Members of the Sands Township Planning Commission discuss a proposed project while residents look on. They approved a request to construct and operate a year-round recreational campground and resort area. (Journal photo by Dreyma Beronja)

By DREYMA BERONJA

Journal Staff Writer

SANDS TOWNSHIP — A new campground will soon be located in Sands Township.

The Sands Township Planning Commission on Tuesday approved Mark Curran’s request to construct and operate an over -600-acre year-round recreational and resort area. Curran also owns Rippling River Resort in the city of Marquette.

The recreational and resort area will be located north of Pelissier Lake and surround Little Pelissier Lake with 23 cabins, 100 campsites and 12 “glamping”–luxury camping–sites.

Residents of Sands Township voiced several concerns at Tuesday’s meeting. Some residents brought up the noise pollution that would come with the development of the campground.

“I’m here in opposition of this development and at the very least, opposition of the size of the development,” Sands Township resident Rachel Quayle said. “A campground should not be located near a landfill, a gravel pit and quarry, and most importantly, surrounded by residential areas.”

Other concerns Quayle brought up were the environmental impact such as untouched forest land as well as destruction of bald eagle nests, an increase in fire danger, campers using private roads as an easy pass-through and the recreational use of Pelissier Lake.

“I would like to propose the idea of a conservation easement between the campground and the surrounding area,” Quayle said.

According to the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, the easement prohibits or limits any subdivision, development or any activity that would diminish the property’s agricultural or open space value.

Another resident brought up concerns with possible traffic accidents at the entrance of the campground on M-553 and said it could be extremely dangerous.

“When you have semis climbing that hill leaving Marquette, if they lose momentum, a lot of times they get stuck and need to be towed,” the resident said. “If you have someone pulling out with their trailer in front of a semi in adverse conditions, (it’s going to be very difficult for the semi to brake).”

On the subject of noise pollution, Curran said that Rippling River Resort does not tolerate loud noise and the same would go for the new campground. Curran said that if residents were to have a noise complaint, they should call the township or call the campground and someone on shift would assist.

After listening to public comments, the planning commission reviewed Curran’s request and asked questions of its own. Chairwoman Shelley Brauer agreed with Quayle’s concern over bald eagle nests and said that the Michigan Department of Natural Resources would need to go through the designated campground area before development to see whether there were nests.

By the end of the meeting, the board approved the construction and operation of the recreational and resort area with 15 conditions needing to be met.

Some conditions included complying with DNR rules regarding eagle nests located on the property, installing a berm on property located at the end of the trail from Pelissier Lake Road and to have a dry hydrant on river with a 12,000-gallon holding tank located on the property.

Questions regarding the permit approval can be directed to Sands Township Director of Zoning Randall Yelle at 906-249-9169 or zoning@sandstownship.org.

Dreyma Beronja can be reached at 906-228-2500 ext. 248. Their email address is dberonj@miningjournal.net.