Douglas public meetings in 2025

Zoning Board of Appeals

The Zoning Board of Appeals will hold a public hearing to decide on a variance request for 312 Ferry St. The board will also elect its officers for the term.

• Public hearing for 312 Ferry St to reduce required trees from 15 to 7 along Ferry Street and from 17 to 8 along Blue Star Highway
• Election of Chair, Vice-Chair, and Secretary
• Approval of June 24, 2025, meeting minutes

The Zoning Board of Appeals held a public hearing on 312 Ferry St and voted to approve a variance that reduces the required street trees from 15 to 8 along Ferry Street and from 17 to 8 along Blue Star Highway, meeting the criteria of Section 29.05. The motion passed by unanimous roll‑call vote. No other business was approved.

• Approved variance reducing required trees at 312 Ferry St (unanimous roll‑call)
• Approved officers for the next year – Chair Bill Schumacher, Vice‑Chair Ken Kutzel, Secretary Tarue Pullen (unanimous)
• Approved June 24, 2025 minutes (unanimous)
• Adjourned meeting (unanimous)

Zoning Board of Appeals

The Zoning Board of Appeals will hold a public hearing to decide on a variance request for 149 S Main St. The applicant seeks to reduce the required front setback from 20 feet to 19 feet 11 inches to allow for the construction of a covered porch.

• Public hearing and decision for 149 S Main St regarding a front setback reduction to 19 feet 11 inches
• Approval of October 22, 2024, meeting minutes

The Zoning Board of Appeals unanimously approved the October 22, 2024 meeting minutes. A public hearing was held on a variance request to reduce the required front setback from 20 feet to 19 feet 11 inches for a covered porch at 149 S Main St, located in the R‑3 Neighborhood Conservation District on parcel P.P 59‑150‑065‑00. A motion to approve the variance was made, but the minutes do not record the vote outcome. The meeting was then adjourned.

• Approved October 22, 2024 minutes (unanimous roll call)
• Variance request to reduce front setback at 149 S Main St – outcome not recorded
• Meeting adjourned – outcome not recorded

Tri-Community Wildlife Committee

The Tri-Community Wildlife Committee will meet to discuss next steps and vote on forwarding updated deer management documents to the City of Douglas, City of Saugatuck, and Saugatuck Township Board for review and potential adoption.

• Motion to forward Tri-Community Deer Management Subcommittee documents to local governing bodies
• Discussion of next steps for upcoming meetings

Tri-Community Wildlife Committee

The Tri-Community Wildlife Committee will vote on forwarding three draft documents to the City of Douglas, City of Saugatuck, and Saugatuck Township for review and potential adoption: rules for HOA/private property archery hunts, a qualified hunter application for private property, and a qualified hunter application for public land. The committee will also approve the April 2, 2025 meeting minutes and receive public comment.

• Forward recommended 'Homeowner’s Association/Private Property Owner Rules and Guidelines for Regulated Archery Hunts' to three local governing bodies for review and potential adoption.
• Forward recommended 'Deer Population Management Program Qualified Hunter Application' for HOA/private property owners to the three bodies.
• Forward recommended 'Deer Population Management Program Qualified Hunter Application' for public land to the three bodies.
• Approve meeting minutes from April 2, 2025.
• Public communication period limited to 3 minutes.

Tri-Community Wildlife Committee

The Tri-Community Wildlife Committee met to discuss wildlife population balance. The body approved the Saugatuck Township Fire District's use of a drone to track deer populations based on MDNR recommendations. Members also reviewed recent deer survey results.

• Approval for Saugatuck Township Fire District to use a drone to track and assess deer populations
• Review of deer survey results conducted from December 2024 through January 2025
• Discussion of responses from Don Poppe, MDNR Wildlife Biologist

Tri-Community Wildlife Committee

The Tri-Community Wildlife Committee will hear a presentation on drone survey guidance for studying deer populations, then vote on allowing the Saugatuck Township Fire District to use a drone for tracking. Members will also review results from the December 2024–January 2025 deer survey and discuss responses from MDNR Wildlife Biologist Don Poppe.

• Approval of using a drone by Saugatuck Township Fire District to track and assess deer populations
• Presentation on drone survey guidance by Fire Chief Greg Janik
• Review of deer survey results from December 2024 through January 2025 (301 responses from Douglas, 182 from Saugatuck Township)
• Discussion of answers from MDNR Wildlife Biologist Don Poppe on committee questions
• Receive and file a commercial record (printed letter to the editor)