Summary
The Northport Village Council met on October 16, 2025, with President McCann presiding and Trustees Cavendish, Cook, Dean, and Ager (via Zoom) present; Trustees Harper and Ruble were absent. The Council approved the consent agenda, adopted Resolution 2025-17 designating the northern 4.7-acre portion of the Seventh Street parcel as protected Village parkland while authorizing the Village Manager to apply for a land division, and approved an engineering services proposal for the pond drawdown EGLE permit. The bulk of the meeting was devoted to extensive public comment and Council discussion regarding attainable/affordable housing, the future of the Seventh Street parcel, and related green-space and process concerns.
Public Comments
Public comment was heard in two sessions (Section 4 and Section 8), with numerous speakers addressing the Seventh Street parcel and attainable housing:
- Randy Koch – Representing a petition group with 65 signatures, urged caution regarding attainable housing, expressed concern about giving away public land, and encouraged exploring alternative sites. In a later comment, he discussed sewer-capacity planning, announced a public sewer-plant tour by Jacobs Engineering on October 22, and urged that affordable-housing programs remain affordable long-term rather than allow resale at market rates.
- Kelly Kehl – Shared her experience as a homeowner through an affordable-housing program with resale restrictions, stating such programs support working families rather than provide financial windfalls. She reiterated this point in a second comment, noting much of the debate stems from misunderstanding.
- Eric Potes – Supported attainable housing but declined to join the "Save Seventh Street" petition; urged constructive, separate discussion. In his second comment, he emphasized the importance of housing for retaining families, sustaining the school, and supporting local businesses.
- Kristi Fischer/Fisher – Voiced strong support for affordable housing, raised concerns about misinformation, and (in a later comment) urged the Village to use the Seventh Street land directly for housing rather than selling it.
- Laura Kelchik/Kalchik – Supported attainable housing near the water and thoughtful land-use balance; later cited the Habitat for Humanity model of resale-profit restriction as a possible approach for Northport.
- Don Sheets – Opposed publicly subsidized housing and transfer of public land below market value, favoring private philanthropy and market-based solutions, citing fiduciary responsibility to taxpayers.
- Sue Manson (Zoom) – Supported preserving green space for ecological reasons and expressed frustration with misinformation in the debate.
- Elizabeth Malek (Zoom) – Supported affordable housing in principle but urged waiting for sewer-capacity results and market studies, coordinating with the township, and exploring land-trust models. Reiterated this in her second comment, emphasizing unity and thoughtful planning.
- Virginia Foley – Supported splitting the parcel, dedicating rear acreage as parkland while allowing attainable-housing planning on the remainder.
- Elizabeth Rutila – Supported attainable housing at the site, expressing confidence it could be done responsibly while preserving significant parkland.
- John Weber – Suggested considering river "rewilding" in future dam decisions and noted broader cost-of-living challenges beyond housing.
- Rick Dearing/Ricky Deering – Stated he withdrew his petition signature after learning more, voiced support for attainable housing, and later suggested some opposition may come from nearby property owners.
- Patti Koch – Explained petition efforts stemmed from concerns about high-density development across the whole parcel; supported preserving most land as parkland and selling any developable remainder at fair market value to fund housing elsewhere.
- Joanne Swanson – Expressed concern about community division, questioned whether legal counsel reviewed removal of the deed restriction, and urged honoring the land's intended public use.
- Jane Gale – Noted the parcel currently generates no tax revenue and could eventually contribute to the tax base if developed; stated community value should be judged by participation, not residency length.
Council members and staff responded during the Resolution 2025-17 discussion (see Affordable Housing Initiatives and Parks and Recreation Matters below), clarifying the history of the deed restriction and the scope of the resolution.
Affordable Housing Initiatives
Discussion centered on the Seventh Street parcel and broader attainable-housing strategy:
- Trustee Dean questioned whether the original state deed's reverter clause (restricting the parcel to recreational use) could be violated by housing development. Staff and Council clarified the reverter clause was formally removed by the DNR in 2018 through an approved state application process, allowing development if the Village chooses.
- Trustee Cavendish provided historical context, noting past proposals ranged from full renaturalization to a park/housing split, and expressed support for keeping the 1.2-acre front portion open for future housing consideration pending completion of a market analysis; she stated the Village has spent two and a half years studying the matter.
- President McCann clarified that the resolution does not commit the Village to building housing on the remaining 1.2 acres, but preserves options pending further Planning Commission review and public input.
- Trustee Cavendish reiterated her request that the Council continue evaluating the Children's House property as a possible site for apartment-style attainable housing, noting seasonal parking concerns but citing alternative parking availability.
- Trustee Ager stated that delaying action is not sustainable, described the Seventh Street parcel as one of the most suitable housing sites, and clarified the Village is not "giving property away" but intends to partner with organizations such as Home Stretch for responsible development.
- President McCann noted deed restrictions could ensure long-term affordability if housing were built, and that any future proposal would undergo full Planning Commission and Council review.
- Numerous public commenters (see Public Comments) proposed program structures (land trusts, resale restrictions, Habitat for Humanity-style models) and urged coordination with the township and waiting for sewer-capacity study results before final decisions; these were resident suggestions, not Council decisions.
Parks and Recreation Matters
The Council adopted Resolution 2025-17 (moved by Trustee Cook, supported by Trustee Dean) designating the northern 4.7-acre portion of the Seventh Street parcel as permanent Village parkland, requiring a public vote before any future sale or change of use, and authorizing the Village Manager to apply for the land division. Trustee Cook stated the resolution does not commit the Village to developing the remaining 1.2-acre front portion, only securing park protection for the larger portion. The motion carried unanimously by roll call vote. Trustees Cavendish and Dean both expressed appreciation for preserving the wooded portion as a community benefit while leaving housing options for the remainder open.
Infrastructure Projects
- Marina Report (Trustee Cook): The Harbor Master's report is available in the Village Dropbox. The marina closed for the season the day before the meeting; significant maintenance and project planning will occur before spring reopening, with the Village Manager coordinating upcoming work with the Harbor Master.
- NLTUA Report (President McCann): The NLTUA Board approved an updated deputy treasurer agreement through the Leelanau Township office, shifting compensation from a fixed annual amount to an hourly structure (up to six hours/month), an estimated 50% cost reduction. Jacobs Engineering reported Tasks 2 and 3 of the sewer capacity and growth study are expected to be completed in January or February, with a presentation by Steve Roberts once results are available. The NLTUA will review a draft budget for the next fiscal year in December, aiming for approval in February. New flow-metering equipment at the wastewater treatment plant showed average daily sewer flow of approximately 44,000 gallons over the past month, down from about 60,000 gallons in the same period last year. A special public meeting will be scheduled if study results arrive in January.
- Infrastructure Report (Trustee Cavendish): No new updates since the recent work session; work on the Village's Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) is forthcoming, with staff continuing to lead infrastructure planning and the Planning Commission integrating that information into broader planning efforts.
- Engineering Services Proposal – Pond Drawdown EGLE Permit: Village Manager Ottenwess presented a proposal from GEI Consultants for technical support related to the pond drawdown permit, not to exceed $8,000, including an optional $2,500 scope for a coffer dam. Discussion clarified the work pertains to permit compliance and inspection, not dredging. Trustee Cavendish moved, supported by Trustee Cook, to approve the proposal; the motion carried unanimously by roll call vote.