STEERING COMMITTEE

Taking Pride in Alpena

Notes, Nov. 13, 2015

Summary: Beckett & Rader staff meets with Partridge Point residents

But first.... Giving Tuesday: Mark Dec. 1 on your calendar. It's "Giving Tuesday," a chance to contribute to your favorite area non-profits, including Taking Pride in Alpena! For 24 hours on that one day, access www.cfnem.org/givingtuesday to make a contribution to Taking Pride in Alpena's efforts to improve our whole community!

Here's the meeting:

Having sought and been denied a grant to fund a feasibility study on several proposals to improve the US-23 South Bay commercial corridor and surrounding area, Taking Pride in Alpena: South Bay Corridor raised funds to do its own study through collaboration with Michigan State University and Beckett & Raeder, an Ann Arbor architectural firm.

On Nov. 12 Beckett & Raeder joined members of the South Bay Corridor Steering Committee for a series of meetings with parties interested in or concerned with the proposals. The first session was attended by the Alpena Township Supervisor and Partridge Point residents.Working with Beckett & Raeder is Michigan State University School of Planning, Design, and Construction Five of their students who were in Alpena for two days in late September. Based on that visit, the study proposal, and the many governmental and historical documents they have reviewed, the students are developing these projects:

1) Computerized 3-D model of the South Bay Corridor as it is, with capability to incorporate changes;

2) Summary of options and constraints;

3) A look at branding and identity, including signage and possible tie-in to Sanctuary theme;

4) Issues surrounding storm water and maintaining a clean-water environment;

5) Survey instrument to assess residents' opinions of the area's most important natural and cultural assets.

Beckett & Raeder, emphasizing the study's purpose is to explore the area's needs, assets, restrictions, and potential without aiming at a particular outcome, outlined the four major "sections" of the proposal:

1. The US-23 South Bay commercial corridor

2. A small turnout park at the 45th Parallel on US-23

3. The bike path and possible trail extension

4. A day use park on state-owned land off Partridge Point Road

The Partridge Point residents were asked to outline what they see in the proposal. All involved the day use park off Partridge Point Road.

Following are the points raised:

a. I am afraid the Alvar shoreline, right across from my house, will become commercialized, have garbage containers, trucks will come in with canoes, the traffic will increase.

b. I am not opposed to individual use, but individuals already use it to fish, walk dogs, duck hunt, hunt for fossils, etc. Nothing needs to change to facilitate individual use.

c. When we bought our property in 1994, the DNR said the area was protected wetlands and "nothing will ever happen with that property."

d. I am concerned for protected plants and for wildlife.

e. Regarding use by kayakers, dangerous winds spring up around Partridge Point.

f. I am all for improving US-23, but leave us our little piece of heaven.

g. What about the abandoned marina on the northern side of Partridge Point? It would be a good place to launch boats.

h. I am worried about disturbing nature.

i. The DNR property isn't a big piece of land; it should be left as it is.Other points raised during the meeting by Beckett & Raeder were:

1) The state land off Partridge Point Road is owned by the people of the State of Michigan and should be open to everyone, including those who require barrier-free access. We are thinking of a lower key development to protect the area and strengthen it so it is more protected than it was.

2) The kind of boat launch being considered is "like a small dock on rollers" and allows those with disabilities to use kayaks. It is not a large structure.

When the possibility of acquiring the Partridge Point Marina was raised, the township supervisor stated the marina is for sale, and it's 54 acres, but the owner wants a bit of money for that. The township doesn't have that kind of money not for the purchase, and not for upkeep. Also, as a township-owned property it would come off the tax rolls.

In the end, a common view emerged. It was suggested the best spot for a day use park off Partridge Point in the Alvar Shoreline property is the easternmost entry locally called Frog Lane. (Frog Lane is a two-track road leading in to a parking area from which only foot traffic can proceed to the lakeshore.) A South Partridge Point resident said, "That makes sense," adding that a boardwalk at Frog Lane would not bother people living in the area because the Frog Lane parking lot is well off the road.