by Austin Marsman

The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality Water Resources Division will have a public hearing on a request to expand Landing Marina at Gun Lake. The hearing will be at 6 p.m. Wednesday, April 11, at the Orangeville Township Hall, 7350 Lindsey Road, Plainwell.

Landing Marina owner Lucas Spoor in February submitted an application to the Michigan DEQ in Cadillac requesting another expansion. Spoor is seeking approval for 30 docks and installation of a boat launch at his property on 11925 Marsh Road.

The permit application states that Spoor is planning to continue his permitted construction, as approved by the DEQ in August 2017. 

At the time, the DEQ green-lighted a reconfiguration plan for Spoor’s Landing Marina. Seventeen boat slips were approved for installation, but it looks like that could increase with this new permit. If approved, the total number of boat slips at the Landing Marina will be 47.

Building a marina at this location, however, still doesn’t fit Barry County zoning law. The property is designated mixed-use which, according to Article 15 of the Zoning Ordinance, doesn’t allow for a marina.

Spoor in February sought an amendment to Barry County zoning law in order to add a marina to the permitted uses of the property at 11925 Marsh Road. Quickly nicknamed the “Spoor Amendment,” it was struck down by the Barry County Commission.

Many around the lake opposed the text amendment, including strong opposition from the Gun Lake Protective Association, prompting similar resolutions by Yankee Springs and Orangeville Townships and a negative recommendation by County Planing and Zoning Administrator Jim MacManus. 

Denial of this amendment, most would assume, means Spoor cannot proceed with the project under current zoning laws. It is still unclear what Spoor plans to do for his business model, after introducing a three-story development and then quickly taking those plans off the table in January. Currently, the property houses a strip mall, single-story building and pole building and is across the road from the proposed expansion.

Spoor’s Landing Marina has faced strong opposition from neighbors because it takes away lake access from those living in the vicinity and raises concerns about safety and overcrowding.

 (Photos by Austin Marsman)