Inland Seas Education Association (ISEA) is moving forward with plans to expand their campus after the Village of Suttons Bay Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) unanimously approved on Jan. 14 to classify Dame Street as an alley under the current zoning ordinance.
The Village of Suttons Bay planning commission voted in December to grant ISEA “conditional approval” for its campus expansion project. One of those conditions was that the applicant obtain ZBA approval of variance for build-to/setback along Dame Street. The planning commission previously determined Dame Street as a “side street,” but with the ZBA recent review and agreement that Dame Street is an “alley,” a variance was not necessary. The issue identified by the planning commission in the application pertained to the “build-to/setback” requirements of the zoning ordinance as it relates to the property frontage on Dame Street.
ISEA Executive Director Fred Sitkins said the ZBA’s interpretation of the Dame Street issue means the organization can continue to move forward with project plans in the months ahead. The issue had been with Dame Street being considered a primary road and being subject to some of the setback requirements found in the downtown business district. ISEA’s contention was that Dame Street did not fit any of the characteristics of a road as defined in Suttons Bay based on its width, steepness, and many safety issues.
“It turned out perfectly for us and just kind of the way we were hoping,” Sitkins said. “That was basically the big driver for us, obviously, our architects and engineers have been working on this for quite a long time, but there’s a difference between getting the specs ready for a review like this and having the specs ready for a contractor to build on the project. So these next couple months are going to be the architects and engineers doing just that — putting all the detailed specifics within these plans so that we’re able to have contractors bid on the project.”
Sitkins said ISEA anticipates having a packet ready to bid for the project in May, adding that the start of the demolition of the upper level of the Millside building and construction could happen as early as June.
“This was the most important step to actually starting the project, so it feels very good to have that done,” he said. “We’ve crested a really big hill, so now, everything is coming into focus… Now we’re not just planning and dreaming and envisioning, we’re doing, and we’re turning this dream and vision into reality and it feels great.”
Last year, ISEA announced its “Campaign for the Future of Great Lakes Education,” unveiling a long-term vision and $11.1 million initiative for an expanded waterfront campus which would accommodate the high demand for its year-round STEM programming. Part of that project includes the existing north lot Millside building, a property in which ISEA acquired in January 2025, that will be renovated to include a versatile multi-use educational space and a dedicated vessel maintenance shop in the basement. Sitkins said as of this month, ISEA is about 95% of the way towards its ultimate goal of raising the $11.1 million, noting that the success of fundraising for the initiative means there won’t be any delays in getting the project started and carrying it through to completion.
