Located in the southwestern part of the state on the shores of Lake Michigan, Chikaming Township, MI is popular with beach visitors eager to enjoy Warren Dunes State Park. The Tower Hill Camp and Retreat Center near Sawyer, MI has been in talks with TowerCo to erect a 185-foot cell tower on land bordering the state park. However, despite coverage that locals have described as “spotty,” according to Harbour County News, the Chikaming Township Board has denied TowerCo’s special land use request.
Rev. Tracy Heilman, Tower Hill Camp and Retreat Center Site Director, spoke in favor of the cell tower’s potential safety contributions, describing how the camp currently handles emergency situations on the beach. “Three of our staff run in three different directions,” she said. “One runs toward Warren Dunes to try to get somebody there, one runs back to camp waiting until they get coverage, and one runs up to [a neighbor’s] house, who has a landline.”
The Township Board did not want to bend any bylaws, claiming that a cell tower at that location would compromise the natural beauty of the park and create an eyesore. Although the site had been discussed at length and deemed acceptable on previous occasions, when it came time to consider granting a special land use permit, the Board ultimately determined that granting the permit would be incompatible with the natural environment.
Before reaching this decision, Township Board trustee Rich Sullivan queried some nearby realtors to get a feel for how a cell tower in the vicinity might impact property values. The informal survey determined that younger respondents tended to want the better digital coverage provided by a cell tower, while older people were more interested in a pretty view than a strong signal.
TowerCo spokesperson Fred Low talked about the work that has occurred behind the scenes to develop a cell tower that would accommodate multiple carriers and satisfy the needs of the community, “We’ve always met the ordinance requirements,” he noted, stressing that a cell tower at the proposed coastal location would truly benefit emergency response situations. “Being able to call 911, being able to get a good signal out, is going to help communications with maybe a camper or a beach-goer that’s gotten themselves into a stress situation,” he said.
Whether or not TowerCo will appeal the Township Board’s decision is unknown at this time, according to the News.
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