Our keystone project:
Northshore Marina
HOW WE GOT HERE
The 300-acre property that sits on land along the Kalamazoo River and Lake Michigan just north of Saugatuck has been rooted in controversy since the mid-1990s. During that time, conservationists were outbid on two occasions by developers intent on turning this wooded dune land into commercial developments. The Coastal Alliance partnered with like-minded activists to buy the property in the early 2000s and again in 2016 and 2017, but each time the conservationists were outbid.
The current chapter of this initiative began in 2017 when Northshore of Saugatuck applied for permits to carve through protected dunes and the historic site of Singapore to create waterfront for a private yacht marina. Northshore is owned by Holland, MI residents Jeff and Peg Padnos and local developers Brian and Scott Bosgraaf. The proposed marina, located within a gated community near the mouth of the Kalamazoo River, would have many negative effects to our community. It would:
Excavate 250,000 tons of sand within Michigan’s Critical Dune Boundary, permanently erasing 6.5 acres of dunes.
Drain the groundwater beneath globally imperiled interdunal wetlands.
Damage Pottawatomi Traditional Cultural Property (TCP) by putting at risk lake sturgeon, burial sites, sacred and ceremonial sites, wild rice, and other cultural values.
Devastate our local ecology by introducing noise, vibrations, emissions, and light; introducing and spreading invasive species; creating habitat fragmentation; and destroying mature forest canopy.
Undermine our tourism economy.
From the beginning, the Coastal Alliance has been fighting the proposed marina by educating our community about what’s at stake, filing lawsuits, and collaborating with our allies to challenge regulatory agencies to deny permits.
Important dates
Late 1800s
Blowing winds bury the town of Singapore after the community’s main lumber mill moves to St. Ignace.
1996 and 1998
The City of Saugatuck offers to buy acreage from Frank Denison near Oval Beach in 1996 and the Dept. of Natural Resources offers to buy acreage in 1998. Both deals fall through.
Early 2000s
Following the sudden death of Frank Denison, the property is purchased by energy mogul Aubrey McClendon who outbid groups seeking to buy the land to add to the state park. The Land Conservancy purchases several acres from McClendon to establish the Saugatuck Harbor Natural Area.
2016 and 2017
Following McClendon’s death in a car crash the day after his indictment for fraud, the property was listed for $40M. Offers from residents who sought to conserve the land were rejected in favor of a bid from NorthShore, owned by Padnos. NorthShore receives a permit from Saugatuck Township to build a yacht marina in 2017.
2020
The Keeper of the National Register of Historic Places determines that the Kalamazoo River Mouth Area meets the criteria as a Traditional Cultural Property of the Potawatomi.
Recent updates
Read about recent developments on this case below.
