My husband and I feel very connected to an independent community of amazingly driven people in our Lac La Belle. Concerning within our wetlands ecosystem is Lac La Belle’s environment. We are not all about food-gas-Hot Spring-Like hot tubs or ski hill businesses in winter or the other great seasons.

Early spring and beyond we witness deer, predators, critters, fowl, and songbirds. How re-zoning benefits waterfowl moving across the lake, bald eagles perched above the wetlands, or wildlife around us on

Sand Point Road is the question. The very “unique, historic, cultural, and scenic land” we love is being threatened with what Resort

Commercial 2 zoning allows. Are there reasonable alternatives with unimproved commercial property – preventing wetland parcels from being re-zoned per Federal Wetlands Code 303?

Taxpayers should be concerned when large numbers of residents are excluded from public hearings — again. What number of property owners asked the hearing to be re-scheduled? Where are taxpayers’ letters not read 1/14/2025? What Findings of Facts defined within the zoning ordinance has the county pursued? For whom, what or why is

“Keweenaw Heartlands Leased property” facing a Commercial re-zoning?

The township and county have been wrong on tax capture; lacking STR monies not defined or requested, submitting a millage driven by lack of County infrastructure funding, and Millage approvals controlled by the populous & or townships. Allouez Township residents outnumber Lac La Belle by about four to one per 2020 census.

Grant Township’s goal was to attract younger employed residents. Why can’t young volunteer Fire Department employees afford to live in Lac La Belle? Property values are driven by STRs, but have young families/people benefitted with housing in Lac la Belle? What is the funding issue with county governance?

Last year I became active in attending the Zoning meetings after changes were pushed through accommodating commercial and residential STRs in Lac La Belle. Why are STRs increasing within

Rural Residential and not supporting the infrastructure? Zoning meetings can be productive when open to constructive criticism. Why Resort Service 2 zoning for BB/Mt. Bohemia’s Leased properties?

Yellowstone Tribal character Thomas Rainwater said it best – “Corporations have money to buy land then it is land no more.

Subdivisions-shopping centers, and condominiums, airports, & Ski resorts. Everything they flee they will recreate in your land.” Putting the cart ahead of the horse?

Debra A. Shelonzek

Sand Point property owner