05/11/2006

Neighbors protest project

27 homes planned at Turtle Lake

By PATRICK SULLIVAN

psullivan@record-eagle.com

Record-Eagle/Jan-Michael Stump
Casey Jones and wife Tammey are concerned about a proposed 27-home subdivision development on the shore of Turtle Lake in Benzie County in the Pere Marquette State Forest. Jones works as manager of the Turtle Lake Campground near the proposed development. "This little lake can't handle that," he says. "They're going to ruin it."

BEULAH — A 27-home subdivision proposed at Turtle Lake could well be approved despite outrage from neighbors who believe the project could ruin the character of the area.

"I don't have any idea what I'm going to do (but) I'm going to try to keep this development from going through," said Janet Scott, a LaPorte, Ind. resident who's owned Turtle Lake Campground for 40 years.

Turtle Lake covers about 40 acres and is located south of Lake Ann in Inland Township. A public hearing about the development is scheduled for 6 p.m. tonight at the Benzie County government center in Beulah.

Chris Moses, an agent for the developer, Secluded Land Company, said the proposal is designed to preserve a northern Michigan character.

"It's a very responsible development," Moses said.

A county road right-of-way that would serve as the development's access runs through the campground. Sixteen of the 50-plus camp sites, Scott's modular home, and the campground office may be in the right-of-way, Scott said.

Some local residents are fighting the development, and there's talk of urging a conservancy group to purchase the land.

The untouched shoreline where home lots would be located currently is habitat to much of the lake's wildlife, including turtles.

Dave Neiger, director of Benzie County's planning department, said he understands some residents would like to see the area zoned for less density, but he said current zoning allows the number of houses proposed by the developer.

The planning commission and planning department are working on revising county zoning, he said, but that effort has been delayed by the time officials spend on new development requests.

Neiger said the developer proposed larger setbacks from the lake than what is required and much lower density than what would be allowed. The parcel is zoned to be divided into 149 lots, he said.