Locals Keep Out Planning Commission Says!

This week’s planning commission special meeting was disappointing in so many ways. As a resident of the area who remembers the original Timber Shores, there was one particular point in the revised Commercial Resort Zoning Ordinance that stuck in my craw!

It can be found near the end of the 14-page document*, on page 11 under item 12 - Accessory Structures and Uses. There, in item iii., was a restriction that playgrounds, recreational courts and fields, picnic areas and swimming areas may be permitted to serve overnight guests.

The message is clear – if you’re a local then you aren’t going to be able to use the amenities a resort may put in place without renting a cabin or bringing your camper. No day passes allowed!

In other words, locals are not welcome to enjoy the amenities of a resort unless they become registered campers.  These restrictions by the planning commission are totally contrary to Timber Shores intention to offer discounted day passes to township residents.

That wasn’t the way the old Timber Shores was run. There are lots of stories of friendships forged there and even a few marriages that began there.

Residents who grew up here then fondly remember being able to attend teen dances at Timber Shores, of eating in the restaurant and of being able to spend an evening with visiting friends sitting around the campfire.

Oh, and that’s another thing. This commission spent an inordinate amount of time discussing campfires and opponents of Timber Shores have long been gnashing their teeth about smoke from campfires. I grew up with beach fires and I can’t imagine camping without them.

“But what about the air pollution,” opponents say. Locals find this laughable given that most of the Timber Shores opponents hail from and spend much of their time in urban areas where the pollution counts are much greater than we ever get in Leelanau County.

If you think that the Leelanau Township Planning Commission is out of control and that they are listening to only one side of the issue, then please attend the February 10 public hearing on the amendment of the zoning ordinance that affects commercial districts.

-        Written by Ruth Steele Walker who both remembers the original Timber Shores and who is working to build our community by advocating for the current Timber Shores proposal. *Please note that this version of the amended ordinance does not contain changes made during the January 25 meeting. We will upload a copy of the final ordinance or link to it once it is on the township website.