ALLEGAN COUNTY, Mich. — The Saugatuck Dunes Coastal Alliance says that the ecosystem of the dunes and the residents living there are too precious to be built on.
It took just 20 minutes for the Zone of Boarding Appeals to decide the appeal couldn’t even be heard.
“The Saugatuck Dunes Coastal Alliance…do not have standing to appeal the December 17 decision of the Planning Commission concerning Singapore Dunes,” attorney Ron Bultje read from the ZBA’s resolution.
The resolution states that the Alliance and the families it represents can’t prove damage.
Oklahoma City billionaire Aubrey McClendon’s Singapore Dunes, L.L.C. group owns the 31 acres in question. They plan to build 25 condos on the land.
After Thursday’s meeting, the Alliance leader was still looking for answers.
“It’s a bit confounding,” he said, “because it’s very, very uncommon – rare even – for a Zoning Board of Appeals to require standing to bring forth an appeal like what we did.”
“Any kind of road or building over top of the wetlands will destroy the dune’s ecosystem.”
Swan says he’s going to consult his attorneys and come up with a new plan to keep fighting for the dunes.
