Conservation Development and the Land Gift Proposal
From the Board of Directors on October 30, 2026
As communicated previously to the public, NCV has presented concepts for an attainable housing development on its 25-acre parcel off Camp Haven Road and M22 with the possibility of up to 20 attainable homes on the entire site, including a portion of open space for passive recreation.
While continuing to move ahead with this housing approach, NCV has also recently shared a concept to donate a portion of these 25 acres to Leelanau Township.
This land donation would mean that the Township would be able to re-designate current ‘under-utilized’ parkland for housing and at the same time also gain ‘new’ parkland off Camp Haven Road – valuable open space that is adjacent to the 188-acre nature preserve that was created through the acquisition of the former Timber Shores property.
For concept consideration, NCV has identified a site in the south-eastern corner of Braman Hill’s 67 acres where the Township could potentially build attainable homes. This area is attractive for housing as it has immediate access to trails, park amenities and abuts the border with Northport Village. This location is private in that it is screened from the lower park area’s courts and other recreation use areas by landscape contours and existing evergreens. Other areas within the Township could also be considered.
NCV offers this idea for consideration by the Township because we think it builds upon what we all achieved by acquiring and preserving the former Timber Shores property; it also enhances our goal to help provide high quality, attainable housing that is highly desirable to meet the needs of our community; and importantly, is a concept that we think is a win/win for the entire township.
Our goal has always been to see a vast majority of the former Timber Shores property preserved as open space– while smartly developing a select site to help our Township meet the need for attainable housing. This vision is what really drove overwhelming community support for our efforts.
We continue to move ahead with planning for housing on the 25 acres that conforms with our conservation development approach and the responses from neighbors, potential residents, employers, local government, and donors that was conducted in 2025. At the same time, this compelling new idea for a land donation has emerged that we have now shared with the Township for feedback. It’s a concept that we believe would benefit the entire community.
FAQs
What is the land donation all about and how could it work?
The Township would identify approximately 6-10 acres of parkland to become available for attainable housing. NCV would gift a portion of its 25 acres on Camp Haven to the Township and the park designation from the Township could be transferred to that parcel.
With this concept, the Township is not trading or giving away any park land at all – it is actually acquiring more park land for free from NCV. It’s an “exchange” or a “lift and shift” of park land designation that allows the Township to re-imagine a section of existing park it owns for an area ideal for housing.
What Township parkland could be exchanged?
NCV has identified a section of the southern end of the 67-acre Braman Hill property that could be ideal for housing as it is close to the village and park facilities and has an existing road. In exchange for adapting a small parcel of Braman for housing, NCV would gift outright to the township open space acreage contiguous to the current 188-acre nature preserve off M-22. The Township may also want to look at other potential parkland for such an exchange.
What are the advantages to the Township of this land exchange?
Some of the advantages of the land exchange are:
The Township receives equitable or more parkland property at no cost;
The Township gains open space contiguous to a M22 nature preserve which helps buffer and protect that valued landscape;
The Township retains ownership of its parkland and can build a modest number of quality attainable homes located in the Township but nearer to the Village. This location could be even more attractive for families because it is closer to town and the school, near park amenities, with the possibility of access to community water.
The Township would gain an attainable housing community that is aspirational for families to live and feel connected to our community.
Is there already open space envisioned for the attainable housing on the 25 acres owned by NCV off Camp Haven?
Yes, a significant portion of the land adjacent to Mashkiigaki (the former Timber Shores) – some 7 to 10 acres depending on the number of homes built- is proposed to be set aside as open space for passive recreation next to the nature preserve. This common area on the 25 acres would be accessible through the housing development and would be primarily for the housing development residents. It is possible that open space acreage amounts could be adjusted.
If the land donation proposal goes ahead the Township would own this ‘open space’ acreage.
Has NCV changed its mind about developing attainable housing on the 25 acres it owns off Camp Haven?
Our attention to the possibility of a land donation came about when we realised that it could result in achieving a larger, contiguous open space area for the community out by the nature preserve and a highly desirable affordable housing development that is located within Leelanau Township but closer to Northport and current amenities.
We are pointing out an opportunity to do even more for the community. And importantly, this proposal will not take parkland away from the township. Any area the township would designate for housing would remain township property for them or a developer they designate.
Hasn’t NCV done a lot of work already on attainable housing development on its 25 acres?
Yes. NCV has done preliminary work on this 25-acre property, including conceptual planning that was shared with the township board in the spring of 2026 and at the April special meeting on housing. Our goal has always been to see a vast majority of the former Timber Shores property preserved as open space – while smartly developing a select site to help our township meet the need for attainable housing. This vision is what really drove overwhelming community support for our efforts. It’s our intention to maintain as much as we can of NCV’s 25 acres as open space in support of our hybrid conservation-development approach.
Is this land donation idea about access to the public sewer system?
No. Both the NCV 25 acres and Braman sites are outside the sewer district. Septic fields would be the likely solution for both. On the 25-acre site, NCV has reviewed available civil engineering research and also dug initial test pits and reviewed with the County Environmental Health Department and has identified optimal locations for drainfields on the site.
Would the shooting range on Braman Hill be impacted?
No. NCV proposes an earthen berm, fencing and/or vegetation to better insulate the shooting range. The township leases the shooting range so any decisions lie with the Township.
How will this relate to other housing projects proposed and underway?
In the context of the widespread critical need for attainable housing, we are fortunate to have multiple efforts underway in our community as the need requires a mix of eventual housing in terms of size, target income range and rental and ownership. NCV will continue to align and collaborate with the township and village towards the right mix of projects for the community.
What are the next steps?
If the Twp. feels this land exchange concept has potential, NCV is open to adapting our process and investing our effort to further explore the possibilities and work collaboratively on relevant next steps. The speed of all of this would depend on the township and any needed clearances from federal and state entities.
While NCV continues to move ahead with our planning for housing on the 25 acres, a compelling idea for a land exchange emerged that we felt we should share with the Township and listen to feedback. There is flexibility with this concept and further discussion is welcome.
Contact: info@newcommunityvision.org
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