elmwood Township the zoning ordinance requires that parking for such facilities must be on-site – in this case on the water side of M-22. Because there is not enough room both for the marina and all the parking required,

Walter has proposed building a tunnel under M-22.

Walter’s engineer, “Mac” MacClelland of the firm Otwell-Mawby, appeared before the county board last week to answer questions during a public hearing on the brownfield redevelopment plan. There were few questions and only a few comments from the public – all of which were positive.

Following the public hearing, the county board voted 6-1, with District No. 7 commissioner Melinda Lautner opposed, to adopt a resolution authorizing the submittal of a Brownfield Redevelopment loan application to the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality for environmental response activities associated with the project.

“I’m still real uncomfortable with this whole process,” Lautner said. “I would rather see the township be more involved with this than us. If this plan can get past Elmwood Township, though, it could be a great thing.”

Even as the county board conducted its hearing the evening of April 17, Walters himself was meeting with the Elmwood Township Planning Commission to explain a preliminary site plan for his project on the west side of M-22.

Planning Commission chairman Jack Kelly reported that commissioners last week approved Walters’ preliminary plan for that portion of the project, subject to various permit requirements and final site plan approval.

“But there are two distinct parts to this project,” Kelly said. “The Planning Commission needs to consider the plan for the west side of M-22 separately from what might occur on the east side. What Mr. Walters is proposing on the west side can be approved without a conditional land use permit.”

The marina on the east side of M-22 and Walters’ proposal to construct a tunnel under the state highway to access the waterfront is another matter, Kelly said. Both the marina and the tunnel will require far more work by Elmwood planners, including the consideration of possible zoning ordinance amendments and conditional land use permits.

“The tunnel issue will be back on our agenda at our meeting on Tuesday evening,” Kelly said.
Walters, meanwhile, expressed frustration with the pace and uncertainty of gaining necessary approvals from Elmwood Township.

“Last week, we had the County Board of Commissioners and the Brownfield Redevelopment Authority say this is a great project – but you still have to get through Elmwood Township where everything, so far, has basically been tabled,” Walters said.

“Being able to access the waterfront is obviously very important to this project,” Walters added. “How can anybody be opposed to someone building something that will help the public get across the road safely? Right now, I’m more than just a little frustrated.”