Help stop Matty Moroun from destroying another neighborhood.

[Johnnny5]

Not in Detroit this time, but on Harsen's Island. Once again the International Bridge Company is trying to build a bridge across the North Channel of the St. Clair River. The vast majority of residents appear to be against it, but we all know how well Mr. Moroun respects the will of the people.


The DEQ is accepting public comments until the 19th of this month. They can be sent by email with the subject "Harsen's Island Bridge Project" to MDEG staff member Katie Fairchild at fairchildk@michigan.gov.

Please write and tell them what a wonderful neighbor, respected landowner and ethical businessman Mr. Moroun and his company have been here in Detroit!


http://www.claytownship.org/document...ic_Hearing.pdf

[Richard]

What happens if the ferry shuts down? Kinda hard to believe a tourist destination would limit itself to boat only transport.

http://www.freep.com/story/news/loca...erry/21431205/

Or should infrastructure in the US be only built by the Chinese or Canadians,not sure if it would justify US tax payer build.

What neighborhood is being destroyed to build it? The link shows a wetlands permit in a flood plane where there would be no houses anyways. Kinda dramatic headline.

Not intended to lump the Canadians in the same category as the Chinese. No disrespect intended.

[Scottathew]

Or should infrastructure in the US be only built by the Chinese or Canadians,not sure if it would justify US tax payer build.

Road infrastructure in the US should be built by governments, and especially not by Matty. He can't be trusted. He doesn't comply with court orders. He destroys neighborhoods. When he wants to do something good he's all talk and very little action. Hell, I think there's been more press releases about windows at MCS than windows installed.

If it were anyone else, I would think further on it. But it's Matty, and he only wants one thing, money above all else. That will be his legacy.

[Hermod]

What happens if the ferry shuts down? Kinda hard to believe a tourist destination would limit itself to boat only transport.

http://www.freep.com/story/news/loca...erry/21431205/

Te people that live on Harsen's Island year around and the summer cottagers there do not want Harsen's Island to be a "tourist destination". They do not want to become another Belle Isle. They do not need a stream of cars driving around the island.

[mikeg19]

Te people that live on Harsen's Island year around and the summer cottagers there do not want Harsen's Island to be a "tourist destination". They do not want to become another Belle Isle. They do not need a stream of cars driving around the island.

Legit concerns by the residents no doubt. But isn't it well documented that the ferry owner has told the city counsel and residents that he wants to retire and the ferry service will cease?

And although there are legit concerns presented by the residents who oppose the bridge, the justification that it going to destroy a neighborhood seems to be a stretch. According to the proposal, the bridge would run between two undeveloped plots of land. So I don't see how it's destroying that area.

[Honky Tonk]

Legit concerns by the residents no doubt. But isn't it well documented that the ferry owner has told the city counsel and residents that he wants to retire and the ferry service will cease?

This seems like a non-issue to me. This guy has a lock on the ferry business to Harsen's Island, wants to retire, and NO ONE wants to buy this business? I find that kind of hard to believe. As far as Harsen's residents go, I don't think you're going to find too many stranded captives there. People chose to move and live on that island like they do for a reason. They should have the final say whether or not they want their lifestyle altered. Oh, and check the ID of every person voting to make sure they're actually residents.

[Johnnny5]

What happens if the ferry shuts down? Kinda hard to believe a tourist destination would limit itself to boat only transport.

http://www.freep.com/story/news/loca...erry/21431205/

Or should infrastructure in the US be only built by the Chinese or Canadians,not sure if it would justify US tax payer build.

What neighborhood is being destroyed to build it? The link shows a wetlands permit in a flood plane where there would be no houses anyways. Kinda dramatic headline.

Not intended to lump the Canadians in the same category as the Chinese. No disrespect intended.

My apologies for the intentionally dramatic headline. The construction of this bridge may not physically destroy a neighborhood, but the change in access will lead to increased traffic and development destroying the character of Harsen's Island. For over 150 years the only way to reach Harsen's has been by boat. From the days when steamers docked in Detroit made the trip to Harsen's hotels, the campground for DPS students in the 50's, all the way to present day when hunters and cottage owners use the ferry and their own boats to get there. The draw of the island has always been that it's close to the city, but also disconnected. Much of that feeling will be lost if it's as simple as crossing another bridge to get there.

As for the ferry shutting down, the owner has made that threat more times that Matty Moroun has threatened to build a bridge. It's simply a ploy to increase the tolls. The owner of the ferry isn't a saint, but he's bound by state law to keep the ferry in operation or transfer or to sell the company to someone that will. The ferry system works very well, provides year round employment for area residents and doesn't block the sunset views for 100's of riverfront cottage owners!

[Johnnny5]

Another issue is that several very large tracts of land on Harsen's are owned by development companies that have been speculating on a bridge for decades. My guess is they are linked to Moroun and will quickly turn parts of the island from a quaint getaway to another wall of condos. One tract includes the former DPS camp which has sat empty and unused.

On second thought, perhaps Moroun isn't linked to the former DPS land as it's well taken care of it, and that would be out of character for him.

[Richard]

Not that it really matters but it seems like the commercial aspect is already in place with party stores,art gallery etc. So what is the actual lifestyle? A large piece of land surrounded by water.

Multi million dollar homes,Trulio shows a 30% drop in prices in the last 3 months,so is that a seasonal thing or a ferry situation is unstable,or the bridge may be built?

