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I've received an update from a post about Harsens Islands, 'Lucky 7' and 'Grand Pointe Development' for which I'm grateful - I'm sure this will be in next week's paper, but I'm pleased to post that the development companies have suffered another defeat in their attempt to rip apart the island for cluster housing development.
The prior posts on this continuing saga are HERE.
The newest update (from Thursday) is HERE.
Thank you to the anonymous replier to my post of 09-05-08! As well, I want to thank 'The Verifiable Truth' by name on this post for collecting all of the legal documents, the developers filed plans and the commission's, DEQ's and court's rulings in regards to this issue.
This isn't the first run in with the dollars behind these develpment scheme... as reported in the same article linked above, H.I. has already had to fight off attempts to build a large casino/resort project on the island (which, honestly - once you disclude [is that a word?] the land owned and managed by the DNR, is not that large) by the same guy and the Bay Mills Indians (a tribe belonging to Northern Michigan) and the Ilitch money.
Everyone seems to acknowledge that Harsens Island is a 'Blue Water Gem', but where we who live here want to see it remain semi-natural - others want to turn it into a little metropolis and thereby destroying the very characteristics that has made it recognized as a 'Gem' in the first place... but what the hell, they won't actually be living here, right?
At least we can score another win in keeping them from destroying what we love about living here (and paying the $100 every two weeks for the ferry tickets).
- Mood:All Smiles.
Happily, the local paper is reporting that Lucky 7 Development LLC and Grande Pointe Development LLC have been turned down by the DEQ for a permit to rip the hell out of our island.
Not that they'll stop trying, of course. They have already filed appeals of the Clay Township's refusal of a building permit to put in their cluster housing and plans to build a marina and cut off a public road for their own use.
The fight will go on, but every time they get turned down, it feels a little bit better to me. The greedy pricks....
Rob
- Mood:
cranky
The last time this happened was during my off days, too! For some reason, somebody up there doesn't want me to spend my off-work days at home. Or to get a vacation, by being iced in ON the island.
We'll see how things shake out... all we can do is wait.
Rob
- Mood: annoyed
Last night I got to spend the night at the parent's and so far, it appears I'll be staying there tonight, too. Fortunately, tomorrow is my day off work, so I'll have time to run my clothes through the wash (or maybe go out to Meijer and buy some threads) as I didn't pack a bag this time (got caught flat footed this go-round).
I'm going to have to wait to post the next Spanderverse chapter for Songs of Pain and Comfort until I can get back home which could be tonight or could be 10 days from now... who knows.
Damn it. -- Rob
- Mood:
disappointed
waterway to connect us with the mainland. This doesn't seem like a bad thing on its surface, and Lord knows,
I don't like getting stuck on the mainland when the ice is flowing and the ferry can't run.
However, the ferry service is overseen by the State of Michigan... the owner of the service cannot raise rates until he submits his reasons to the state and they agree and approve the rate hike. The bridge developer is under no such restraints. Now, they say that they can deliver their service for a few dollars cheaper than the ferry, but I have my doubts. What I do see, is them undermining the ferry's business until it is forced under and then they can raise the rate to whatever they wish and they still WON'T be under any obligation to the residents or under state supervision. You may have seen the problems that Canada and the U.S. are having with the old fart that owns the Ambassador Bridge in the news... basically, they have no jurisdiction over such an important asset because its "private property". The same would apply to any bridge that was built over the St. Clair River to provide egress onto and off the island.
They've thankfully run into problems getting Coast Guard and D.E.Q. approval. Now, they've bought up property here on the island with plans to carve out tons of dirt and sediment to build luxury condos in direct violation of our zoning ordinances (they have requested variances from our zoning board). The idea is to install cluster housing, which
will increase traffic to far more than our ferry service and the local road can support, which will mean expanding the roadway, which will also mean providing an excuse for the Township to pressure Lansing to instruct the Coast Guard and D.E.Q. to be more "cooperative" on the bridge in order to handle the increased traffic to the island.
That really burns my ass. I'm all for new people enjoying island life, but we already have homes available and it doesn't require them dredging up acres of land to install private marina spaces or re-routing a major road for our
residents in order to accomodate them. Not to mention the environmental impact of disturbing sediment that has been covering "Chemical Alley" deposits on the river bottom for decades; just who is going to pay for the cleanup when all of that shit starts re-entering the water table? I'm pretty sure it won't be Lucky 7.
Thankfully, they've failed to get said variances, but it was a 5 to 3 decision and they still have the financial means to appeal the decision in court. Although, the ordinance seems clear, so I don't know how they could prevail... except they have tons of money and money can make things happen (pricks).
I can only hope that Dorothy DeBoyer, Anthony Antkowiak and George Lyle never come looking for my vote for any office in the future. Their votes in favor of this gross disruption and displacement of our island's character has guarenteed them my anti-vote. I can only think many others on the island will also remember this.
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Harsens Island News Blog
Rob
- Mood:
relieved
But this post is really about Spanderverse. I've posted the first chapter of the ninth story in my series in the spanderverse community.
Fear
While Buffy is out searching for Riley and trying not to aggravate her injury, he's sitting in Willy's with the charming vampire, Sandy.
Buffy is given a strange, glowing orb by a security guard.
Joyce tells Buffy about her impending test at the hospital, but insists that nothing is really wrong.
Rob
- Location:On my island... freezing
- Mood:Good
So, since I've moved onto an island stuck between two channels in the St. Clair River, there is certain risks that I've had to learn to accept. One of these is that the auto ferry service will be interrupted due to inclement weather... in this case, ice floes.
Which is what has happened today. Unfortunately, the ferry "generously" waited until late in the day to shut down overnight... which was after I left for work. Not that I didn't know this was coming this evening, so thanks to the Honey, I pre-packed a bag so I'd have clean clothes with me.
The last time this happened, it took 10 whole days before I could return home. Fortunately, my folks live only 40 minutes from my place of employment, so I have a couch to turn to, but why oh why couldn't the ferry shut down BEFORE I had to leave the island? I mean, c'mon, that's a ready-made excuse to call off and stay home (doing things like posting Spanderverse or playing CIV III). Alas..., I made it to work and now am stuck here for who knows how long (hopefully just overnight this time around... we'll see).
Rob
- Location:Auburn Hills, MI
- Mood: disappointed
