By Meakalia Previch-Liu, mea@leelanaunews.com
The local nonprofit New Community Vision (NCV) presented an informal concept to Leelanau Township that could result in more attainable housing options in Northport.
Representatives from NCV, including board president John Sentell and board member Andy Thomas, were present at Leelanau Township’s regular meeting last week to talk about the nonprofit’s proposal regarding a potential collaboration for attainable housing near Braman Park.
The idea would include a land swap that NCV representatives say would benefit the entire community through the transfer of open space that it now owns to the township in exchange for the township’s reallocation of underutilized park land to be made for attainable housing.
“As a volunteer non-profit, NCV is solely focused on the best possible outcome for our community, and we think the idea we’re sharing tonight built upon what we’ve achieved by acquiring and preserving the former Timber Shores property,” Sentell said. “We think it enhances our goal to help provide high quality attainable housing that meets the needs of our community, and importantly, it’s a concept that we think is a win-win for the entire township.”
The concept proposes that if the township can identify 6-10 acres of its current park land for attainable housing, NCV would gift a portion of its 25 acres to the township so the township park designation could be transferred through that newly acquired parcel. Sentell clarified that through this concept, the township would not be trading or giving away any park land, but it would be acquiring more park land for free from NCV.
“It’s not a swap per se, but actually more of an exchange or a shift to park designation that allows the township to reimagine a section of existing park area for more ideal use for housing,” he said.
NCV representatives said the section of interest for potential housing on Braman Hill is located on the southern end of the township-owned property. The Braman Hill Recreation Area comprises over 65 acres of land, so the concept would utilize a small portion of the township’s total park acreage.
Sentell referenced what they have already achieved with the 200-plus acres of former Timber Shores property off M-22, a purchase completed in December 2024. Since the acquisition, the majority of the land, about 188 acres, is permanently protected as a nature preserve by the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians.
As part of that acquisition process, Sentell explained that NCV made the 25 acres it owns on the property for attainable housing. The preliminary work done on the property thus far includes housing conceptual planning for the area, with Sentell adding that their goal has always been to see the vast majority of the Timber Shores property preserved as open space while developing a select site to help the township meet the need for attainable housing.
Some of the advantages Sentell stated the township could gain through the land exchange include receiving equitable or more park land property at no cost, as well as having more open space continuous to a nature preserve to help buffer and protect the landscape.
Sentell said they feel that allocating an area near the village to have a modest number of attainable homes built would be more attractive to families as it is closer to town, the school, and near park amenities with access to community water.
“We envision an attainable housing community that is aspirational for families to live and feel more connected to our community,” Sentell said.
Thomas spoke on how a housing development could fit into the southeast corner of the Braman Park property, and said the 6-10 acre portion of land they are looking at could accommodate anywhere between 10-20 attainable houses.
“NCV fully understands the sensitivity of conversations related to our parks… we certainly welcome the importance of public comment as we consider this opportunity, but we feel this idea is unique from previous possibilities and could be a win-win situation for the entire community and worth further consideration,” Thomas said.
Sentell suggested as a potential next step that the township consider the formation of an ad hoc committee to further explore NCV’s concept.
Leelanau Township parks and recreation committee member Dan Tompkins said NCV presented the initial land exchange concept at the August parks’ meeting, noting that they saw potential in the idea and wanted it to go before the township board while in its early stages.
“The part that they (NCV) are proposing right now is — I’ve lived in Northport and grew up in Northport — and I’ve never even been on that part of Braman. Most people don’t even know that that’s part of the Braman property… It’s an unutilized part of the Braman Hill property,” Tompkins said. “I took a hike back there and it would be such a wonderful place for a house… This is a personal note, I can’t speak for the committee, but on that note I think it’s at least worth looking at, and it doesn’t spoil Braman Hill’s view at all. I think it’s a clear win in a lot of ways as long as we could get all the other ducks in a row.”
Barb Conley, Leelanau Township supervisor, said during the meeting that they would take the idea under advisement and bring it back for discussion next month. Among the issues they would need to address moving forward is having a discussion with the Department of Natural Resources about changing the use to a different piece of property, with Conley noting how similar discussions have happened before when the previous board was looking into developing Buster Dame.
“I think the board would appreciate a little more thought into how to do this and I think the idea maybe of an ad hoc committee — maybe you could put someone from parks and someone from planning and others, maybe community members — that might have legs,” Conley said.
NCV thanks the Leelanau Enterprise and Meakalia Previch-Liu for allowing us to share this coverage with you.