Residents of Glen Arbor Township have voted to uphold the recent rezoning of the Brammer property –which abuts the historic grist mill property on Crystal River – from Residential 2 to Recreational. The referendum ballot issue drew 571 votes, with 342 ballots cast in favor of the rezoning and 229 opposed.

Turner Booth, who serves as steward for the mill and who has been spearheading an effort to restore and redevelop the mill for use as a museum and community gathering space, had previously indicated that the zoning on the two parcels needed to match as Recreational for his full vision to be possible. The Glen Arbor Township Board of Commissioners voted in February to approve Booth’s rezoning request, but a petition from a local organization called Love Old Glen Arbor (LOGA) forced a public referendum vote on the matter. LOGA opposed the zoning for multiple reasons, including fears that it would bring an overly commercial atmosphere into a residential part of Glen Arbor.

“While of course we are disappointed we did not win, we are very pleased to have received over 40 percent of the vote,” LOGA said in a statement after the unofficial election results were posted online Tuesday evening. 

 “This level of support shows us all that a significant percentage of the Glen Arbor Township voters recognize the concerns – with township government in general, and with zoning issues in particular.”

Photo courtesy Turner Booth