David vs. Goliath…and This Time Goliath May Just Win….

Named one of America’s most endangered historic places, the Saugatuck Dunes and the surrounding area is a magical, untouched natural beauty that is gravely threatened by unnecessary, greedy development.

For the past many years, a citizens’ group has engaged in a David-like struggle in holding a giant Goliath at bay. They have been successful in securing the purchase of the southern portion of a property known as “the Dennison”, and they have prevented Goliath from building his proposed mc-mansions, marina, nine-hole golf course and multi-story hotel on the northern portion. But, with last week’s announcement that Saugatuck Township is poised to cut a deal with Goliath on the zoning related to the northern parcel. David is perilously near a final fall.

Here’s the story and the players:

Five years ago, —a billionaire from Oklahoma who owns Chesapeake Energy, the Oklahoma Thunder (formerly the Seattle Supersonics, before McClendon reneged on his promise to keep the Sonics in their home town), and a former Oklahoma state park—swooped in at the final moment to purchase the Dennison property, outbidding the state of Michigan with a $39 million dollar bid to secure some of our state’s most beautiful, pristine and critical sand dunes. Since then, McClendon has aggressively battled with Saugatuck Township for the right to develop this long-preserved and protected natural area to the extent that the Township put a special millage before the voters to support their legal battles.

The citizen’s group, the Saugatuck Dunes Coastal Alliance, formed shortly after McClendon purchased the property and announced his development plans. Comprised of individuals from throughout the West Michigan area, the group has meticulously researched and documented the impact that McClendon’s plans will have on the eco-system and the area economy, including historic and artistic treasures like the Oxbow School of Art.

Extraordinary places like the Saugatuck/Dennison dunes define far more than the adjacent villages. While Saugatuck and Douglas certainly bask in the beauty and benefits of this Pure Michigan site, so does the entire region. Just as the pristine natural features of Point Reyes National Seashore and the Sierra Nevada mountains define and enhance the city of San Francisco, and Boston Harbor and the White Mountains define the city of Boston, the world-class and long-preserved Saugatuck/Dennison sand dunes and their location on the shores of Lakes Michigan serve to define West Michigan.

The West Michigan Strategic Alliance --- organized in June 2000 by a diverse group of community leaders from the greater Grand Rapids, Holland and Muskegon areas concerned about the effects of rapid population growth and urbanization on the region's quality of life --- is adamant about “smart growth” and the preservation of critical environmental areas. McClendon’s development flies in the face of the vision put forth by this important private/public partnership.

Then, in 2009, after years of negotiation, private/public collaboration, and fundraising, McClendon agreed to sell the Southern Dennison to the West Michigan Land Conservancy. With monies put forth by private citizens and the State of Michigan’s Natural Resources Trust Fund, a portion of the pristine natural area was successfully preserved.

Believing that this would provide him with carte blanche access to the northern portion for his slightly curtailed, yet still audacious development plans, McClendon and his team of attorneys continued their barrage of the Township.

Fast-forward to June 2011 and McClendon is not only in the national news, but in the local Michigan news. Due to his over-bearing, far-reaching, and hard-hitting tactics (not unlike his funding of the Swiftboat Initiative in 2004), it appears McClendon may have worn the Township down to a point where they can no longer withstand his beating.

After all these years of battle, there will be a defining moment: a public hearing scheduled for July 18. If you are like me, it is hard to believe that money can buy access and development rights (the reversal of zoning laws) to pristine, long-preserved natural places like the Dennison. If McClendon gets his way, the development on the Dennison will not only dramatically alter an irreplaceable landscape, it will threaten the unique nature of the Saugatuck/Douglas community and the long-term vision for West Michigan’s future.

I invite you to join me on July 18th at the Saugatuck Township public hearing. Before the hearing we can also contact township officials to let them know what we think.  Let’s make sure that Goliath hears loud and clear that the people of Michigan support David.

---Aubrey McClendon photo credit: Associated Press; Saugatuck Dunes photo credit: Michigan LCV; Graphic: Michigan LCV