[Southsider2k12]

http://thenewsdispatch.com/articles/2010/0...9f783160117.txt

Effort aims to make area nature preserve

Shawn Kaczmarek stands at a trail overlooking Moon Valley. Photo by Bob Wellinski
By Alicia Ebaugh
Staff Writer
Published: Wednesday, August 18, 2010 5:11 PM CDT
LONG BEACH — Shawn Kaczmarek pauses on a sand dune south of Lake Shore Drive, pointing to the valley behind it that stretches out toward U.S. 12.

“This used to all be sand dunes, bigger than the one we’re standing on,” said Kaczmarek, a Long Beach resident who heads up the group Save Moon Valley. “We want to do whatever we can to save what is left.”

Save Moon Valley, which has gathered nearly 100 interested residents since its inception in April, is dedicated to turn a 200-acre area of undeveloped dunes south of Lake Michigan dubbed Moon Valley into a nature preserve. Kaczmarek said the goal is to use the “greenspace” created to attract high technology businesses to the area, eventually connecting it to other greenspaces such as International Friendship Gardens and the planned Trail Creek corridor in Michigan City.

Moon Valley is one of the most biologically diverse places in the country, said Kaczmarek, a software engineer whose family has owned his home in the 1500 block of Lake Shore Drive for 40 years. The group’s biggest fear, he said, is for high rises, hotels or more homes to be built on the land, most of which is privately owned.

“It’s too gorgeous to ruin any further,” he said. “We want it to remain a virgin habitat for animals and leverage it to make significant money. Cultivating the resource would increase the beauty of the area and make people want to live there. The land near it would go up in value. High tech industry would want to locate here because of the surroundings — if there’s a greenspace corridor near them, they can jump on (a bike path) in the city and get out of town.

“If there is a greenspace mission that is significant and doable and would generate a lot of money, it would be like going to the moon.”

How much money it may take to buy the land — and make it useful — are issues they are still being discussed. About a fourth of Moon Valley is owned by Tom Moss, developer of Beachwalk on Lake Shore Drive. Moss is asking about $3.8 million for his 57 undeveloped acres, not counting other lands owned by area industries.

“We want to make it a win-win for everyone involved, and that takes creativity when money is scarce,” Kaczmarek said. “Now is the cheapest this land will ever get.”

Moss said he would have no objection to his portion of Moon Valley becoming a nature preserve, as long as he could sell the property to a non-profit like Save the Dunes.

Save Moon Valley has come up with several options to raise enough money to buy the land, including working with Save the Dunes on fundraising and grants. The most unique idea is to create a “greenspace bond lottery,” which Kaczmarek said would work like most state lotteries, but with a twist. The state would purchase the land and use income from designated lottery tickets purchased at gas stations and grocery stores to pay it off, as well as pay for lottery prizes. The idea could be implemented statewide to save and develop greenspace, he said. To that end, Kaczmarek said the group is working with politicians like State Rep. Scott Pelath to sponsor legislation.

“We know a plan is needed,” he said. “If you don’t have a lot of money in hand, no one is going to listen. If you don’t have an economic development angle, no one will do anything.”

Parts of Moon Valley are already public nature preserves, including Long Beach park land and Stockwell Woods. More than half of Moon Valley was turned into a valley when the dunes were mined for sand, but the land has once again become dense with trees and grasses. The area is bordered on the north by Lake Shore Drive, south by U.S. 12, Karwick Road to the east and Beachwalk Lane to the west.

Join Save Moon Valley’s efforts

Save Moon Valley’s next public meeting is at 10 a.m. Saturday at the Long Beach Community Center, 2501 Oriole Trail. To join the group’s e-mail list, send an e-mail to savemoonvalley@comcast.net and put “SIGN ME UP” in the subject line.

[Southsider2k12]

http://thenewsdispatch.com/articles/2010/0...e3446458025.txt

Moon Valley

Effort made to set aside land
Published: Thursday, August 19, 2010 5:11 PM CDT
Editorial

The Issue:

A nature preserve could enhance the value of nearby property.

Our Opinion:

Saving Moon Valley is an intriguing idea worth exploring.

