Archive — 2017 Bear Creek Township Gravel Pit Proposal — Application Withdrawn 09/14/2017
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Petoskey Gravel Pit

Public Record · Emmet County, MI
Background & Reference

Frequently Asked Questions

Elmer's Petoskey / Traverse City

This website is devoted to gravel pits and Elmer's in Petoskey and Traverse City Michigan.

Elmer's Applies for Petoskey Gravel Pit

Elmer's Crane and Dozer is seeking to create a Petoskey Gravel Pit in Emmet County, Case PSUP17-014. Elmer's Crane and Dozer is based out of Traverse City, Michigan. Steve Crane from Elmer's has applied for a Special Use Permit Level III Resource extraction operation, 4281 Pickerel Lake Rd, Section 26, Bear Creek Township. The site has single family residential and farm/forest zoning. This gravel pit is in Petoskey, Michigan.

Site location map

Does this affect me?

If you live on or near the following roads you will be impacted by this gravel pit:

  • Pickerel Lake Road
  • Kolinski
  • Fletcher
  • Country Club
  • Mitchell
  • Alcan
  • Bellmer
  • Graham

What is the economic impact for me?

The Petoskey gravel pit as proposed by Elmer's out of Traverse City, will have a significant impact on many residences in 2006 an Economic Impact Study was performed on Richland Township, Michigan by Upjohn Institute. The study concluded that a gravel pit has significant impact on property value. Please review the Upjohn study located under resources.

Distance From Gravel Pit Property Percent Reduction
0 – 0.5 Mile20 – 35%
0.5 Mile20%
1 Mile14.5%
2 Mile8.9%
3 Mile4.9%
Property values graph

The well known study above documents impact within 3 miles. Look at the picture below and see if this may affect your property value.

Three mile radius map

Why should we trust the Upjohn study and/or why is it so significant?

We suggest you read the following resources: US Senator uses Upjohn study for Campbell County. This is correspondence between United States Senator Jim Webb and David Lazarski of Campbell County.

  • As part of the application process Campbell County submitted an economic impact study and agreed with the analysis that Campbell County will give over $50 million.
  • Precedence has been set with the Economic Impact Study.
  • The W.E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research is an internationally recognized independent, non-profit economic research organization established in 1945 for the sole purpose of conducting research into the causes and effects of unemployment and measures for the alleviation of unemployment.
  • For the past 35 years the W.E. Upjohn Institute has maintained a strong research focus on west Michigan.
  • George Erickcek was the lead researcher for this study. He received his Master of Economics at the University of Pittsburgh and has been with the Institute since 1987.
  • George has prepared numerous economic impact, benchmarking, and forecasting studies for the west Michigan region and has conducted research on the national and international level.
  • Professor Daria Vlita is accredited to written books for her research in property value impact analysis.
  • We would like to site the economic impact study for this project that we can better determine the Public Costs vs Public Benefit.

The Michigan Zoning Enabling Act 125.3205 applies to extraction.

  • Elmer's has proposed crushing and grinding.
  • Elmer's has proposed processing other materials.
  • Elmer's has said they plan to bring in foreign materials such as concrete and asphalt.
  • Elmer's has said they plan to bury materials at this location. If is unknown what types of material they may include.

I thought the township voted this down.

  • Bear Creek Township voted this special use permit down, contrary the means nothing.
  • ref: Bear Creek Planning votes against mining on Pickerel Lake Road
  • Emmet County decides over Bear Creek Township. The next decision will be made by the Emmet County Planning Commission, the Emmet County Planning Commission meets next for this Thursday of each month at 5:00PM at the Emmet County building.

Who makes this decision?

  • John Stij, Chairperson
  • Thomas Shaver, Vice Chair
  • Jamie Sceibe, Secretary
  • Tom Stroh
  • David Loughborn
  • Sally Alexander
  • Steve Heck
  • Jonathan Scheel
  • Wally White

What are the environmental impacts from gravel pits?

  • Potential impairment of water quality on the site, including berm to the aquifer.
  • The water quality of residential wells (relying on shallow draw to the aquifer) located within 3 miles can be affected. This is generally an issue with all area residents (the property has three residences).
  • Potential berm to an off-site off the wetlands (the property has three wetlands):
    • Classification: PUSXX Wetland Type: Riverine
    • Classification: PFOIC Wetland Type: Freshwater Forested/Shrub Wetland
    • Classification: POWZ Wetland Type: Freshwater Forested/Shrub Wetland
  • Loss of habitat for local birds and wildlife population.

What is the impact on public safety?

  • Pickerel Lake has had a fatality right in front of the proposed gravel pit location in the past few years.
  • Accidents and death involving gravel trucks.
  • Gravel truck spills of screen and gravel on roads.
  • Suck affecting health. There is irrefutable medical evidence confirming the health hazards of crystalline silica and the dust is not unrelated to a possible link to mesothelioma. This is a very windy area and the small particles will travel a great distance.
  • Speeding trucks through residential areas.

What is the impact on water?

  • Extraction of sand & gravel below the established water table = water reduction & pollution.
  • Reduction in or loss of fresh quantity of water.
  • Well water flow inhibited causing well output issues.
  • Production of groundwater - aquifer quantity and quality.

What are the hours of operation?

  • Elmer's has proposed Monday thru Friday 7:00 AM – 7:00 PM. Saturday 7:00 AM – 5:00 PM. The gravel pit will run 6 days a week.

What are the expected truck volumes?

  • Elmer's has said one truck per application could be 100 trips per day.
  • The model: 50 trucks loading & 50 trucks going out for a total of 100 trucks passing over a residential road per day.

Absence of Economic Justification

  • Elmer's is currently using gravel from other local gravel pits.
  • We would like to use a Michigan and objective analysis of the real economic impact, including the decrease in the revenue from of in the homes impacted by the reduction in house value. The cost in maintaining the roads from these large extra heavy trucks could be the reason for the consideration.
  • We would like to see the same Economic Impact studies as were completed for Richland Township, and Campbell County.

What are The Proposed Routes

All Routes

All routes map

South/West Traffic Map

Outgoing Traffic Map - South/West Pickerel Lake Road east to Fletcher Road south to Country Club Road West to Alcan Drive south to Mitchell Street.

South West route map South West real route

North Traffic Map

Outgoing Traffic Map - Pickerel Lake Road East to Bellmer Road, North to Graham Road, west to US31.

North route map North real route

Emmet County Vision Statement

Emmet County is a place where natural beauty and prosperity flourishes in a desirable and sustainable community. The County appeals to both year round and seasonal visitors, maintaining its reputation as a hospitable, safe and welcoming haven and tourist destination. Emmet County land development is planned to be complemented and enhance the natural beauty and landscape for which it is famous. Parks and open spaces abound, and wildlife populations are stable and healthy. Emmet County offers outstanding educational opportunities to all its citizens. Industries are sustainable and innovative. Citizens are actively engaged in supporting agriculture, forestry, fishing, and other outdoor recreation. The abundance of clean air and clean water adds to the beautiful scenery, presenting a sense of pride and well being.

Does this project fit into the Emmet County Vision?

Will I hear the noise?

Gravel trucks create more pollution from the air machinery, crushers, and truck transit. Listen below to the activity noise that is amplified on most gravel routes.