Concerned Citizens for Saugatuck Dunes State Park Update
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2/4/03
The Basics:
Last fall, the City of Holland and Laketown Township told the DNR that they would
come to the DNR before the end of 2002 with a joint proposal for using Saugatuck
Dunes State Park for a water intake and treatment facility. They did not do so.
They now tell both the DNR and Concerned Citizens for Saugatuck Dunes State Park
that "this is a five-year plan," meaning that we can expect to have to remain
vigilant against proposals for major construction within the park for at least
five more years. Various conversations have led us to believe that both Holland
and Laketown continue to pursue Saugatuck Dunes State Park as the best location
for a water intake and treatment plant.
In 2002, as you will recall, the DNR rejected Holland and Laketown’s separate
proposals to use parkland for water plants. The efforts of Concerned Citizens for
Saugatuck Dunes State Park, including your messages to the DNR, were instrumental.
You should be aware, however, that the DNR has *NOT* said that it will not allow
the park to be used for a water plant. It has rejected two plans, but not the
overall concept. The DNR does share our conviction that foot trails are the park’s
best use, and that there is no need for development of any kind in the park. This
is great news! And no doubt the hundreds of messages you have sent to the DNR have
had a huge impact on their understanding of what park users want, need and value
about the park.
Approximately 30 volunteers have now been working for over a year to ensure that
Saugatuck Dunes State Park is not damaged in any way. Since the founding of Concerned
Citizens for Saugatuck Dunes State Park in the fall of 2001, we have planned to be
around for decades, but we had hoped by now to be able to turn our energy and
resources to helping to grow the park and educate the public about its riches. Our
newly formed Steering Committee is now working on a Mission Statement, and a list of
prioritized goals and strategies to meet these goals. Five sub-committees have been
meeting on a regular basis since last fall.
Keep It Wild - Keep It Whole - Make It Grow
Please stay tuned!
Thanks for everything,
Alison and David Swan
The Details:
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Department of Natural Resources
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The DNR has told Laketown Township and Holland that there are 3 stipulations to the
proposed development of a water treatment facility within the current boundaries of
the Saugatuck Dunes State Park:
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There will not be a cut through the park. This means the DNR will not accept
any proposal that includes an access/maintenance road through the heart of the park.
The original Laketown Township proposal included a 50 foot wide road that would have
taken the place of the main trail.
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a.
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Interpretation: This is a considerable victory for Concerned Citizens.
It shows that the DNR understands how important it is to keep the forest
canopy contiguous and how damaging a road running east to west would be to
the integrity of the park.
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The DNR will only accept one joint proposal from Laketown Township and Holland.
They will not consider one proposal over another. This forces the two municipalities
to work together.
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a.
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Interpretation: The DNR is forcing the two neighboring municipalities
to work together - not an easy task.
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The DNR has requested a prudent and feasible alternative study (a study showing
that Laketown and Holland have fully investigated other locations).
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a.
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Interpretation: This shows that the original prudent and feasible
alternative study prepared by Laketown Township was seen by the DNR to be
inadequate. The DNR is requesting the two municipalities to prove beyond a
reasonable doubt that the Saugatuck Dunes State Park is the only location
that is prudent and feasible for a water treatment facility.
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Laketown Township and Holland
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Holland and Laketown continue to meet every month or two in an effort to work
through their differences. We understand their main point of difference being
the supply of water to Fillmore Township. Holland is interested in annexing
land in Fillmore in order to see industrial growth in that direction (South East
of Holland). Laketown wants to supply water to Fillmore with no land exchange
conditions. Laketown wants to see the rural nature of Fillmore continue.
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Both municipalities see the park as the best site for a water treatment facility.
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a.
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Interpretation: Neither municipality understands the economic
significance of large parcels of land reserved for low impact recreation
(foot trails), nature study, and quiet contemplation. Neither municipality
understands nor accepts the reality of how the Saugatuck Dunes State Park
would be compromised by an access road, security lighting systems, and a
major construction project.
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Laketown officials have told Concerned Citizens that they are investigating Bore
technology. Bore technology allows the pipes to be placed under the dunes so there
would be no disturbance to the forest canopy and the forested backdunes. From what
we understand with Bore technology the pumping station would be built at the Laketown
Township Historic Shore Acres Park near the Felt Mansion. The water treatment facility
would be constructed just to the north east of the Felt Mansion.
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a.
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Interpretation: Our understanding is that the cost would be
significantly greater with Bore technology. While this might eliminate the
need for an access road through the park, it would not eliminate the
necessary security lighting, etc., systems.
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Concerned Citizens for Saugatuck Dunes State Park
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After a year and a half of trying to make elected/appointed officials understand the
significance of leaving the Saugatuck Dunes State Park as it is, we now understand
the issue to be chronic. This is an issue that is unlikely to disappear after
the next election in Holland and Laketown Township. Too many officials in west Michigan
view wilderness areas as untapped resources available for plunder and concrete. To
combat such short term thinking and to ensure our families have wilderness areas within
easy traveling distance in perpetuity we have set up the leadership of Concerned Citizens
for Saugatuck Dunes State Park in such a way that it can be quickly responsive and
flexible as issues arise.
We now have five working committees
at Concerned Citizens for Saugatuck Dunes State Park:
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Steering Committee (leadership)
Communications
Community Outreach
Research
Finance
Government Relations
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Sometime this spring (2003), the Steering Committee will formalize a mission statement
and prioritize our goals. Look for another update outlining these goals and mission
statement in April.
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