It’s interesting that a former sand dune area that was mined of its sand now can be looked at as a nature preserve. But years after the sand mining stopped, Moon Valley has reverted to nature, with vegetation growing up and turning some 200 acres of leveled land into a wooded area that some people are hoping to set aside.

The Save Moon Valley group is looking at creative ways to finance the acquisition and preservation of the land, including getting a new state law that would create a “greenspace” lottery, with funds from this state lottery used to save land from development.

Moon Valley is a tract of land between Long Beach and U.S. 12, extending from Karwick Road to the east edge of the Beachwalk housing development. It’s “behind” the beaches, sand dunes and homes that line Lake Michigan in the Sheridan Beach and Long Beach areas, near but not close enough to the water to be considered lakefront property.

Shawn Kaczmarek of Long Beach said setting aside the area as a habitat for animals would increase the value of land nearby, and that might interest high tech industries that are inclined to want to be located near natural settings. For one thing, employees of those industries would like a place with bike trails that lead from home to work, he explained.

It will taken millions of dollars to purchase and set aside Moon Valley. Tom Moss, owner of Beachwalk, has offered 57 acres of the tract for $3.8 million. But today’s slow economy may make this the most affordable time to acquire the tract.

The idea of preserving Moon Valley is an intriguing one that is worth pursuing.

q

The Save Moon Valley group will have a public meeting at 10 a.m. Saturday at the Long Beach Community Center. You can e-mail the group at savemoonvalley@comcast.net

[Ang]

Didn't Greg Tuel post some pics of that place somewhere on here?

[Southsider2k12]

Didn't Greg Tuel post some pics of that place somewhere on here?

Yes, I believe it might have been in the things to do thread. Yes, once again CBTL ahead of its time!

[Southsider2k12]

Moon Valley is on the agenda for tonight.

From the Shirley Heinze Land Trust on Facebook

MARCH 15 - MC City Council will vote on a resolution that would provide $200,000 in grant match to aid in the acquisition of a 57-acre Moon Valley parcel (adjacent to Beachwalk), which would be made accessible for public passive recreation. It would be wonderful if residents of MC & the surrounding areas could show up in support of the resolution. Without the City's match, the grant will likely NOT move forward.

http://www.emichigancity.com/cityhall/coun...genda031511.pdf

[Southsider2k12]

http://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/laporte...d479c7af38.html

City urged to purchase 57 acres of duneland

* Story
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City urged to purchase 57 acres of duneland

By Stan Maddux Times Correspondent nwitimes.com | Posted: Thursday, March 17, 2011 11:20 pm | (4) Comments

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There's a push for Michigan City to spend $200,000 to help acquire a 57-acre stretch of land close to the lakefront.

The vision among supporters is to convert the "remnant dune" property a half-mile south of Lake Michigan into a state-owned nature preserve, Save the Dunes Council Executive Director Nicole Kamins said.

"It's just fabulous in terms of ecological biodiversity," Kamins said.

Kamins said the land north of U.S. 12 west of Karwick Road would be acquired with the $200,000 requested from the city along with an equal amount from a federal grant that would be sought in the fall.

Private donations also are being solicited to help in the acquisition, she said.

There are at least six plant species both rare and endangered on the property adjacent to both a residential area and heavy industry.

The land also is dotted with informal walking trails, some forested areas, a wetland and a high dune.

"It's really a neat place to walk through," Kamins said.

She said the site already is used by people walking dogs, bicycling and others who enjoy nature. Acquiring the property for a nature preserve assures the land will be in its natural state for others to enjoy.

City councilman Richard Murphy presented the resolution for the city to help purchase the property.

He feels turning the property into a nature park is another quality of life step that can produce a return on the investment in terms of attracting new residents and businesses.

Kamins said the land sits outside the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, but there could be an effort to include it in the federal boundaries.

The land would be owned by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources.

[Homey]

http://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/laporte...d479c7af38.html

Is anyone here going to the "walk" at noon today?

[Southsider2k12]

http://thenewsdispatch.com/articles/2011/0...b5966319102.txt

Moon Valley decision delayed until May

Application deadline pushed back, giving council more time to assess matter
By Matt Field
Staff Writer
Published: Wednesday, April 6, 2011 5:08 PM CDT
MICHIGAN CITY — Common Council members voted Tuesday night to delay action on spending up to $200,000 to help buy 57 acres of dunes until May.

