CHARLEVOIX COUNTY, Mich,. (WPBN/WGTU) – – Plans to expand Boyne Mountain Resort have sparked controversy in Charlevoix County, with new glamping-style cabins approved near a hydroelectric dam in Boyne Valley Township.
The conservation group Friends of the Boyne River has raised concerns about the environmental impact of the dam’s operation, which they say restricts public access to parts of the river.
Brian Kozminski, from Friends of the Boyne River, emphasized the need to advocate for the river, stating, “My main concern as an angler and activist and conservationist: This river doesn’t have a voice. That fish that’s right there doesn’t have a voice and we need to be advocates for the resource.”
Boyne USA, Inc., the operator of Boyne Mountain Resort licensed a hydro-electric dam near a 68-acre reservoir on the Boyne River from 1982 to 2022.
They are now requesting a 30-year extension of its hydroelectric dam license from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC).
Kozminski said, “Rivers are kind of like blood in our bodies. Dams act as a blood clot and they slowdown that progress, causing stagnation and eventually all they do is back up sediment and cause issues with the rest of the river.”
In May 2023, Boyne Valley Township approved plans to expand the resort, including small cabins, a historical presentation area, and a high-end spa.
“It’d be great to have a resort with a spa, but having a moving river can be just as impactful and even more attractive for renting out those spaces,” Kozminski said.
The township also rezoned 18 parcels near the river for resort mixed use, allowing for hotels, restaurants, and shops.
Lynn Sparks, Boyne Valley Township Supervisor sent UpNorthLive the following statement:
Boyne Valley Township has followed its zoning ordinance and established review procedures throughout the review of Boyne Mountain’s development of their Addis Road property. All actions taken by the Township were made in accordance with the zoning ordinance and within the authority granted to the Township under state and local law.
In any zoning approval, the applicant is made aware that zoning approval is generally the first step in the overall process and that approval from other agencies, including the county and state, will likely be required. Zoning approval is the sole focus of the Township, and zoning approval itself is not a guarantee that a project will be constructed.
While there has been public concern regarding the waterway associated with this project, the Township does not have the legal authority to mandate the installation, placement, or design of a waterway. Regulation of waterways falls outside the Township’s jurisdiction and is governed by other applicable agencies and regulatory bodies.
The Township understands the concerns raised by residents and remains committed to transparency, consistency, and adherence to the law. The Township will continue to apply its ordinances fairly and within the limits of its legal authority.
Kozminski argued, “You can’t take a public resource such as a river and privatize it for monetary benefit.”
In April 2024, township officials approved six glamping-style cabin units along Addis Road and nine more units on 600 Dam Road.
While Friends of the Boyne River has no issues with cabins being built on that land, which is owned by Boyne Mountain, they stress the importance of public access to the reservoir.
Kozminski said, “The river belongs to all of us as citizens of the state of Michigan. We’re passionate about the river. It’s the reason why many of us live up here. We came to the Boyne region so we could enjoy the natural beauty that we have, whether we kayak or paddle or fish or just go out and hike the trails and bird watch.”
The regulatory commission has required public access to the area in the past, but legal documents show Boyne Mountain has been found non-compliant with recreational access requirements before.
Rep. Jack Bergman has asked FERC to remove the public access requirement by the dam, citing safety, liability, and environmental concerns.
Boyne Mountain declined an interview but provided a statement from Boyne Mountain CEO Stephen Kircher, a Walloon Lake resident and son of Boyne Resorts founder Everett Kircher:
Our family’s connection to this land began more than 70 years ago, when my father, Everett Kircher, built our family home along the Boyne River where I grew up. He chose that spot specifically to be, as he put it, “near enough to see the fish jump.” It remained his favorite place until the end of his life and he’s buried there. Like many families fortunate enough to care for important properties like this, we are thoughtfully exploring how to preserve this special place- in both sustainable and regenerative ways- for future generations while sharing its beauty with others who will appreciate it as our family has. While we’ve been thoroughly considering many possible pathways and have actually built small cabins that have been for family and friends use so far, any and all future plans we finally land on and pursue will go through appropriate review and we’ll share details with our community in Northern Michigan, where I have been a lifelong resident, when they’re sufficiently developed to discuss responsibly. The land stewardship that has guided generations of our family and our company will continue to guide whatever comes next.
Federal regulators are processing the re-licensing request, and updates will follow.
“Some wars were fought for whiskey. We will fight wars for water. We need to keep these places to keep the next generation interested in going outdoors and enjoying what we have,” Kozminski said
Author: wwmt.com
published 2026-01-13 23:55:38
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