Summary
The Leelanau Township Board’s February 11, 2025 meeting record consists of a public comment letter from resident Joan Brovins supporting the potential use of the Buster Dame ball park property for workforce housing, developed jointly with Northport Village. Brovins referenced discussion from a prior Board meeting indicating initial steps had been taken with the State to explore a land swap for this purpose.
Public Comments
Joan Brovins submitted a written letter praising the idea of developing the ball park property into housing, citing its location as ideal: it is connectable to the NLTUA water/sewer system, walkable to the Village commercial district, Tom’s, the school, the Township fire hall, Mastercraft Extrusion Tool, the Township hall, the Village hall, and the Village marina, and served by a BATA bus stop at the Village Marina for workers without reliable transportation. She noted longstanding calls from Northport Village business operators, including successors to Bill Collins at Tucker’s (formerly requiring a fuel stipend for staff who couldn’t afford gas), for workforce housing located in the Village. Brovins expressed confidence that the Board, based on its prior discussion, was moving in the right direction to collaborate with the Village on such a plan. No Board response to the letter is recorded in this document.
Affordable Housing Initiatives
The letter references prior Board discussion (from the meeting preceding this one) about using the Buster Dame ball park property for workforce/local housing, including initial contact with the State to explore a land swap to make the ball park land available for development. No formal Board decision, vote, or next steps beyond the exploratory State discussions are documented here.
Infrastructure Projects
Brovins noted that the ball park property is readily connectable to the NLTUA (water/sewer) system, presenting this as a favorable factor for potential housing development. No other infrastructure items, decisions, or votes are recorded in this document.
Action Items
The document indicates the Township had taken initial steps with the State to explore a land swap involving the ball park property for housing purposes; continued collaboration with Northport Village on a housing plan was anticipated based on prior Board discussion, though no specific deadlines or assigned responsibilities are stated in this document.