I have a 3/4 acre lot on an island in the gulf only excesssble by boat,you need anything plan on jumping in a boat and go a few miles to the marina,what would kill that lifestyle with be to build a store on the island,for that you might as well buy lakefront and not have to worry about boat storage etc.

I am not sure how the existing ferry situation is economical if it was it would have been sold or had buyers standing in line,it seems more like a traditional thing

This goes back to emotion driven politics instead of leval headed decisions.

[Johnnny5]

Richard, Have you been to Harsen's Island?

My opposition to the bridge is partly due to the effects that it will have on the island and partly due to who is trying to build it. The Moroun's have already proven that they can't be trusted with their bridge monopoly in Detroit, why should they be given another monopoly on the St. Clair River?

[Richard]

Nope never been there,but then again I have never been to Hell either but I am sure I have discussed it before or maybe even been encouraged to visit it a few times.

So anyways,it is clear that you do not 100% oppose a bridge being built there because partly you do not like who wants to build it.

So exactly what percentage is it? And if Jane Doe wanted to build the bridge is that okay?

I really do not care about that bridge,but it seems to share a common thread of decisions in part being made by emotions.Not whether it is right or wrong and here are the details.

Just saying the guy is a POS and therefore should not be allowed to build it,If that is the case I doubt much would have ever been built in this country.

[detroitsgwenivere]

I'm sorry, but if the residents overwhelmingly oppose a bridge to their city, I don't care if the response is an economic response or an emotional one, they don't want it. They aren't violating anyone's constitutional right to a bridge, or anything else for that matter.

I wonder which elected people are pushing this along.

[Richard]

No reason to be sorry about ones opinion.

It is true it should be put up for a vote,just like the residents were able to vote on another island in another city before actions were taken,seems like there was lots of statewide resident support in that situation.

In all fairness the residents of Delray were allowed to vote on a bridge going through thier neighborhood .

Anyways I did find this

“Any construction of a permanent and reliable vehicle crossing to connect Harsens Island to the mainland should be contingent on the approval of the people of Harsens Island, and should not be imposed without regard to the choice of those that would be served,” Stamper wrote.
“Our company would seek dialogue with the residents of Harsens Island and ultimately a vote of the people to address the actual transportation needs.”
http://buildthedricnow.com/tag/harsens-island-bridge/

Not that it would have any bearing on the subject.

[Hermod]

I wonder if the bridge is an effort by Clay Township or St Clair County to jazz up the taxable value of Harsens Island to help fill the public fisc?

[Richard]

I would guess that either the ferry is making serious bank that would justify spending millions on a bridge or future devolopment is the return.

The county would support it because it would bring extra revenue into the coffers,which is kinda thier job.Houses there seem to go from $20k for a vacant lot up to the multi- millions.

Is there a public safety involved as far as an emergency? summertime and a tornado hits and the ferry is disabled.what happens and how would emergency responders react?

Esimated 350 full time residents and more in the summer,what is the cost to the county to provide service.

There seems to be so many different layers involved and gets complicated but it seems highly unlikely that it would even be remotely feasible to put a casino there let alone the massive hurdles that would have to be dealt with.

[Johnnny5]

DEQ told Moroun to get lost!


https://www.facebook.com/pages/Clay-...50585954965336

[Richard]

They are saying that because of the existing ferry service a bridge would be redundant and by doing so they have closed the door for other options.

The ferry service value just doubled,pay the fee what ever it is,or swim.

The environmental is a non issue because there are cars on the island,so which one is worse.

[Johnnny5]

They are saying that because of the existing ferry service a bridge would be redundant and by doing so they have closed the door for other options.

The ferry service value just doubled,pay the fee what ever it is,or swim.

The environmental is a non issue because there are cars on the island,so which one is worse.

I know you're not familiar with the island, but in the past there were multiple ferry services, and there's nothing stopping a competing service from returning service to the island [[Nothing except the lack of potential customers). Also, the environmental issue wasn't related to vehicle traffic, but to the added infrastructure both in the river and on land that the bridge would require.

Those that live on and use the island were abundantly clear in their opposition to the bridge. We're mostly happy with the level of service from the ferry and the downsides of a bridge outweigh the added convenience that it would provide. My only concern now is what Moroun is going to do with the huge amount of land he's been hoarding. Maybe he'll continue to sit on it and revive the bridge idea a few years down the road, but he could have other plans for it even without a bridge.

[Gistok]

Grosse Isle has 2 bridges going to that island... and I don't exactly see any eco-disaster or overtaxing of that island's infrastructure....

We're talking about an island that is more like Hooterville rather than Mackinac Island. I think this fuss about a bridge to it will not upset any balance or lifestyle... except in the NIMBY minds of some residents... who have some nutty preconceived notion about how things will get spoiled if all them "not like us" people get to drive on it.

Sometimes people have a tendency towards paranoia....

[p69rrh51]

Grosse Isle has 2 bridges going to that island... and I don't exactly see any eco-disaster or overtaxing of that island's infrastructure....

We're talking about an island that is more like Hooterville rather than Mackinac Island. I think this fuss about a bridge to it will not upset any balance or lifestyle... except in the NIMBY minds of some residents... who have some nutty preconceived notion about how things will get spoiled if all them "not like us" people get to drive on it.

Sometimes people have a tendency towards paranoia....

On the lighter side, there is one sailboat race that has been contested every year since 1940 that will have be discontinued due to the height of the bridge.