By Amy Hubbell
Of The Enterprise staff
About 120 people turned out at the Glen Arbor Township hall March 7 for a Department of Environmental Quality public hearing on an application by Michigan Fun Venture, Inc. for a permit to expand —from seven to 46 — the number of slips at On the Narrows Marina and the number of buoys from 12 to 16 at the same site
Conor McCahill, the applicant of record for the permit, briefly presented plans for expansion of the business purchased by his family two years ago.
“We’d like to expand to meet increasing demand,” he said, adding there is an extensive waiting list for marina slips. “We would provide additional access, increase efficiencies and provide handicapped access to the water.”
But opponents of the proposed expansion at the hearing were many. Chief among them is the Glen Lake Association (GLA) which was represented in part by Christopher Grobbel of Grobel Environmental & Planning Associates.
The environmental engineer is familiar with Glen Lake because of his involvement with the recent dredging of the nearby narrows in 2009.
“There’s a question about where the MDOT (Michigan Department of Transportation) interest begins and ends, and appears to be the same area the applicant is talking about,” Grobbel said.
Andy DuPont, GLA president, followed Grobbel’s presentation with a letter from Corey J. Hughes, a riparian bottomlands and boundary consultant in which he also questioned whether the McCahill’s have riparian interest at the site of the proposed expansion, south of the current marina location. Hughes stated that the marina property appears to have been first cut out of a larger parcel owned by Max M. Ray in 1935.
“At that date (July 31, 1935) the highway obviously existed and it would be reasonable to assume that Mr. Ray did not intend to convey any existing uplands southerly of the south property line,” Hughes wrote. “It would be incorrect survey practice to extend the property and riparian boundary line southerly as shown in the … documents.”
In addition to the question of riparian rights, numerous concerns were expressed about the environmental impact of the project.
“That’s an increase (in slip numbers) of 6.5 times,” Grobbel said. “The marina would occupy nearly three acres and the property itself is less than .20 acres.”
Expansion would have a negative impact on navigation, Grobbel continued, citing previous DEQ denials for request to expand at the existing site. The requests — in 1993 and 1999 — were to increase the number of slips at the marina from seven to 14.
“The proposal is not less, but more than what was denied previously,” Grobbel said.
Rob Karner, GLA watershed biologist, said he believes fish habitat would be lost to the expansion.
“There will be significant disruption of a cobble (stony) area which would decrease spawning area,” Karner said. “I’m opposed to any project which would do this.”
Anglers were also concerned.
Roy Pentilla lives one-half mile from the narrows on McFarlane Road. He first began fishing on Glen Lake in 1947.
“My propeller has hit the bottom many a time in that area,” said Pentilla, noting his catches include rock bass and perch which he believes would be adversely impacted by marina expansion. “I’m retired and used to work in economic development. It (the marina) should be allowed to expand, but only it if doesn’t impact the lake negatively.”
Thomas McCahill, father of the applicant, spoke about his family business.
“We’ve been portrayed by many in a negative light, ” the older McCahill said. “We employ 20 high school kids each summer. Our goal is to be responsible business owners.
“Many here are fortunate to have riparian access to the lake. But the lake is a public resource.”
The public comment period on the application will remain open through Saturday. Comments should be sent to Robyn L, Schmidt, 120 W. Chapin St., Cadillac, MI 49601. She’s the hearing officer for the application.
As of last week, Schmidt said the department had received approximately 165 comments on the proposed expansion project.
The department may approve, approve with conditions (modify) or deny the application outright. The second alternative involves the agency offering a modified, draft permit for the applicant to review and countersign if it accepts the changes.
“We work with the applicant to develop the modifications, so they are aware of and can discuss changes made to the original proposal,” Schmidt explained.
By law the agency has until May 17 to issue its finding.
GLA NOTE: Your comments can be emailed to Robyn Schmidt at schmidtr1@michigan.gov. You must include your name and a valid email address. Reference the application for permit 11-45-0055-P and Glen Lake On The Narrows Marina.
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