A plan to use a parcel of almost 82 acres of land to build a nature park in Addison Township at Lake George is meeting opposition from local residents near the lake.
At the March 23 township trustee meeting, the board discussed a revised grant application to create Lake George Nature Park.
Township officials are applying for a $428,000 Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund grant to acquire the property from Six Rivers Regional Land Conservancy.
In 2008, the conservancy purchased the property from Paul and George Trask, who inherited it from their mother, Iva P. Sowles Trask. Since 2003, when Mrs. Trask passed away, the homestead has been vacant.
According to a revised MNRTF grant narrative, SRRLC acquired the parcel ‘for the purpose of conserving and enhancing the natural resource values on the property.?
According to Addison officials, the next step in the grant application is to submit the application to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. They should get back in touch with the township later this year.
Located north of Leonard Road between Milstan and Haven Roads, the proposed park consists of Lake George (a small inland lake), ‘highly-productive? wetlands and wooded upland areas. SRRLC would monitor and provide stewardship of the land. Among the proposed activities are hiking, nature observation and other forms of recreation.
The land is also home to coyotes, the common gray fox, minks and the American badger along with a documented 58 bird species.
Local residents who live near the lake are skeptical about the township’s plans and consider it an intrusion on their privacy.
Curt Steenson, who’s lived near Lake George for 20 years, said he and other residents have ‘great trepidation? regarding the township’s plans. ‘I understand everyone’s interest in philanthropy regarding the Trask property and it might be a nice thing for the township,? he said. ‘We’ve negotiated over the course of last year with the local parks committee over certain provisions we felt we could live with and tried to cooperate.?
Steenson referred to the revised grant and how the first grant was denied. The new language worries him as he worries what public access might do to Lake George.
‘We feel we’ve been good custodians of the lake and have maintained good quality of the water and the environment,? Steenson explained. ‘We fear public boating, watercraft and additional influences would be adverse.?
Lake George’s size could ultimately alleviate Steenson’s concerns regarding the aquatic activities. Parks and Recreation Committee chairperson Joe Schnur replied that, in his personal opinion, the lake is too small for boating.
‘Each of us purchased on a private lake, understanding it was a private lake, for the seclusion of the privacy that it held,? Steenson explained. ‘We could’ve purchased on Lakeville Lake, a public lake, but our intent was for privacy.?
Steenson’s concern also stemmed from what his attorney told him about the stipulations where the state government might not properly compensate property owners whenever a private lake is given public access.
A Feb. 27 letter to the township, signed by Steenson and his wife, Dr. William Broome, David Thor and Judy Henrick, reiterated the Lake George residents? riparian rights and requested the township provide them a notarized statement assuring two things: 1) that the lake status would remain private and 2) that neither public watercraft or public ice fishing would be allowed on Lake George.
Resident Judy Henrick says her biggest concern is the proposed park would result in overcrowding on the lake.
‘We already have people walking on private property and trying to get boats in,? Henrick said. ‘Right from the beginning I was against the whole thing and knew it would get out of hand.?
Henrick has a lot of frontage on the lake, which means more taxes for her. Up until now, the privacy has been worth the taxes paid.
‘I bought this house for the water and for family and friends, not for Addison Township to use it,? she said. ‘If they want to use the water, let them pay my taxes. The whole thing disgusts me. When I look outside, I don’t want to see a bunch of people in boats, litter and cars parked. I bought [my property] for beauty and privacy.?
She added that if the private lake is turned over for public use through the park, she may sell once the real estate market rebounds.
While Pearson sympathizes with the lake residents, he described the proposed park as part of Addison Township’s ‘master design plan? since the property has the headwaters of the watershed park.
The supervisor believes the township would be the best steward of the park rather than a private organization that would buy the parcel, since Addison is trying to preserve the park. ‘Our opinion is we need to preserve it for all the citizens,? he said. ‘It’s beautiful for nature and would be open to handicap accessibility.?
Pearson said he understands the lake residents? reasons for not wanting the park, but added the purpose is to preserve the lake and the area around it for future generations.
‘You have to look at what’s best for all the people,? he said, adding that Yellowstone, Yosemite, Glacier and other national parks were probably established despite objections from ranchers and other local residents. If the objections of nearby residents had been heeded, there wouldn’t be any public parks, Pearson said.
He added: ‘If the landowners at Lake George were that concerned, they should’ve bought the property when it was on open market.?
Broome is not optimistic about how the township would handle the proposed park. ‘Addison Township’s track record for managing anything shows they’d pretty much screw up a two-car funeral (procession),? he said.
He is particularly concerned how the park has expanded from the original plan to one that includes a 30-car parking lot and overnight camping. Originally, it was for township residents, he said, adding it now would be open to the public.
‘We don’t think it’ll be monitored in a safe way,? he said. ‘When they rewrote the new grant they didn’t include any people on the lake since they didn’t want negative feedback. That doesn’t show me they’re willing to work with us.?
Broome, who said he likes the seclusion and quietness of Lake George, also expressed concern about people bringing boats onto the lake and was worried those boats could inadvertently bring invasive species to the lake.
‘Our boats are on the lake 24/7, and we don’t take them anywhere else,? he explained. ‘My concern is these other boats could alter or destroy the lake’s ecosystem.?