Councilman Rich Murphy, D-First Ward, said a federal agency has pushed back the application deadline for a grant the state hopes to use to acquire an area called Moon Valley. Also, a private fund-raising effort has netted more than $22,000, while Long Beach is considering contributing funds as well, he said.

“We have more time to assess the level of community and corporate financial support that will come forward to support Moon Valley,” he said.

Murphy said the amount the city pays to match the federal grant could be much less than the up to $200,000 called for by a resolution he co-sponsored.

While conservation groups and many residents support acquisition of the land, which forms part of Moon Valley, others have criticized spending city money on park land when city bus service has been curtailed and city workers have not received raises in years.

With the municipal primary elections nearing, mayoral candidates discussed Moon Valley at a recent candidate forum. Candidates Bob McKee and Ron Meer – both current councilman – did not support the proposal in their comments at the forum.

Council members unanimously voted to consider the proposal to match the federal grant on May 4. That means McKee and Meer, as mayoral candidates, will not have to consider the matter as an election issue since the vote arrives one day after the May 3 primary.

The parcel of dunes in question would add to other adjacent parcels owned by the conservation group Save the Dunes and Long Beach to create a roughly 120-acre open space, according to Save the Dunes.

The Indiana Department of Natural Resources hopes to win a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration grant to acquire the parcel. The DNR would own the land and co-manage it as a state nature preserve with Save the Dunes and Shirley Heinze Land Trust.

[eric.hanke]

To me it seems the only one who "wins" here is Tom Moss. If the land is worth so much why has Tom not developed it?



This sounds like a scam to benefit Tom Moss. If Tom can convince Michigan City to pony up 220K, then Tom gets $3+ million.



I have not been to Moon Valley, but, from what I can tell by looking online the land is nearly inaccessible which is why it has not been developed.



IMO the City Council should keep the $200k and focus on higher priorities like the Park Department, Port Authority, and developing the north end of Michigan City. Taking a long, hard look into the dealings of the Sanitary Department wouldn’t hurt either.

[Southsider2k12]

http://thenewsdispatch.com/articles/2011/0...51718337717.txt

Long Beach plans meeting

Published: Thursday, April 14, 2011 2:56 PM CDT
LONG BEACH — The Long Beach Town Council will have a special meeting at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 20, at the town hall to award a contract for snow-plow trucks and to discuss a proposed resolution for funds for Moon Valley.

[Southsider2k12]

http://articles.southbendtribune.com/2011-...e-michigan-city

Michigan City rejects request for money for sand dune
May 05, 2011|By South Bend Tribune Staff Report

MICHIGAN CITY — A proposal to allocate $75,000 to help acquire a sand dune near Michigan City's lakefront to turn into a nature preserve has gone down in defeat.

The council voted 4-4 to allocate the funds, but a majority vote was necessary.

Originally, the city was asked to contribute $200,000 for a local match on a federal grant application to help in acquiring 57 acres of dunes known as ''Moon Valley'' on the city's northeast side.

Amending the request to $75,000, though, was not enough to gain majority support.

City Councilman Ron Meer said there were concerns such as not much being been done with other greenspace areas acquired by the city over the past decade.

[Southsider2k12]

http://thenewsdispatch.com/articles/2011/0...41586938153.txt

Moon Valley proposal fails

Residents listen as the Michigan City Common Council and members of the public voice support and opposition for the Moon Valley nature preserve proposal Wednesday evening in city hall. Photo by Tim Moran
By Tim Moran
Staff Writer
Published: Thursday, May 5, 2011 5:09 PM CDT
MICHIGAN CITY - Common council members did not approve a resolution Wednesday night that would have pledged up to $75,000 towards the purchase of the Moon Valley parcel.

The measure, which would have secured 57 acres of dunes near Long Beach as “green space,” did not receive a majority from the council, failing by a 4-4 vote.

Council members Richard Murphy, Patricia Boy, Phil Jankowski and Angie Nelson supported the measure, with President Marc Espar, Vice President Ron Meer, along with members Bob McKee and Joseph Doyle voting against it.

“Since the motion did not receive a majority, the resolution dies,” Espar said following the vote.

