The time when a proposed land exchange involving Bald Mountain park property on M-24 is out of Orion Township’s hands is almost here, said supervisor Jerry Dywasuk.
At its Dec. 20 meeting, the last of the year, the new Orion Township board voted to pass another resolution stating its opposition to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources? (MDNR) proposal to exchange the state property at Lapeer Road and Scripps for property owned by developer Mike Weger on Indian Lake Road in Oakland Township.
The MDNR voted to approve the swap, and the decision now lies in the hands of the National Park Service’s (NPS) midwest regional office in Omaha, Nebraska.
After that, the United States Department of the Interior would have to sign off on it, as the Bald Mountain property to be exchanged was purchased with federal grant money.
‘There is a subdivision that lies directly to the north, Canterbury Woods, and one to the east (of the Bald Mountain property),? said Dywasuk. ‘One day they’ll wake up and say ‘How did Kohl’s get in here…or Walmarts??
‘This land which we always thought would be protected can now be turned over to private hands.?
Attorney John Staran, of Beier Howlett, is representing Orion Township in the quest to stop the exchange, and told the board on Dec. 20 that the NPS could have its decision before the new year.
Staran said the Bald Mountain property was supposed to have been restricted for recreational use, permanently.
‘It’s worth $20-25 million in the wrong hands,? Dywasuk said. ‘Until October 2003, the township was never invited to any meetings, or informed. We were purposefully left out of the process.?
Dywasuk hopes to get the attention of nearby residents before it is too late.
Despite the recommendation of the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments? (SEMCOG) Clearinghouse Committee in June, who said the MDNR should just purchase Weger’s property outright, rather than swap for it, the MDNR voted to go forward with the swap. Dywasuk said Weger will not accept cash or another piece of property.
‘He claims he wants to put a nine-hole golf course (at Scripps and Lapeer),? Dywasuk said. ‘But he’s never been in (to the township).?
Staran said the MDNR ‘has champagne tastes with a beer budget.?
‘They have been interested in (Weger’s) property for years, and they did have cash in hand at one point,? he added.
Now, according to Staran, the MDNR is short on funds, so it’s bargaining with the only thing it has, valuable property.
‘They don’t have the money,? he said. ‘They want to acquire this property, they can’t do it with money…So Orion’s property has conveniently been labeled as ‘surplus.??
‘We have not gotten the attention of the people most directly affected,? said Dywasuk. ‘We need the citizens to show their concern.?
Dywasuk believes once the Bald Mountain property is in private hands, anything could happen despite its being zoned for recreation.
‘Once they start putting up the big box stores, (the citizens) will say ‘Why didn’t they alert us,?? he said.
Staran said the state’s procedure for land exchanges was ‘not a very public process.?
‘There was no procedure for a hearing at the local level,? he added. ‘There is no requirement.?
The citizens only chance now to get involved would be to contact the NPS before they make a decision.
‘It’s been too quiet,? said Dywasuk. ‘We are fearful people just don’t know.?
According to Dywasuk, in the late 1980s, a prison was proposed for the same property, and there was tremendous public outcry.
Former Bald Mountain manager Bill Stark said it is important for people to realize that the property at M-24 and Scripps belongs to ‘all the citizens of Michigan.?
‘To trade it is not in the interest of all of the citizens,? he said.
Staran said the NPS? process does not call for a public hearing.
‘Technically, they are making a recommendation (to the department of the interior), but practically, they are making the decision,? he added.
Any citizens who would like to voice their concerns about the Bald Mountain land exchange should contact Jim Krejici of the National Park Service.
The address is: National Park Service, Midwest Regional Office, Grants Office, 1709 Jackson Street, Omaha, Nebraska, 68102.
Krejici can be reached via email at jim_krejici@nps.gov, and by phone at (402) 661-1560.