Protecting the lake we love — and the rights of the families who call its shoreline home.
The North Lake Alliance is a new, independent advocacy organization for property owners on North Lake Leelanau — dedicated to property rights, property values, and the responsible use and enjoyment of our lake.
Our Mission
To provide North Lake Leelanau property owners with an independent, thoughtful voice when decisions about zoning, land use, riparian rights, use of the lake, and property values are being considered.
Protect Property Rights
Ensure that changes to zoning and land use are grounded in demonstrated need, common sense, and careful consideration of private property rights.
Monitor Planning & Zoning
Track local planning and zoning activity, keep property owners informed, and speak up when proposals could significantly affect waterfront owners.
Preserve the Lake
Support protection of water quality and the extraordinary natural resource that is North Lake Leelanau — for us and for future generations.
Champion Good Projects
Encourage public/private partnerships — such as a possible Leland River dredging project with the Township, County, and Dam Commission — that improve everyone's use and enjoyment of the lake.
A Letter to Our Neighbors
Dear Friends and Neighbors on North Lake Leelanau,
Recently, the Lake Leelanau Lake Association made a presentation to the Leland Township Planning Commission regarding model language for waterfront zoning and land-use regulations. What was presented raised significant concerns and many found it quite alarming. The enclosed information provides additional background and explains why all named below believe property owners need to become more informed and involved.
It is in our collective best interest to form a new, independent property owner advocacy organization — North Lake Alliance — dedicated to protecting property rights, property values, and our ability to responsibly use and enjoy the lake we love.
The North Lake Alliance is not intended to eliminate, compete with, or replace any existing organization. Rather, it will provide an independent voice focused specifically on the interests and concerns of North Lake property owners — particularly when decisions involving zoning, land use, riparian rights, use of the lake, and property values are being considered.
The North Lake Alliance may also champion public/private partnerships viewed as improving our use and enjoyment of the lake. Only as an example, perhaps a project in concert with the Township, County, Dam Commission and others to dredge the Leland River should be promoted.
The North Lake Alliance is envisioned as an all-volunteer organization, supported by modest annual dues of $35 per household. When necessary, additional funds will be raised to retain qualified professionals to help us understand and respond to proposals that could significantly affect waterfront property owners.
An important part of the Alliance's mission will be to monitor local planning and zoning activity, keep property owners informed, and provide a strong, thoughtful voice when changes are being considered. We want to help ensure that decisions affecting North Lake Leelanau are based on demonstrated need, common sense, and a careful consideration of private property rights.
We strongly support protecting the water quality of Lake Leelanau and preserving this extraordinary resource for future generations. Protecting the lake and protecting the reasonable rights of the people who live on it are not competing goals. Good public policy should accomplish both.
We love our lake. We want to protect it, and we also want to protect the rights of the families who call its shoreline home.
Please join us.
— The founding members of the North Lake Alliance
Why Now
On July 1, the Lake Leelanau Lake Association presented "model language" for a Waterfront Overlay District to the Leland Township Planning Commission. Whatever the stated intent, the practical effect of the model language raises serious concerns for waterfront property owners.
Stay Informed
The Alliance will track Planning Commission activity and share plain-language summaries so you don't have to attend every meeting to know what's happening.
Speak With One Voice
An independent, organized voice for North Lake property owners carries far more weight in the public process than scattered individual comments.
Bring in Expertise
When proposals warrant it, dues and additional fundraising will fund qualified professionals — legal, planning, environmental — to help us respond substantively.
Join the North Lake Alliance
Membership is open to all property owners on North Lake Leelanau. Dues fund the day-to-day work of monitoring, informing, and advocating on our behalf.
Online dues payment is coming soon. To be added to the list of founding members, or to pay dues by check today, please contact us.
Email us to join