Click here to find out more!
Fifth Ward Councilwoman Faye Moore, who would have been the deciding vote, was absent from the meeting, citing a prior commitment for her absence.

During a post-meeting phone interview, Moore told The News-Dispatch she would have voted against the pledge to provide the $75,000 toward Moon Valley.

“I apologize for not attending the Council meeting, I have a Prison Ministry on the First and Third Wednesdays at 7 p.m.” Moore added in a Wednesday night e-mail. “I have several reasons why my vote is no ... Several people spoke during the first and second reading of the Moon Valley Resolution and stated that, ‘when I was young and even today I go to that area, walk and look at the natural beauty.’ Well, if they are already walking the trail in Long Beach, why not have Long Beach Town pay the $75,000 instead of using Michigan City Resources?”

“While I was campaigning (for the Fifth Ward election), I walked the streets and found several sidewalks, alleys and streets that need repair and resurfacing in the Fifth Ward where this Riverboat money needs to be used,” she said.

Murphy and Boy originally introduced the resolution three months ago.

Prior to public comment about the issue, Murphy said that “project leaders and concerned citizens have worked to address each and every concern that has been brought forward” and that Moon Valley “would fit into Michigan City’s vision of coastal identity.”

He pointed out that the pledge would not take away any funding that would come from raises for city workers or increased bus service.

“This would be a one time capital expense,” Murphy said. “If the money is not used on this, it can’t be used on raises or to improve bus service. If we don’t move on this, we could be missing a rare opportunity to preserve something that could affect generations to come.”

The majority of the standing room only crowd agreed with Murphy, including five of seven Michigan City residents that offered public comment.

Shawn Kaczmarek, executive team leader and founder of the Save Moon Valley Group, gave a speech saying Moon Valley is symbolic of three core principles: Wilderness, opportunity and freedom.

Michigan City resident Nancy Moldenhauer, an individual community activist reiterated in her speech that “Moon Valley is our quality of life opportunity.”

But Fred Miller, another Michigan City resident, said he was “concerned with long range expenses the city would face with parking, roads and infrastructure.”

“Acquiring the property is one thing, maintaining it is another,” he said.

Mike Molner, program manager for the Indiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR), responded by saying it “would only be a one-time charge for the city.”

Just before the vote, Espar gave his reasons for voting against the city’s possible financial involvement with Moon Valley.

“All the arguments expressed are true and strong, but that does not factor into my decision,” he said. “People kept asking me over the last one to two months what it would take to get it passed ... What it boiled down to me was that I could not fathom spending $1 of city money to buy property and turn that over to the DNR.”

“I’m not taking away from the value of the property, but if it is such a valuable asset, the state of Indiana and the DNR should come to the table to provide funding.”

At-Large Councilman Joe Doye spoke just before the meeting adjourned on his reasons for the nay vote.

“Preserving Moon Valley is a great idea, but since the property would no longer be taxable, that’s why I voted the way I did,” Doyle said.

Following the meeting, Molnar said the DNR is going to “continue to move forward with the application to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration” for a grant to acquire the parcel.

The application deadline, he said is May 11.

The original proposal on the meeting agenda was for the amount not to exceed $200,000, but Murphy tabled a motion to decrease the amount to not exceed $75,000 after a member of Save the Dunes announced during the public comment section that more than $52,000 has been pledged from 159 citizens.

Save the Dunes President Jeanette Neagu also weighed in during a post-meeting interview.

“I’m very, very disappointed that the city does not understand it is a rare opportunity to save dunes in Northwest Indiana,” she said. “I am hopeful that other people in the community can step forward and still make this a reality.”

Nancy Moldenhauer, who spoke earlier during the public comment session, echoed the same thoughts.

“I’m very disappointed,” she said. “They (the city) have been short-sighted like they have been so many times in the past... We’re not stopping, we are asking for individual pledges and talking to some of the businesses that see the economic value.”

[Southsider2k12]

http://www.savedunes.org/news/index.php?uid=aff41f80a8f2

Save the Dunes News

City Council to Reconsider Moon Valley Vote Wednesday!

Posted: Mon, May 9, 2011
The City Council of Michigan City announced today that it has called a Special Meeting on Wednesday, May 11 to re-consider providing a cash match pledge of $75,000 toward the Moon Valley land conservation project the Indiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is undertaking. To our amazement, and with much gratitude, the meeting will be held in the Council Chambers at City Hall, 100 Michigan Boulevard, at 6:30 p.m.

