A proposed land swap for Bald Mountain property in Orion Township has been put on the back burner for the time being, as the Michigan Department of Natural Resources reevaluates the shape of state land.
The swap would trade privately-owned property along Indian Lake for state-owned property that is part of Bald Mountain at M-24 and Scripps Road.
Attorney Trae Brice, of the firm Beier Howlett in Bloomfield Hills who have worked with Orion since it first learned of the proposed swap, said a section of the property the state would have traded for is included in boundaries that are being re-drawn.
‘The property on M-24 is part of the property partly purchased with grant money from the federal government,? he said. ‘Part of the conditions of that grant is the property be used for recreation.?
According to Brice, before trading the property, the state realized it would need federal approval because of the grant.
‘Their goal is still the same,? Brice added. ‘But part of the redrawn boundaries cuts off the state section they wanted to trade, and included is the section they would have traded for…It’s surplus land, they don’t need it, so they get the federal government to agree to release the recreation requirement for the property.?
Brice said the state is reviewing the proposal and has already collected public comment on the proposed boundary changes. He said it will most likely hold a public hearing in the Orion area before the issue is decided.
‘There isn’t any specific timeline,? he said. ‘They will decide if they should change the master plans for Bald Mountain and some other areas. Then they send that request to the Federal Department of the Interior.
‘If they decide to change the master plan, that will revive the land trade idea.?