05/10/2006

Glacier Bay pulls plug on water park

But developer won't rule out a similar proposal

by christine finger

cfinger@record-eagle.com

TRAVERSE CITY — Developers pulled their application for a sprawling hotel and water park in Elmwood Township, but haven't ruled out a similar project elsewhere.

Wilderness Development Inc., which also owns and operates the Wilderness Hotel & Golf Resort at Wisconsin Dells, in September submitted plans for the proposed Glacier Bay Resort on a 230-acre site near M-72 and Carter Road.

Township planning commissioners in November started a preliminary site plan review, but the application rested in limbo for months as planners grappled with deficiencies in Elmwood's existing zoning ordinance.

Bill White, an attorney who represents Wilderness Development, said a deadline loomed on the contingent offer developers have to purchase the M-72 property and they had no indication if or when the township would approve their plans.

"Time is not on our side on this sort of thing," he said. "We're not saying the township wouldn't have handled it properly."

Plans called for more than 400 condominium/hotel units, two restaurants and a golf course, horse stables and recreation trails. The initial phase also included a 200,000-square-foot outdoor water park and an 80,000-square-foot indoor water park.

White predicted the developers will continue scouting area sites for a comparable project.

"We very much like the Traverse City area," he said. "We'll be looking around for other opportunities."

Fred Harrison, who lives on High Point Drive near the proposed Glacier Bay site, welcomed the developers' decision. He and other neighbors opposed the project, citing additional traffic burden on the already busy M-72 corridor and concerns about groundwater depletion, noise and property values.

"I think it's going to be all to the good," he said, adding that he might support a development like Glacier Bay if it was in the right location. "If it could be placed where it wouldn't cause harm."

The planning commission drafted amendments to sections involving planned unit developments and the resort commercial zoning classification — both of which would have applied to Glacier Bay.

Township planner Bill Swanson said the commission plans to finalize those changes May 16 and send them to the township board.

"We're moving forward with that," he said.