We urge our Moon Valley advocates to once again descend upon City Hall to voice their support! Apparently one or more of the City Council members have reconsidered their position, giving us one last window of opportunity to convince them that supporting this green-space project is in the best interests of all Michigan City residents. This project presents a great opportunity for Michigan City to set aside some of the last remnant dune acreage of this size left (more than 57 acres) in Northwest Indiana without having to maintain it.

The Coastal Estuarine Land Conservation Program grant is due later this week and will go forward regardless of the outcome. The cash match is important, however, because it helps increase the chance that the grant will be funded and shows local support for the project. Individual and organizational pledges totaling more than $50,000, including a $20,000 pledge brought forth by the Town of Long Beach and its civic organization, are also bolstering project support.

We look forward to seeing you at this important meeting!

[Southsider2k12]

http://thenewsdispatch.com/articles/2011/0...b2745941630.txt

Writer questions Moon Valley property value

Published: Monday, May 9, 2011 5:09 PM CDT
The Moon Valley charade has been put out to pasture (no pun intended) and Michigan City taxpayers can thank four council members (Espar, McKee, Meer and Doyle) for their fortitude. They were not swayed by the dog and pony show Councilman Richard Murphy brought to town. Mr. Murphy proclaimed that the $100,000.00 that Michigan City would extend to the boondoggle would be returned 20 times in revenues over a 10 year period. That’s $2 million. Do the math on that one. Over the three month period that this issue has percolated, Mr. Murphy referred many times to a $2.9 million real estate appraisal of his friend Tom Moss’ property. Mr. Murphy continually reminded the council and the public that Mr. Moss would sacrifice the property for the bargain basement price of $1.49 million to the DNR if Michigan City would put forth a measly down payment from the river boat funny money fund.

That real estate appraisal must not have been Mr. Moss’ evidence when he successfully argued his 2006 reassessment, to an “on-loan” hearing officer at the Michigan Township Assessor’s Office, that the $8,000.00 per acre valuation from the LaPorte County Assessor’s Office was excessive. The final 2006 valuation? $4,000.00 per acre representing a market value of $233,100.00.

Good riddance to this chicanery. I will decline any whistleblower’s award in this matter as it is all public record. But I do have a bridge ...

Kevin Walsh

Michigan City, IN

[Southsider2k12]

Save the Dunes
The roller coaster ride continues. No fault of our own, we have just been told that that Michigan City just cancelled the meeting tomorrow night to re-consider their vote on their pledge. We are so sorry this has happened but there is just nothing we can do. The grant will be submitted tomorrow evening and then it's a wait and see game until later in the year. Thanks for everyone's continued support!!!!!

[Southsider2k12]

http://thenewsdispatch.com/articles/2011/0...9b222693522.txt

Mayor calls special meeting over Moon Valley

By Tim Moran
Staff Writer
Published: Tuesday, May 10, 2011 5:08 PM CDT
MICHIGAN CITY — The issue of Michigan City lending financial support to Moon Valley’s preservation may not be over.

Mayor Chuck Oberlie has called a special meeting for 6:30 p.m. Wednesday to further discuss the matter.

Last week, the Common Council voted not to pledge up to $75,000 to support applying for a grant to purchase the 57 acres of dunes near Long Beach. The final vote tally was 4-4, with councilmen Ron Meer, Bob McKee, Joe Doyle and Marc Espar providing the dissenting votes. Richard Murphy, who introduced the resolution, voted in favor, along with Angie Nelson, Pat Boy and Phil Jankowski.

Fifth Ward Councilwoman Faye Moore was absent, but later said she would have voted against the measure.

Click here to find out more!
However, Oberlie said when a tie vote occurs, a council member on the dissenting side can request a meeting for reconsideration. In this case, two dissenters contacted the mayor and voiced their desire to call a special session.

“We’ve been collaborating with the DNR and other groups to provide as much information to see if someone would change their mind,” Oberlie said.

The meeting is in the Common Council chambers. The council will offer another vote after discussing the matter.

