Another Key Milestone

Judge Remands Decision on Standing to
the Saugatuck Township Zoning Board of Appeals

Monday, April 24, 2023 – Some positive news out of
the Allegan County Circuit Court.

After listening to oral arguments from attorneys for the Coastal Alliance, Saugatuck Township, and NorthShore of Saugatuck, Chief Circuit Court Judge Roberts Kengis has directed the Saugatuck Township Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) to determine whether the Coastal Alliance has standing to challenge the Township Planning Commission’s 2017 decision to grant NorthShore a permit for its proposed marina. While this is just one step in securing the right to fight the merits of our case in court, it’s an important one.

The Judge’s decision will require the Township ZBA to consider all new evidence – from the Coastal Alliance and NorthShore – that with good reason was not presented to them in 2017 and 2018 when they denied the Coastal Alliance’s challenge to the PUD and special use permits. The ZBA also will be required to apply the new standards for standing that were announced by the Michigan Supreme Court in 2022.

Judge Kengis will likely issue his written ruling within the next several weeks. We don’t yet know any details about when the ZBA will begin its review or how long that process might take. Stay tuned for more information – including how you can make your support known.

We Remain Confident in the Merits of our Case

We continue to look forward to the day when we can argue the merits of our case in court – that the Township clearly violated their zoning ordinances: “In No Event shall a canal or channel be excavated for the purpose of increasing the water frontage.”Saugatuck Township Zoning, Section 40-910(h).

Please support our legal strategy to protect and preserve the Saugatuck Dunes and Kalamazoo River Mouth by making a donation today.

Please support our legal strategy to protect and preserve the Saugatuck Dunes and Kalamazoo River Mouth by making a donation today →

Thanks to everyone who has supported us in our efforts to stop the proposed marina – and to our amazing legal team.

More soon!
The Coastal Alliance Board of Directors