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wo LINCOLN TOWNSHIP TB

BERRIEN COUNTY ——
RESIDENTS iw

GRAND MERE, CONSERVATION AND YOU

———=—$—$<$< —=—=$—$[ = ————

Mr. Frank W. Suggitt, well known consultant on AREA ANALYSIS AND DEVELOPMENT
has proposed to the LINCOLN TOWNSHIP BOARD THAT THE GRAND MERE WILDERNESS AREA

be commercially developed
TO SATISFY THE NEEDS
OF THESE LOCAL COUNTY
AND TOWNSHIP RESIDENTS:
SWIMMERS - Present public beaches are too small, yet Mr. Suggitt proposes that
the GRAND MERE DUNES be REMOVED and REPLACED by HIGH RISE RESORT APARTMENTS

from the middle lake south to Linco Road. RESORT BEACHES ARE FOR PAYING GUESTS -
NOT FOR LOCAL RESIDENTS.

NATURALISTS, STUDENTS, EDUCATORS, BOTANISTS - Mr. Suggitt's proposed DEEP WATER
MARINA in the middle and south lakes, golf course and airport in the wilderness
area 30 acre industrial sites along I-94 will undoubtedly WIPE OUT:

 

 

 

LAKE FRONT DUNES DEER POSSUM AND
t BIRDS AND BEES SQUIRRELS NATURAL BEAUTY
FLOWERS AND TREES RACCOON

DUCK HUNTERS - Mr. Suggitt's golf course and marina will force you to use the
St. Joe River Yacht Club and berrien Hills in the Fall for the little duck
hunting left in the area.

TAX PAYERS - Will his industrial complex solve the TAX PROBLEM? BETHLEHEM STEEL
didn't for Porter County, Indiana when they took over the Indiana Dune lake front
for steel production.

YOU CAN DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. PLEASE TURN PAGE.

GRAND MERE CONSERVATION AND RECREATLONAL ASSOCIATION
POST OFFICE BOX 140
GRAND MERE
STEVENSVILLE, MICRIGAN a

August 6, 1965

Lincoln Township and Berrien County Residents:
Stevensville, Michigan

The above association is composed of citizens of Berrien County, Michigan who are
interested in preserving in its present state the Grand Mere Wilderness Area
(1,200 acres in Southwestern Berrien County on Lake Michigan) as a conservation
and recreation area for future generations.

The property is at present privately owned and zoned as a residential area. We
believe a petition will presently be presented by the owners to the Lincoln
Township Board requesting a change in the zoning from residential to commercial
and/or industrial.

One purpose of the requested zoning change is to allow large scale sand removal

from the Grand Mere Lake Michigan dunes, which is a relatively long term proposition.
This would also allow industrial development of part of the wilderness area with
frontage on 1-94 and commercial in other areas.

We recognize that the present owners of the area have a sizeable investment which
must be considered, but we also feel that action must be taken now if this area
is to be preserved for the future. We can see no reason why one of the most
scenic and educational natural areas in Southwestern Michigan must be wiped cut
for commercial and industrial purposes, when thousands of acres in the local area
are already zoned commercially for this purpose. :

Therefore, we have set up a meeting at the Lakeshore High School Auditorium for “~
Saturday evening, August 14, 1965, at 7:30 P.M. Attached is the program which

will be presented to the residents of the area. The purpose of the meeting is

to acquaint the people with the importance of the Grand Mere area as a conserva-
tion and recreation area, and to get a petition signed which will prevent any
precipitate action by the Lincoln Township Board in approving a zoning change.

We feel that no zoning changes should be made until a proper study of the area

can be made and co-ordinated with long range township and county planning. It
should then only be made with the approval of the Lincoln Township residents.

Our purpose in writing you is to invite your attendance at the meeting, or at
least to lend us your moral support by letter in our efforts to prevent hasty

action from being taken that can adversely affect future generations.

An early reply is earnestly requested.

Grand Mere Conservation and Recreational Assoc.

 

PROGRAM:

PLACE:

TIME:

CHAIRMAN:

CONSERVATION, GRAND MERE AND YOU

Lakeshore High School, corner Cleveland Avenue,
John Beers Road

Saturday Evening, August 14, 1965, 7:30 P.M.

Paul Armbruster

kkEKKKK

Introduction

Dr. Charles Olmsted, Chairman, University of Chicago
Department of Botany.

History of this area and value for educational purposes.

Dr. H. L. Batts, Director, Kalamazoo Nature Center

Discussion and slide. presentation of the Grand Mere area.

Mr. Herbert Read, Board Member Save The Dunes Council.
Don't Put An Iron Curtain Along Your Lake Shore.

Mr. Don McGrath, Architect, West Michigan member of the
Lake Michigan Regional Planning Council.

Long range area planning of land use for industry and
recreation.

 

Conclusion and Summation.