MDEQ approves Narrows Marina expansion bid

By Jacob Wheeler
Sun editor

The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) has approved a bid by On the Narrows Marina to expand on Big Glen Lake, despite some local citizen opposition and concern by the Glen Lake Association (GLA).

MDEQ officer Robyn Schmidt confirmed to the Glen Arbor Sun that the draft permit she sent on May 16 to the McCahill family — which owns the marina — was countersigned and returned to the department on June 6 (view the permit here OntheNarrowsPermit). With the exception of moving their mooring buoys closer to shore, On the Narrows is now free to continue its expansion.

After the McCahills applied for an expansion permit last December (view the application here OntheNarrowsApplication), the DEQ issued a public notice on Jan. 11 and solicited comments from the community, followed by a public hearing in March. Schmidt confirmed that she received numerous comments and concerns regarding traffic, parking on M-22 and septic issues. The Sun has sent a Freedom of Information Act request to the DEQ to view those comments.

The GLA disagrees with the marina’s interpretation of its riparian bottomlands rights, but Schmidt said that’s beyond her jurisdiction. “A court will have to make a decision on which riparian survey is accurate. That’s not DEQ’s responsibility.”

As the Sun reported on its website on Jan. 26, On the Narrows Marina seeks to add an additional 39 boat slips on a new dock, bringing the total to 46, as well as increase the moorings to 16. The marina is located on the M-22 state highway, just north of the Carl Oleson Memorial Bridge, which divides Big and Little Glen Lake.

At an impromptu Glen Arbor Township Board meeting on Jan. 26, Township Zoning Administrator Bob Hawley noted that the marina and its structures are a non-conforming use of the property, grandfathered into the original 1975 zoning plan. He questioned whether an expansion would then make this a “more non-conforming use,” and necessitate the entire project to come into zoning compliance, which it then could not do.

The Board voted 4-0 to express concern to the DEQ over parking, pedestrians, road safety, navigation at the bridge, water safety, and the potential for pollution.

On the DEQ application in December, Conor McCahill wrote, “Due to high demand, we would like to expand our boat slip and mooring offerings. If permitted we would simply install additional freestanding seasonal docks and move and expand our mooring field. This would take place in Spring 2012. … There is very high demand for slips and moorings on Glen Lake that we currently cannot accommodate. … Following our pre-application meeting we adjusted our layout and design to exclude a boat ramp and any dredging activity. This will require more dock sections to be used, but eliminate dredging in the shallow areas.”

In an open letter to the Glen Lake community posted at On the Narrows Marina’s website in January, the McCahill family wrote: “Our objective in seeking expansion is to provide more opportunities for others to have access to the lake. We have a long waiting list from local residents seeking lake access for their boats. Most of our mooring customers are members of the local community and favor having boat slips as opposed to moorings. While we anticipated there would be opposing opinions, some quite legitimate and others self centered, the first step in the process is to comply with state law which we know will inevitably lead to a public hearing where we look forward to answering questions, addressing concerns and hopefully finding solutions that allow further access to a wonderful natural resource for Glen Lake residents, families and visitors.”

On the Narrows Marina’s expansion plans on Big Glen Lake spread like wildfire through the local media in January. TV 7&4 news quoted resident Kathy Schmid, who owns a home on the lake, as saying she’s worried that “peaceful summers on Glen Lake will turn into a crowded party atmosphere with the expansion.” Schmid also worries that the area wouldn’t be able to accommodate extra parking or restrooms that would be needed for the influx of visitors.

Meanwhile, the Traverse City Record-Eagle described On the Narrows as a “sleepy little marina” and quoted Greg Schmid as saying, “I think this is the first robber baron taking advantage of us being called the most beautiful place in America. I think by next year we’ll lose that designation.” The Schmids worry that the addition of nearly 40 boat slips will turn the Glen Lakes into “another party spot like Torch Lake.”

“They are valid concerns,” Conor McCahill told the Sun. “From our point of view, we don’t see why we can’t work with the community to address them and get something done. We take the lake very seriously, and we’re not looking to cause any harm. We’re just looking to expand and meet demand on the lake.”

McCahill conceded that parking is an issue in the congested area north of the Narrows Bridge. He suggested that the parking lot in front of “McCahill’s Crossing” — the former Narrows Dairy Bar, which will re-open this summer — is a possible solution.

“Parking is an issue. But it’s an issue throughout Glen Arbor too. There are different options in our plan. We own the property across the bridge. We could perhaps do a shuttle service.”

McCahill sought to address concerns that the expansion will overcrowd the lake with traffic.

“Our goal, as far as the expansion is concerned, is to allow more people to use the lake. It’s a misconception that the lake will all of a sudden become overcrowded with boat traffic. Our clientele are mostly people from the community who are already on the lake. They just want to put their boat somewhere where they don’t have to use the ramp every single day.”

The McCahills contracted the Traverse City-based surveying and engineering firm Gourdie-Fraser to investigate riparian rights and bottomlands where the docks and moorings would go. Conor McCahill believes that On the Narrows owns the riparian rights south of the marina.

“People are under the impression that that is not our land, but we went through the process, and it is,” he said. “All we’re looking for is an opportunity to work with the community to get this accomplished. If the plan goes through and we have a separate pier, that’s just another place where people can park their boats. Another avenue, so the lake is not as congested.”

Tom and Carol McCahill, and their three adult children, Conor, Megan and Neil, originally from Littleton, Colo., purchased the marina from Jack and Marcie Ferris in 2008 and re-opened it in 2009. Read our feature on the McCahills here. They recently acquired the former Dairy Bar on the south side of the Glen Lake narrows and plan to open that soon. Last summer, employees of On the Narrows won the adoration of the community when they saved a tiny fawn from drowning in Big Glen Lake.