Advertisement

The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality denied a marina permit on July 5, citing overall size, insufficient room for ingress and egress of boats and adverse impacts on the public trust.

Developers Greg Krueger and Jerry Rutter reduced the overall usable length of the dock from 407 feet to 262 feet, a 35.5 percent decrease in size, they told the MDEQ. The 100-foot slips and 240-feet of broadside dockage were eliminated.

The break wall on the proposed marina's southern side was opened up from 15-feet off the city's riparian line to a minimum of 20-feet, allowing ingress and egress without intrusion into the riparian area, Krueger said. The MDEQ and the Michigan Department of Natural Resources said adverse impacts on the public trust included the public's right to navigate and to fish on Lake Charlevoix. The marina's previous design hindered these activities for the public.

The earlier plan had some of the resort's boats traversing into the city's riparian area. Although the city commissions had approved this, the state did not. The MDEQ has yet to rule on the changes made to the design.

In an attempt to appease the MDEQ in its determination that the marina project would have violated the public trust, the developers have offered to fund and construct a public fishing pier along the north end of the property, adjacent to city property. It would be part of a section of land that will be deeded to the city for a park. The fishing pier would be eight feet wide and 120 feet in length and would run along the shoreline.

One Water Street developer, Greg Krueger, announced his fishing pier idea at an Aug. 28 city commission meeting.

"We're asking you to give approval to the fishing pier so we can move forward," Krueger told commissioners.

Commissioner Chuck Vondra raised the connection between the fishing pier and the marina permit.

"This is attached to the marina right? If the marina gets shot down this fishing dock isn't going in, right?"

Krueger said that was correct.

Commissioner Dan Adkison said he was concerned about the expense of moving the fishing pier in and out.

Commissioner Jerry Douglas expanded on the idea of a public fishing pier.

"I'd rather see a fixed pier, because it would extend the access. I'd like to see us take this opportunity to make the Boyne City waterfront open for everyone. I think this needs to stand apart from the marina," Douglas said. "I don't think it would break our bank to do this, and it would be good for generations."

Krueger had a different opinion about the cost of Douglas's idea. "The cost as I propose is probably somewhere around $50,000 to $60,000, and that is the amount I would be prepared to pay toward any other plan," Krueger said, and added that he estimated Douglas's proposal to cost about $250,000.

The commissioners referred Krueger's fishing pier proposal to city planner, Scott McPherson, to work on it with the developers.

At Krueger's request, the commission approved the drafting of a letter of interest in Krueger's proposal, so that he could give it to the MDEQ.

Further discussion and possible action may take place at the city commission meeting at 7 p.m., Tuesday, Sept. 11.