Conflicts of Interest, a Stacked Planning Commission and Counterproductive Revisions
The following letter was sent to the editor of the Leelanau Enterprise by Walt Johnson, the Project Manager of the Timber Shores RV Resort. It summarizes the threats posed to commerce in Leelanau Township, especially to businesses in the Commercial Resort district.
To The Editor –
The sad saga of conflict of interest, a stacked planning commission and counterproductive ordinance revisions moved towards a reckoning with the voters when the Leelanau Township Planning Commission scheduled its new commercial resort ordinance for a public hearing on February 10.
Voter participation in this public hearing is critical to protect your interests. The new ordinance is disastrous.
It prohibits locals from using an RV campground’s recreational amenities unless they camp overnight.
For every park model cabin it removes two RV campsites.
It triples the waterfront setbacks from 40 feet to 125 feet.
The new ordinance discriminates against locals who would like to take their kids or grandkids for a day of fun.
It ignores the need for lodging by the 279,000 day use tourists who visit Leelanau State Park each year and who return to Traverse City for lodging, dining and shopping – revenue that businesses in Northport and Omena could capture if those tourists could stay here.
It sets a precedent for waterfront setbacks that could eventually be applied to residential properties.
It casts a chilling effect over any new business in the township as entrepreneurs recognize that the risks are too high to even think about trying to do business here due to the unpredictability of dealing with an inexperienced township government that acts arbitrarily and capriciously.
Voters should demand to know how much the township has paid in legal fees and planning consultations in order to prevent a campground near the supervisor’s home.
Walt Johnson
Project Manager