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Planning Commission to send comments to EGLE on proposed permanent dock and dredging on Lake Charlevoix
Summary
After public comment from lake-protection advocates, the Planning Commission voted to submit comments to the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy on Brigham Sorber’s permit application for a permanent dock, two finger piers, a boat hoist, and dredging totaling up to 500 cubic yards.
The Charlevoix County Planning Commission voted Feb. 6 to forward comments to the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) regarding a permit application by Brigham Sorber for a permanent open-pile dock on Lake Charlevoix.
Planning staff introduced the EGLE public notice describing a proposed permanent 200-foot-long by 6-foot-wide open-pile dock, two finger piers (24 feet by 6 feet and 40 feet by 6 feet), a permanent boat hoist measuring 16 by 16 feet, and dredging of 363 cubic yards with additional maintenance dredging of up to 137 cubic yards for a total maximum of 500 cubic yards over the life of the permit. The property is in Eveline Township.
Two members of Protect Lake Charlevoix Shoreland, LuAnne Kozma and Ellis Boal, spoke during public comment. Kozma said the group opposes permanent docks in residential areas because permanent structures ‘‘load up the lake with a permanent presence year-round’’ and can encourage invasive species and larger boats; she also said she found no scientific data in the application supporting the applicant’s assertion that permanent docks reduce lake-bottom disturbance compared with seasonal docks. Boal cited the ecological importance of shoreline habitat, calling it the lake’s ‘‘Ribbon of Life.’’
Commissioners discussed whether the Planning Commission’s review should focus primarily on planning and zoning impacts (riparian rights and neighbor effects) or weigh ecological concerns best assessed by EGLE. Some members noted prior similar permits and urged caution about setting new policy positions. After deliberation, the Commission voted (motion by Pam Grassmick, seconded by Anna McGlashen) to send comments to EGLE for consideration.
