Conservation Partnership Reaches Agreement for Significant Coastal Site
City of Saugatuck, Land Conservancy of West Michigan and The Nature Conservancy reached a major agreement to aquire 171-acre portion of land
October 20, 2009
By Land Conservancy of West Michigan and The Nature Conservancy
www.naturenearby.org/SHNA.tab.aspxProtecting Saugatuck Harbor Natural Area
The City of Saugatuck is working with the Land Conservancy of West Michigan, The Nature Conservancy, and other local partners to acquire 171 acres of duneland on Lake Michigan next to Oval Beach and Mt. Baldhead City Parks, just south of the Kalamazoo River channel.
Known formerly as the “South Denison” property, this peninsula of land would be owned and managed by the City as the “Saugatuck Harbor Natural Area” and open to the public for non-motorized recreation. It is an extraordinary property that is vital to the scenic and natural dune landscape around Saugatuck and Douglas.
Purchase Agreement Finalized
The first hurdle for the protection of this magnificent property has been overcome; a purchase agreement has been successfully negotiated with the current property owner, Aubrey McClendon.
Negotiations resulted in the new contract for the Land Conservancy of West Michigan to buy the property for $20 million. The total cost of the project will likely be up to $23.2 million when associated costs are considered.
The City of Saugatuck will lease the property from the Land Conservancy until project fundraising is complete, at which time the land will be officially transferred. Continue Reading on LCWM site
