Another unbelievably greedy and selfish person in the Fred Upton clan wants to destroy gorgeous lakefront beach and untouched habitat in Saugatuck, Michigan, up the lake from Benton Harbor. He's Aubrey McClendon. Google his name for more info... The meeting this Monday has been moved, most likely to cut down on attendance. Wear red if you don't support the piranha, McClendon.
Limited seats for dunes hearing July 18
By Scott Sullivan, Editor, Wednesday, July 13, 2011
The Saugatuck Township board and planning commission will hold a joint public hearing Monday, July 18, to consider a proposed settlement of litigation with Singapore Dunes LLC.
The session, first announced as being in the Saugatuck High School gymnasium, has been moved to the smaller, 200-seat cafeteria due to building scheduling conflicts including a school board meeting, basketball games and a goat rodeo that night, said officials. The hearing starts at 6 p.m.
Singapore Dunes owner Aubrey McClendon is suing the township in U.S. district court claiming it rezoned his Lake Michigan-fronting property illegally.
The Oklahoma billionaire has announced conceptual plans to develop land north of the Kalamazoo River with a 66-slip marina, nine-story inn, high-end homes, nine-hole golf course and equestrian area, leaving most of its 320 acres in their natural state, but has not submitted formal plans to the township.
His suit claims the township illegally down-zoned his land in 2006 to prevent development and has been corrupted by taking more than $30,0000 in payments from the Saugatuck Dunes Coastal Alliance, a local nonprofit land-preservation group.
The township counters that McClendon has not submitted formal plans for development nor followed procedures with the planning commission and/or other boards to do so.
The proposed settlement, much discussed in letters and ads on ensuing pages, may be reviewed under “Breaking News” on the township’s Web site, www.saugatucktownship.org.
Supervisor Bill Wester told persons attending the July 6 township board meeting he expected Singapore Dunes to begin Monday’s public hearing with a presentation.
“Afterwards anyone can speak, not just township residents,” he said. “But we will ask speakers if they are residents.
“We want to take residents’ temperatures regarding the proposed settlement. We may or may not vote on it.
“It’s not a slam dunk,” he said.
http://www.allegannews.com/articles/2011/07/14/cr_news/1.txt
