MUSKEGON, Mich. — The development of Adelaide Pointe in Muskegon has been moving right along, but not without complications.
On Monday, the state’s Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy sent the developer a violation notice and enforcement notice.
"About three, four weeks ago, EGLE came out here with about five or six people, and they basically just walked around the site with clipboards, you know, writing things down," said Adelaide Pointe Founder Ryan Leestma. "[They] didn't ask a whole lot of questions, and then kind of abruptly left. And I got a call on Monday that said I was going to get a letter regarding some violations that they found."
EGLE said it discovered multiple violations of environmental law and the company’s permit at the marina and related projects. In a statement to 13 ON YOUR SIDE, EGLE said the developer "conducted extensive modifications to the two on-site peninsulas," which the department said included “unauthorized widening of dock segments to facilitate the installation of unpermitted fueling stations and failure to construct the fishing pier/wave break structure, as permitted, negatively impacting the movement of fish and other aquatic life.”
"I think that the letter sent out something that is incredibly one-sided and doesn't capture the entire story of exactly what happened here," Leestma said.
Leestma took issue with some of the purported violations.
"They said that I widened the fuel dock by five feet, which I did, but I took away even more dock square footage than what was in our original plan," Leestma said. "So, like, everywhere we could've we tried to improve things, and I think we did a pretty good job of that."
EGLE also said it found, “unpermitted filling of wetlands, extensive installation of rock riprap in areas that were permitted as natural shoreline project mitigation, and widening the peninsula into Muskegon Lake, an unauthorized taking of Public Trust Waters.”
When it comes to the filling wetlands, Leestma says that didn’t happen.
"We staked out where all the wetlands were on that entire peninsula, and when we trimmed vegetation, we specifically stayed out of all the areas that had hydric soil," Leestma said.
In a statement about the notice, the department said in part, “EGLE anticipates conversations with the developer to discuss resolution of the violations, which could include fines and requirements to remediate environmental damages that are occurring or will occur as a result of the unauthorized work.”
"It's a partnership with EGLE," Leestma said. "I very much appreciate the partnership of the executives of EGLE, but I think that, you know, the staffers did a poor job."
While conceding mistakes may have been made during the development, he said he believes an agreement can be reached.
"I'm sorry if I missed a few of the details and ran a little roughshod," Leestma said. "But again, I do focus on intent and I'm confident that we're going to figure it out with EGLE, because they're going to see exactly what we've done here."
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