County planners back EGLE notice for Beaver Island beach cleanup but request clearer site mapping and timing safeguards

Charlevoix County's Planning Commission reviewed an EGLE public notice on March 5 from Eric and Renee Fogg seeking a permit to remove and replace 166 cubic yards of sand (area: 75 feet by 4 feet by 1.5 feet) below the ordinary high water mark on Lake Michigan at Beaver Island (St. James Township).

The applicants proposed removing glass and metal debris from the lake bottom and depositing clean sand in the same footprint. Commissioners asked for a more detailed site map and raised timing and spoil-handling concerns. Commissioner Pam Grassmick urged that dredging avoid fish-spawning season. Commissioner Marshal Bakker asked whether spoils could be sifted to remove debris and allow sand reuse, but members concluded that sifting would likely be cost-prohibitive given island logistics.

Kiersten Stark noted that the spoils are proposed to be deposited on property owned by the applicants in the same township. Commissioner Sherm Chamberlain requested a better map to confirm the precise location; the commission voted to send its comments to EGLE for consideration (motion by M. Bakker; second M. Cunningham; voice vote: all in favor).

Next steps: Planning staff will transmit the commission's comments to EGLE; EGLE will accept public comment per its notice schedule (as provided in the public notice).