June 2, 2003 Holland Sentinel Article BPW Still Pushing for Dunes Water Plant An article titled "BPW still pushing for dunes water plant" appeared in the Holland Sentinel's Sunday edition of June 1st. Two BPW officials were featured relating Holland's ongoing plans to acquire a portion of Saugatuck Dunes State Park for the construction of a water treatment facility at the current entrance to the park, a pump house on approximately one acre of land at the shore and a pipeline connecting the two. The officials stated the park site remains their prime choice for the facility and that negotiations with the DNR for the land trade are still under way. Except for more land being included in the swap, the plan presented in the article appears to be basically the same as those described in Holland BPW's and Laketown Township's original competing land exchange applications to the state in early 2001, ultimately denied by the DNR in 2002. See our February 4, 2003 Update, below, and our Water Treatment Plant Proposals page for details. The efforts of the nearly 1000 members of Concerned Citizens for Saugatuck Dunes State Park were instrumental in securing these denials and enjoyed a brief reference in the article. In rejecting the original proposals the DNR stated it would no longer consider separate plans from the BPW and Laketown Township. In an apparent attempt to address this DNR objection the BPW would now like to cooperate with Laketown Township, proposing a three-way swap of land between the city, Laketown Township and the state of Michigan. In the new plan, the state would get the Rosenberg property, purchased by the BPW two years ago and located adjacent to the park's north boundary. According to a map included in the article the state would also receive all or most of Laketown Township's Shore Acres Park, including the Felt Mansion. In exchange the BPW and Laketown would receive similar sized parcels, about 20 acres each, at the entrance area of the park. Additionally, they would receive land to accommodate a pump house and water intake equipment on the shoreline. Absent from the BPW's comments was any discussion of how the pipeline would be constructed through the park without significant tree removal and damage to fragile dune soils and topography, key issues in the DNR's denial of the original applications. Also missing was any mention of the DNR's earlier conclusion that "The size, location, and amount of space and depth needed to construct a water intake system in a fragile area will have significant and permanent negative resource impacts to this dune system", referring to the proposed pump house location on the park's pristine undeveloped shore. Another specific stipulation in the DNR's denial of the original proposals was they be provided with a prudent and feasible study proving both Holland BPW and Laketown Township had fully investigated alternative locations. Interestingly, the article stated if the deal is not accepted the BPW could build a new water plant at its current Park Township plant location. One BPW official, standing on the roof of the existing plant, was quoted saying, "If we were to expand here, we'd expand to the south." Sounds like a prudent and feasible alternative to us! You can read the full text of the BPW article on the Holland Sentinel's archive page. An abbreviated version of this report appeared in the Holland Sentinel's Letters to the Editor page. Return to Concerned Citizens for Saugatuck Dunes State Park Resources & Reference page. www.SaugatuckDunes.org