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March 17, 2002Five developments planned for areaBy STACEY SMITHRecord-Eagle staff writer TRAVERSE CITY - Leelanau County could face unprecedented growth over the next few years with five developments around the county that could add more than 1,000 new housing units. - In the village of Suttons Bay, The Granger Group, a downstate development firm, is planning a village addition on the 250-acre former Frigid Foods site along M-22 just north of the village. The first phase will encompass 14 acres of the total 250-acre property. It will include a restaurant, hotel, 83 homes and 10,000 feet of commercial space. Other phases will add an expected 500 new housing units. - In Empire, another development group, headed by Robert Faulkes of Chicago, is planning the 126-unit QuercusAlba project on 30 acres between M-72 and M-22. This project has received the required planned unit development permit to proceed. - In Glen Arbor, two projects are planned. One, across from The Homestead Resort, is owned by Homestead owner Robert Kuras and is located on property originally planned for a golf course. After a 15-year battle with area environmental groups over the effect a golf course would have on the nearby Crystal River, Kuras said last August he was giving up on the golf course and would instead build 204 homes, all with their own well and septic system, on the 211-acre parcel. So far, the health department has approved 44 well and septic systems for 44 of those homes. A second, smaller condominium project is planned for the property where LeBear Restaurant is located. That project is not part of The Homestead. - In Elmwood Township, the 55-home Lincoln Meadows site condominium project is being held up by a citizens group lawsuit that claims the project was not fully reviewed and does not meet the township's zoning regulations. A circuit judge affirmed that claim in a ruling this week and called for a halt to the project until Elmwood officials either reconsider the project under current density provisions in its zoning or amend its ordinance. Traverse City-based Stewart Investment Group proposed the project two years ago on 138 acres of former farmland at the corner of Lincoln and Bugai roads in the township. Elmwood Citizens for Sensible Growth has twice sued the township, claiming one planning commission member had a conflict of interest and should not have voted on the project because he purchased property from Stewart Investment vice president Jack Armstrong. The group also said the project does not maintain the "essential character" of the area where it will be built, as required in the township's zoning ordinance. A circuit judge last year agreed that planning commission member John Gallagher should not have voted on the project due to the appearance of impropriety and ordered the township to again review the Lincoln Meadows project. When the township approved Lincoln Meadows a second time, Elmwood Citizens again sued and are awaiting a judge's decision. |
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