Summary
This document consists of two written public comments submitted to the Leelanau Township Board ahead of its October 13, 2026 meeting, both urging support for a proposed paved, non-motorized multi-use trail connecting Northport and Omena. No board votes or decisions are recorded in this document.
Public Comments
Maril McCord, a longtime co-owner of a family home on the bay between Omena and Northport since 1967, submitted a letter dated September 30, 2026. She recalled the area's history, including the former rail line that once ran through the area, and proposed that the Board implement a walking/biking path between Omena and Northport. She asked that the Master Plan allocate "necessary attention, planning, funding and support" for such a trail, and requested her letter be entered into the public record for the October 13, 2026 meeting.
Katie McCord Ambrite, a third-generation cottage owner in the area between Omena and Northport, submitted an email dated October 1, 2026 expressing strong support for the same proposed paved, non-motorized multi-use trail. She cited safety concerns from running along M-22's shoulder amid fast-moving traffic, and suggested the trail would let children safely bike into town and strengthen connections between the two communities. She asked the Board to include the trail in the Township Master Plan and to provide planning, funding, and advocacy support.
No Board responses to these comments are recorded in this document.
Infrastructure Projects
Both commenters proposed a paved, non-motorized multi-use trail connecting Northport and Omena, following the route of a former rail line. This is a resident-proposed project; the document does not indicate the Board has taken any action, allocated funding, or made a decision regarding the trail or its inclusion in the Township Master Plan.
Action Items
- Maril McCord requested the Board include her September 30, 2026 letter in the public record for the October 13, 2026 meeting.
- Both commenters requested the Board consider including a Northport-Omena multi-use trail in the Township Master Plan and provide planning, funding, and support; no Board commitment or follow-up action is documented.