The Glen Lake Board of Education denied the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) request to turn a piece of the Lakers’ 180-acre prime forest into a workforce or affordable housing project.
“We need to continue managing this property ... I think it was a great plan but on the wrong property,” Glen Lake school board president Cory McNitt said.
In a filled-up library and media center, the board heard presentations from the Leelanau Conservancy and Leelanau Forestry program about forestry in general and its 180-acre parcel.
During the three-hour marathon, several public commentators, including Sleeping Bear Gateway Council (SBGC) President Bill Witler, made comments regarding the property.
“We wanted to bring forward a proposal on the work we have done,” Witler said. “Everything we’ve done has been at the request of the board and not behind closed doors.”
SBGC president Bill Witler stated that their proposal was simply a draft. Witler worked for a year and a half, since spring 2023, with Superintendent Jason Miser and board member Rick Schanhals having discussions with legislatures and the DNR regarding the property.
In December, Glen Lake issued a statement stating that it would not hear a proposal to turn its forestry property into potential affordable housing.
“Due to not having any process and procedure for changing the usage of this property ... Before considering any potential changes designation, we need to become better educated,” Misner said.
The board has instead taken time to learn how to best utilize the property within the current written provisions of this land, which sparked debate in October 2024.
The project received attention from state representatives John DaMoose and Betsy Coffia before being put on the shelf.
Several neighbors of the Empire Township property spoke against the project but recognized that housing is an issue that needs to be solved for future generations. Several public comments were also made in favor of the proposal and urged the Lakers to keep an open mind.
The property was originally deeded to the Empire Agricultural School in 1941 for $1 for timbering purposes. In 1955, the school districts of Maple City, Glen Lake, and Empire consolidated to form Glen Lake Community Schools.
The talks started in the spring of 2023 and finally came to a head in October and December 2024.
Glen Lake sought a legal opinion that stated the proposal was “unworkable.”
“We are grateful for the work creating the proposal that is a problem in the community,” Glen Lake board member Tom Bisbee said. “This piece of land is not the solution for several reasons.”
The board also cited transparency issues as the reason for denying the proposal.
“Ultimately, the concept is fantastic ... I just don’t feel this property is the ideal candidate,” board member Travis Stein said.
Ellie Johnson, district forester for Leelanau County, presented forestry findings for the 180-acre property. The property has a red pine plantation that is almost due for harvest along with other hardwoods. The property is incredibly hilly with ridges on the northern side, and according to Johnson, the vast majority of it is not ideal for housing development.
“We have to continue educating kids on the importance of forestry and all its aspects,” McNitt said.
