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Resident requests no‑wake zone for Kalamazoo Lake; council cautions DNR process will be required
Summary
Rick Lange of Sergeant Marina Condominium Association asked the council to designate Kalamazoo Lake as a no‑wake zone, citing increasing wakes and property damage; Councilmember Dean said the designation is complex and would involve the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, so the council cannot act unilaterally.
Rick Lange, representing the Sergeant Marina Condominium Association, asked the Saugatuck City Council at its Sept. 18 workshop to establish a no‑wake zone for all of Kalamazoo Lake. Lange reported what he described as a notable increase in wake activity in recent years, saying wakes have reached about 3 feet, damaged boats at the marina and created risks for people aboard.
Lange noted that other marinas on similarly sized waters have implemented no‑wake or speed restrictions and urged the council to act; he said he was considering further steps if his concerns were not addressed by the city.
Councilmember Dean said he is sympathetic to safety concerns but warned that the process to designate a no‑wake zone is complex and typically involves the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR). He told the council the review and possible rule changes would be time consuming and that the council could not impose such a restriction on its own.
Why it matters: a no‑wake designation would affect all lake users and could require state review and interagency coordination. Council members acknowledged the safety concern but emphasized the procedural limits of city authority.
Next steps: the matter was discussed but no formal action or vote was recorded; council members asked the requester for patience as staff and potentially state agencies are consulted.
