Egg Harbor Marina has Preliminary DNR Approval

The Village of Egg Harbor has moved closer to replacing its public marina with a new facility that would nearly double the number of boat slips available.

An informational hearing was held June 30 to help the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) decide whether to approve the new marina’s design, a necessary step before the village can apply to the Wisconsin Waterways Commission (WWC) for grant funding. The DNR has given the project preliminary approval, and citizens had until July 10 to submit comments for or against the proposal.

A rendering of the new Egg Harbor marina plan transposed on an aerial photo of the harbor.

The village decided to pursue expanding the marina – originally built in the mid-1970s and reconstructed in 1998 – when it became apparent there was no cheap fix available for the existing marina, which suffers from structural damage. Reconstructing the marina is estimated to cost as much as $5.4 million, according to JJR Project Engineer Bruce Lunde, and would bring in no new revenue to offset the cost. A rebuild would also be ineligible for WWC funds.

With that in mind, the village board decided to pursue expansion at a cost of nearly $7.9 million, creating a marina that would be considered a Safe Harbor of Refuge. The new marina would accommodate 80 or more permanent and transient slips, nearly double the current capacity of 45. Village Administrator Josh Van Lieshout estimated that under worst-case projections (no grant funding, low transient rentals, etc.) 70 percent of the cost would come from borrowing, with 30 percent covered from increased marina revenues.

Jim Rooney, WWC Chairman, said he’s seen the Egg Harbor proposal and is impressed.

“It’s a project that will certainly benefit the Egg Harbor area and be great for boaters,” he said. But the commission’s funding has dropped from a high of $5 million to about half that, so Rooney isn’t sure how much will be available when and if the project crosses their desks. The commission meets July 23 in Ashland.

Though Carrie Webb, Lakeshore Water Management Specialist with the DNR, asked speakers to keep their comments constrained to issues her department was concerned with – namely water navigation, wildlife habitat, and environmental concerns – many speakers took the occasion to address scale and financial issues.

Jim Smith of Pinkert Law Firm spoke for client Bonnie Cady, who owns the property immediately North of the marina. She is concerned the new marina would ruin her view of the harbor and possibly encroach on her property rights.

Smith categorized the proposal as “the overdevelopment of the riparian zone available,” and asked that it be moved slightly south to avoid encroaching on Cady property, especially since it’s larger profile would obstruct views from her property.

Bill Brose of JJR explained that it was necessary to design the new pier with a significantly larger and taller breakwall in the event water levels return to historical highs. Last year water levels dropped about six feet below the all-time high, and concerns about diversions throughout the Great Lakes, as well as water lost to the St. Clair River between Michigan and Canada, has many speculating lake levels may never again approach those highs. The Army Corps of Engineers is in the middle of a long-term study to determine the validity of those concerns.

Bill Lorenz, president of Egg Harbor Condominium Association, asked the village to consider making the harbor a no-wake zone if the expanded marina is built, which would push water skiers and jet ski users away from the marina and beach areas.

Main Street Market owner Dave Callsen expressed support for the plan, urging the village to “make the proper investment now so we’re not looking back at this again 10 years from now.”

Bob Doneff was the most vocal speaker in opposition to the plan and expressed concern that the new design would eliminate many of the popular family facilities at the marina.

“The winners would be the 40 boaters lucky enough to get the new slips,” he said. “The losers would be families, friends, and day users.”

After the meeting Egg Harbor resident Steve Schafer submitted a petition requesting the following resolution be adopted by the village board or referred to a vote.

“Prior to the start of any physical construction of any municipally financed (in whole or in part) project requiring a Village capital expenditure of $1 (one) million or more, the Village Board shall submit to the electorate a binding referendum for approval of the project. Failure of the binding referendum shall preclude the Village from proceeding with the project. The wording of any referendum shall provide the specific purpose, location and cost of the project. Nothing in this provision shall be construed to preclude the Village from exercising its role in the planning or design of such publicly financed projects. This ordinance shall be in full force and effect upon passage and publication as provided by law.”

The village has 30 days from the date of clerk certification to either pass the ordinance or submit it to the electorate at the next general election.

Van Lieshout said it’s a simple right of the electorate to take the step, but noted that it would apply to many projects beyond the marina, such as sewer, street construction, fire stations and libraries.

“A million dollars doesn’t take you very far,” he said.