Sleeping Bear Gateways Council holds annual meeting
From staff reports
The Sleeping Bear Gateways Council (SBGC) will host its annual meeting as a virtual event on Zoom at 5 p.m., Monday, August 21. The session will feature updates on the group’s projects as well as comments from leadership of the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. All individuals with interest in the Sleeping Bear area are invited to join the meeting using this link.
SBGC is a non-profit organization that works to foster information-sharing and collaboration among communities impacted by the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. Western Benzie and Leelanau County communities have relatively small year-round populations but experience a huge rush of summer tourism. While that seasonal increase supports the local economy, it also raises concerns about such issues as traffic, infrastructure, employee recruitment/housing and environmental protection.
The SBCG’s stated mission is to “facilitate stakeholder collaboration to enhance sustainable gateway communities.” The organization seeks to balance the benefits and challenges of living and doing business in the unique “gateway” region.
“National Lakeshore visitation has shown an increase over 2022 and continues to challenge our Gateway communities, especially in the growing deficit for BOTH seasonal and permanent housing,” said SBGC President Bill Witler. “The annual meeting is a great opportunity to communicate with our members and the public.”
In the past year, the council has continued to address the area’s shortage of seasonal employee housing; initiated a series of face-to-face meetings among local elected leaders and National Lakeshore administrators; and coordinated an effort to study the potential for a Benzie visitor center.
The seasonal housing project is part of multi-year effort supported by regional foundations and a United States Department of Agriculture grant. SBGC has gained experience in our internet-based seasonal employee housing exchange with employer demand exceeding housing supply. With the help of local government officials and small and large business owners like Crystal Mountain and Cherry Republic, the SBGC continues developing additional employee-housing strategies such as greenfield developments with multiple housing products and rehabilitation of existing buildings such as shuttered school buildings. For the proposed Benzie Visitor Center, SBGC is working closely with the Honor Area Restoration Program (HARP) to build consensus and identify alternatives.
Additional information, along with the Zoom link, is on the SBGC website, www.sleepingbeargateways.org. No reservation is necessary for participation in the Zoom meeting.
