Saugatuck reaches agreement on dunes?

SAUGATUCK, Mich. (WOOD) - Saugatuck Township has reached a new agreement with billionaire Aubrey Mclendon's company that will allow development on the disputed Singapore Dunes property.

Singapore Dunes filed a federal complaint in March 2010 alleging that Saugatuck Township disregarded its own legal procedures when it r ezoned some 300 acres of Singapore Dunes' land north of the Kalamazoo River along Lake Michigan.

Under the terms of the settlement, which must be approved by the Township Board and the U.S. District Court, Saugatuck Township agrees to roll back the so-called R-4 zoning ordinance adopted in May 2006 to govern the use of Singapore Dunes property.

Then the development company will apply for variances to allow up to 100 homes and buildings, a 25 suite hotel, 9-hole walking-only golf course and 66 slip marina.

The lawsuit will be dropped if the agreement is approved by the township and the court.  At that point, the company will go to the township to get the variances in the normal process for variance requests.  

The company will then go to the township to get the variances in the normal public process all variance requests go through. 

The township will hold a public meeting on March 21 at 5 p.m. at Saugatuck High School to consider the agreement.

The township has the entire plan posted on their website.