After holding a public meeting on June 24, the Regional Clearinghouse Review Committee of the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments (SEMCOG) has recommended the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) purchase, rather than swap M-24 property for, land on Indian Lake.
The MDNR is currently considering swapping 90.9 acres of state-owned Bald Mountain land along Lapeer Road for 82.7 acres of privately owned land in Oakland and Addison Townships along Indian Lake, owned by Mike Weger.
Orion Township Supervisor Jerry Dywasuk doesn’t hold the swap proposal against Oakland Township, but wishes Orion would have been involved in the discussions.
‘We’re not opposed to what Oakland Township is doing, but this is not something in the best interest to our township,? he said. ‘We’re trying to be advocates for the (Bald Mountain) property. The potential, we’ve heard, is that it would be valued at $20-25 million if it was turned over to a commercial interest.?
At its June meeting, SEMCOG was concerned that Orion officials had not been included in the land swap discussions, nor had their opinions sought. The Orion trustees adopted a proposal last year opposing the exchange.
Dywasuk told SEMCOG the township’s objection was based on the negative impact that would result to Orion if the M-24 parcel was taken out of public ownership and allowed to be developed.
He urged the MDNR to continue pursuing the acquisition of the Oakland Township property, but not at the expense of Orion Township residents, who stand to lose permanent state parkland.
‘It’s state land purchased with federal funds,? Dywasuk said of the M-24 property. ?(A swap for it) has to be approved by the Secretary of the Interior.
‘For 24 years, this has been an instrumental part of our master plan in Orion Township,? he said. ‘We also have a lot of concerns about engineering costs, and sewer and water improvement costs if the property were ever to be developed.?
Dywasuk said traffic would also be a major factor.
‘Traffic on M-24 is already bad, why would we want to add to it?? he asked. ‘A lot of conservation groups have been supporting us.?
The SEMCOG committee found that the land exchange would offer little added value to the state recreation area when compared with the negative impacts it would have on Orion Township.
SEMCOG’s recommendation to the MDNR is that if they desire to obtain the private parcel on Indian Lake, it should attempt to purchase it from Weger rather than swap Bald Mountain Recreation Area property for it.
The recommendation will go to the MDNR as well as the United States Department of the Interior. Dywasuk said more hearings on the issue are planned for July.