About 50 people attended a public hearing Thursday in Warsaw by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources regarding a request by Buckingham Companies to install approximately 250 piers at the Oakwood Inn.
Alysson C. Oliger, an environmental manager with DNR, was the hearing officer and was assisted by Andrea Gromeaux-Schnaith. Oliger explained the hearing would be a public comment format, rather than question and answer. She also stressed no decision on the matter would be made at the conclusion of the hearing. After the hearing the DNR is permitted 30 days to review the comments and make a decision.
Oliger said the 30 day review would officially start after she transcribed the comments from the meeting and received additional requested information from Buckingham.
The purpose of the hearing was for members of the public to comment on a public hearing regarding Buckingham's request to install a set of temporary piers in front of Oakwood on Lake Wawasee. Four 4 foot wide wooden piers will extend 160 feet toward the shoreline, three of the piers will extend 170 feet lakeward of the shoreline and a final pier is proposed to be in a Y configuration with one arm of the Y extending 160 lakeward of the shoreline and the other extending 170 feet lakeward of the shoreline. Typical total width of the moorings will be approximately 50 feet.
Each pier will be placed approximately 45 feet from the extent of the nearest proposed pier. The piers will be supported by sockets placed in the lakebed using hand held tools.
The first person to speak was Rose Marie Reasoner. "I believe that's too many piers - I think it will be very busy especially with the channel going over to Syracuse Lake," she said.
"We are opposed to this project. We were excited about the hotel being renovated (but) we believe this (number of piers) will cause environmental issues and reduce boating. A few piers is fine, but not 250," said Linda Kristoff.
Gary Nichols said he "was curious as to the success or failure of this project based on piers." He pointed out throughout June, July and August as many as four boats are pulling kids on skis and tubes on Conklin Bay.
With the proposed plan, Nichols said he felt it would be dangerous at the south end of the bay. A no wake zone would have to be established, which would stop boating activities completely. He pointed out there is a pike weed bed where the Y pier would be installed. He also wondered if the south end of the Oakwood pier area would have to be dredged due to shallow water.
Kim Mundy said she was concerned about the number of piers and the environmental impact it would have on the bay.
George Freese clarified his emailed comments would be part of the DNR record. Oliger said they would. He suggested approving the piers in stages after annual evaluations.
Phil Gordon expressed concern about safety and the possibility the large number of piers could have a negative affect on boat-in worship. "I think safety is the biggest concern a lot of us have here tonight," he said.
Beth and Fred Clauser live directly on the point on channel one across from Oakwood. Fred Clauser told Oliger his property will be directly affected by the piers as he believes boats will have to swing through his swimming area to get to slips.
He noted on the graphic provided by Buckingham, the Oakwood swimming area is not shown. "I believe there needs to be some piers, but that looks like overkill to me," he said.
Kay Young, president of the Wawasee Property Owners Association, read a prepared statement. Young said the WPOA has a vested interest in the preservation of the ecology of Lake Wawasee and the development/modification of existing improvements on or near the lake.
She went on to say, "Although we have supported the rehabilitation of the Oakwood Hotel and expressed that support in an earlier letter to Buckingham, at the time of the letter of support was issued, the board of directors of WPOA had no information concerning the proposed establishment of what would constitute one of the largest 'group piers' on the lake."
Young presented the DNR with a survey conducted by the WPOA board. Noting it was unscientific, Young told the DNR 2,111 letters and cards were mailed to WPOA membership. There were 790 responses, 67 percent stating no, they did not support the pier project; 26 percent stating they did support the pier project and 7 percent stating they didn't care. From the no responses 90 percent had comments stating they were in favor of the hotel being renovated but would like to see less pier spaces.
Bill Hess said he was against any pier variance on any lake in the state as it sets a bad precedent. He was also against the pier application on ecological issues, safety issues and the negative impact it would have on recreational activities.
Phil Lehman, an Oakwood property owner whose cottage is in channel one, explained the proposed pier configuration puts a pier in front of his seawall. He pointed out the channel is already tight with other piers. In the past he's worked with Oakwood owners on access.
He also mentioned a large lily pad area in the channel stating he wasn't sure what the state requirements for removal are. Another concern was how shallow the channel is.
Robert Eppich said he objected to the whole pier configuration. He believes the intent for the large number of piers is obscure and wondered if funneling for purposed new homes might be involved. "It's certainly excessive to have 240 piers," he said.
Mark Knecht, president of the Oakwood property owners, stated the organization has submitted a letter to the DNR expressing its concerns. "We are welcoming change in Oakwood Park. We look forward to having vibrancy in the park," he said.
Knecht said the Oakwood Property Owners Association has three main concerns; the swimming area, which has been part of the beach for more than 100 years, doesn't seem to be notated on the map; support of the property owners in channel one and the Richard Hirschman property; and the whole Conklin Bay area used for water sports. Knecht said he believed making Conklin Bay a no wake zone would be a win/win situation for the inn, Oakwood Property Owners and Wawasee Area Conservancy Foundation.
John Lloyd, an attorney and representative of the WACF, stated its primary concerns about the number of piers are the ecological issues. He presented three large binders full of scientific data based on studies the WACF has done in cooperation with the DNR on the Conklin Bay area.
WACF feels the proposal will overburden and damage the lake if allowed to succeed. From a prepared statement, Lloyd pointed out increased boat traffic will cause erosion of the shoreline, affect the bull rushes and long piers will push boat traffic closer to protected wetland areas.
Kathy Leppert said she's seen a lot of the good the DNR has done. She encouraged them to look closely at this project. A big concern of everyone is why Buckingham wants so many piers when the community wants Oakwood to be an improvement not a detriment.
Richard Williams stated he is a fisherman and Conklin Bay is very congested from Friday night through Sunday night during the summer. The number of proposed piers will add to that congestion. He is in favor of making the bay an idle zone, noting there are only 56 usable acres in Conklin Bay to waterski.
While Williams said he's not sure there is a need for 190 piers, he does understand piers are needed to support the restaurant and hotel. He did note Oakwood receiving a liquor license makes it possible for boaters to drink too much before returning to the water.
"I'm sure the owners are careful about serving boaters, but you have three establishments that serve alcohol. People could bar hop by boat."
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