A proposed state law allowing local governments to place seasonal docks up to 250 feet long and boat hoists at public road ends on inland bodies of water has raised concerns from township and county road officials.

At its meeting on Tuesday afternoon, county Road Commission member John Popa discussed state House bill 4463, which would require the state Department of Environmental Quality to issue a permit to local units of governments wanting to place a seasonal dock at public road ends on an inland body of water at least 2,500 acres in size. The bill was approved by the House on June 27.

The legislation is being reviewed by the state Senate committee on government reforms and operations. If approved by the Senate and signed into law by Gov. Jennifer Granholm, it would allow local governments to apply for permits from the DEQ to place public docks at any public road end. The DEQ would be required to issue the permit unless there was an obvious adverse impact to the body of water.

The legislation would also limit docks being in the water from May 1 to Sept. 30, and require that they not encroach on riparian bottomland of an adjacent property. In addition, docks could be no wider then five feet and may not “unreasonably” interfere with the safety and navigability of the waters.

The bill would allow local governments to place boat hoists in water within the public road right-of-way. The hoists would be placed in a straight line to a maximum of 250 feet, with the nearest hoist no closer then 20 feet from the shoreline.

Popa said county road commissions would be removed from the decision process. He said the commission should urge the County Road Association of Michigan (CRAM) to go on record opposing the legislation.

Popa said the Lake Leelanau Lake Association is already working with other lake groups to stop the legislation. The Road Commission will consider the matter again at its Aug. 7 meeting, which begins at 11 a.m.

Glen Arbor Township is preparing in the event that the legislation becomes law. The township board agreed Tuesday night to establish a subcommittee to monitor the progress of House bills 4463 and 4464, and be prepared with an ordinance to govern uses at the road ends.

“We need to be prepared to enact an ordinance which defines our role as overseer of the road ends,” Supervisor John Soderholm said. “We have to position ourselves to be ready to react. It would be inappropriate to do it in advance.”

Chuck Ofenlach and Sarah Litch of the Glen Lake Association were also part of the discussion.
“I could envision port-a-potties, parking congestion … It’s a new challenge to riparians. There are a tremendous amount of problems with it,” Litch said.
Ofenlach agreed.

“The bill itself doesn’t speak to parking, human waste, noise …,” he said. “We have a tough job ahead of us keeping stuff (invasive species) out of the lake already.”

Board members approved creation of a subcommittee comprised of a representatives of the lake association and the board.