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Planning commission sends comments on EGLE wetland permit for Evangeline Township property
Summary
The Charlevoix County Planning Commission reviewed an EGLE permit application by Thomas Mahaney to place temporary fill and timber mats in wetlands for house removal and reconstruction in Evangeline Township and voted unanimously to send comments to EGLE.
The Charlevoix County Planning Commission reviewed a Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) public notice on June 5 about a permit application by Thomas Mahaney to place temporary timber mats and construct a temporary fill road in wetlands on his Evangeline Township property to remove a house on pilings and build a modified foundation.
Planning Director Kiersten Stark introduced the public notice; Steve Voice, representing the applicant, described a plan that keeps the new house within the existing footprint, installs coarse stone and drain tile to maintain drainage, and includes a deck on helical piles. Stark said the temporary road would be removed and the ground reseeded after construction.
Commissioners raised several technical and site‑specific questions. Commissioner Pam Grassmick asked whether building the new house would increase demand on a septic system located on an easement; applicant Thomas Mahaney said no changes were expected. Chairperson Nancy Ferguson asked about the absence of a permanent driveway; Mahaney confirmed there is no driveway, only a 20‑yard walkway to the house. When asked where materials would be stockpiled, Mahaney said, “The temporary road would be used to transport building materials to the site. They will use paneled walls to build the new house.”
Members discussed soil borings, the wetness of adjacent properties, the relative wetland impacts of repairing an existing foundation versus tearing down and rebuilding, use of helical piles versus spread footings, and timing construction in drier months to limit wetland disturbance. Several commissioners voiced no objections to the proposed approach after the explanations.
On a motion by Commissioner Pam Grassmick, seconded by Marshal Bakker, the Planning Commission voted unanimously to send its comments to EGLE for the agency’s consideration.
Next steps: the commission’s action was to forward comments to EGLE; EGLE maintains authority over permit decisions and any conditions attached to a permit would be determined through its review process.
