WES Fiasco

[shinblind]

Face it.

The West End Scheme is a poor design.

It is too cluttered and busy for the intended area. It fails as a transitional area between between the dune and the launch site. It fails as an area that has any recreational value beyond what is already there. It fails as an improvement to a scenic area. It fails as an attraction that will draw people in or give them a new reason  to visit Ludington. 

Why do we need this fancy of an area that will be closed off  9 of the 15 weekends in the summer with a beer tent? Why waste money on dressing up this area? Why waste money on the additional maintenance this area will require?  This will be another James Street Plaza. A waste of funds for the locals that is supposed to impress the tourists but otherwise is unwanted, unused and underutilized.

The way that this is designed will cause traffic congestion and accidents  for both vehicles and pedestrians.  No left turn lane heading North on Lake Shore Drive? A sidewalk in front of the launch ramp? Who designed this crap? Someone who has never been here any length of time in the summer. Have they ever tried  backing a boat down the Loomis ramp with the added obstacle of kids running along this sidewalk? Have they tried making a left on Lakeshore trailering a boat without a left hand turn lane?

What about parking? There is going to be a net loss of 60 + spaces for the WES. Tack on an additional 45 spaces for boats and trailers that will be lost with the redesigned Loomis Street Launch site. And don't forget 10 spaces lost by the North Pier. This is supposed to be addressed with 20 new spaces at Loomis. Good luck with that math.

And what about the conflict caused by kayakers not having to pay a fee to park and launch while boaters do? How will boaters feel about subsidizing the kayakers?

This whole West End Scheme is nothing but a Fiasco in the making.

It is money poorly spent by a City and State that does not have the luxury  to waste funds.

The backers of the WES have no answers.

[Willy]

Very good points and questions shinblind. Unfortunately these types of concerns do not find their way into the mushed heads on the Council. Common sense would dictate that some of the questions you raise would be addressed by the Council. This again shows how incredibly ignorant they are or they just might be the dumbest Council to sit in the Chamber. One of the main reasons they will not be installing the walkway between the parking area and breakwater is the fact that this one change alone would be a complete shock to those who are familiar with and use the dunes. Looking at the master plan drawings the top of the dunes would have to be flattened to create a level walkway to accommodate handicap individuals then the walkway would need to be protected from erosion by a barrier which most likely would be constructed of large boulders. Over time the entire beach would be washed away when water levels rise as they always do. I can't stress enough how destructive these transplant elites are to Ludington's natural areas and history.  But unless there are more citizens willing to stand up then this will be a done deal.

[AQUAMAN]

I think the comparison to James St. Plaza is a prime example of just how useless and silly this entire plan is to begin with. But, even though JSP is well known by ALL the Locals to be worthless, Holman and others who passed this still defend it to the hilt and to their old age. That $50,000 gazebo the kids vandalized, is still now sitting rotting away at Cartier Park up by North Rath Ave.. It's hideous and a waste of more money we already paid for years ago, and these clounsil people just keep adding insult to injury.

[Brad]

Definitely many FAILS!

Yes the WES can be closed 9 of 15 summer weekends for tents, but also impracticable for locals and visitors alike the other 30 some weeks when it's cooler, colder, rainy, snowy.  So no one will use that useless WES space most of the year.

The design is a conglomeration of odd ideas that are expensive and detrimental to the view and sensible use of the area as it is.

The parking is a huge issue for most everyone that uses the WE as it is and for the surrounding residents.  60 vehicles will now be parking further from beach and breakwall and mini-golf (if it really gets redone).  Or, and more likely, they'll be parking on side streets off Lakeshore Dr, by local residents homes, to be closer to the beach. Not only will the 60 parking spots be missed by everyone, but the RV parking to the north that will be removed too.  Not many will be able to park in the marina area when it's full of truck and trailers and RVs that now won't have a place to park.  Also the marina area will not be easily maneuvered with what looks to be a much tighter area with the WES, not easy for elderly drivers who use the WE now or most anyone else.

Someone should let the boaters and fishing organizations know how their parking and launching area will be taken over by beachgoers, RVers, mini-golfers, and by free-parking canoers and kayakers.

Such a...FIASCO!

[Willy]

Good points Aquaman and Brad

[shinblind]

Brad

The RV's get to park on the East side of Stearns Outer Drive across from the break wall.

There will be no parking from the Southern most Concession Stand  until you get approximately opposite the skate park. Then there will be 8 diagonal parking places on the West Side of the Road.

The 10 parking spaces by the break wall are to be eliminated. 

Handicap pier travelers don't matter. They get to park further away. Looks like Jamie  gets to wheel her chair a little further.

[Willy]

The handicap parking makes no sense. The best place for handicap parking is being removed.

[stump]

Isn't the south parking lot that the fishermen use now for daily boat trailer parking a pay to use lot?

[Brad]

Can someone post link for a PDF file for the project plans?  Ironically I'm not able to find it on city site.  I've seen pics, but nothing that I can read wording and dimensions.

[XLFD]

Stand by, Brad; I did get the application which has the proposed project (which greatly mutated between the two public hearings and the submission to the state) and will present it in the near future with some analysis.  Sorry I haven't done so sooner, just keep reminding me.  They won't post their grant application on their website because of the willful fraud they perpetrated.  Keep reminding me, I'll try to get it out shortly.

[Brad]

Thanks X!  Will do.

...Think our city officials learned their information clarity from Obama and Hillary. (the previous statement is my personal opinion and not meant to offend anyone)  (the previous statement is me trying to be politically correct for all the PC wusses)