SAUGATUCK, MI (WHTC-AM/FM) – Two major pieces of business are before the Saugatuck City Council during its Monday night (July 26, 2021) business meeting.
One deals with the ongoing issue of floating homes. Council is slated to vote on an ordinance that would “define floating homes and full service marina, establish required parking for floating homes and to add (a) regulatory ordinance for floating homes,” according to the agenda paperwork for the proposal. If approved, it would take effect on August 15th.
A group calling itself “Houseboat Resistance” has submitted a 19-page, 809-signature petition against this ordinance. The petition signers are from various parts of the country, and the organizers wants council to “pause all action on the proposed floating homes ordinance and apply current city ordinances to prohibit the non-motorized, portable, prefabricated modular homes proposed by Dune Ridge.” Houseboat Resistance claims Dune Ridge wants to install at least four such structures on barges at its marina next to the Chain Ferry landing along Park Street, and to operate them as small hotels or short-term rentals, circumventing “establishing planning and zoning processes.”
The other issue comes from the City Manager’s report in the meeting’s agenda documents. “I’ve heard from many concerned citizens about deficiencies in maintenance, namely Oval Beach and Downtown,” wrote Ryan Heise. “The uptick in concerns are legitimate … there is an increased demand on our infrastructure and fewer people to provide service.”
Heise posted graphs in his report “as a frame of reference” to back up these concerns. While some measures have been taken to address the matter, Heise is asking to “implement a strategic recruitment program for seasonal employees targeting high school and college students,” and to “promote volunteerism that could assist with trash pick-up at our parks and other minor maintenance items.”
The 7 PM council in-person session will be in the second floor meeting room of Saugatuck City Hall, with ZOOM observation as well. A link to the agenda is here.
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