Shawn Kaczmarek, Save Moon Valley Group executive team leader and founder, said Oberlie’s decision to call another meeting is “an excellent idea.

“Moon Valley could make a significant impact in Michigan City and La Porte by connecting green spaces,” he added. “Mayor Oberlie has been a fantastic supporter, not only of the Moon Valley efforts, but the greater vision of Michigan City and La Porte.”

Oberlie and all nine council members are expected to be present.

On Monday night, Oberlie said this is the first time in his tenure as mayor that a follow-up meeting had been called after a tie vote.

[Southsider2k12]

http://thenewsdispatch.com/articles/2011/0...57838576798.txt

Moon Valley meeting cancelled

By Julie McClure and Tim Moran
Staff Writers
Published: Wednesday, May 11, 2011 5:09 PM CDT
MICHIGAN CITY - Mayor Chuck Oberlie has canceled a special meeting about the Moon Valley preservation effort that had been set for 6:30 p.m. tonight after At-Large Councilman Joe Doyle asked that his request for the meeting be withdrawn.

Doyle said in a Tuesday night phone interview that he couldn’t find the answers to some key questions he had on the issue.

“We would hate to do something without having all the facts,” Doyle said. “We do not want a lot of people coming to a meeting without having any new facts to offer. In order to hold a meeting, we need to be prepared, and there is no way that I could have been prepared with the information out there.”

Some of the information Doyle said he would have liked to have is the total loss in tax revenues and what it may take for the area to become residential.

Click here to find out more!
Last week, Michigan City’s common council voted against pledging up to $75,000 to support applying for a grant to purchase the 57 acres of dunes along Long Beach. The final vote was 4-4, with councilmen Doyle, Ron Meer, Bob McKee, and Marc Espar voting no. Richard Murphy voted yes along with Angie Nelson, Pat Boy and Phil Jankowski. Fifth Ward Councilwoman Faye Moore was absent, but later said she would have voted no.

When a tie vote occurs, a council member who voted no could request a meeting for reconsideration, according to Oberlie. Two council members who voted no requested the meeting, but Oberlie said Tuesday that after meeting with “key personalities,” the meeting had to be canceled.

Shawn Kaczmarek, executive team leader and founder of the Save Moon Valley Group said the meeting’s cancellation is “too bad, because it does not give the City Council another opportunity to vote for Moon Valley.”

He said the Shirley Heinze Land Trust, along with Save the Dunes and the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, are working on a grant proposal that will be due within a few days. Once completed, it will be sent to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, a national agency that claims to “enrich life through science.”

“The refusal of the council is not a good thing, but hopefully it will not be a show stopper,” Kaczmarek said, adding that he is “hopeful and optimistic” that the grant will be accepted.

Oberlie said the city will continue to try to work with the state on the application and to try to raise the necessary funds to have a viable application for the property. But with the application due within the next several days, Oberlie was not optimistic that it could be accomplished this year.

[Southsider2k12]

http://thenewsdispatch.com/articles/2011/0...95744150417.txt

Councilwoman should have been at meeting

Published: Tuesday, May 10, 2011 5:08 PM CDT
I am in the Fifth Ward and feel my councilwoman Faye Moore should have been at that crucial meeting on Wednesday. She is still our councilwoman until Dec. 31 and I expect the same excellent representation that we received from Willie Milsap.

Diane F. Hack

Michigan City

[Southsider2k12]

http://thenewsdispatch.com/articles/2011/0...2e040929790.txt

Reader clarifies assessment question

Published: Thursday, May 12, 2011 5:09 PM CDT
In a letter published in Monday’s paper Mr. Kevin Walsh argued that the assessed value of Moon Valley reflected the market value. While it is now the general rule in Indiana that assessed value should reflect market value there are exceptions and Moon Valley is one of those exceptions.

The Indiana Legislature passed a law commonly known as, “Developer’s Discount” which prohibits local assessing officials from changing the assessment of land in the hands of developer until it is sold to a non-developer or there is a building permit issued. As a result the Moon Valley tract was assessed at $8,000 per acre, which is the standard rate for excess residential acreage in Michigan Township. This rule continues even if the land has been subdivided and lots are being sold to end users. Thus in Beachwalk you could find a lot in the hands of a private individual assessed at $85,000, which would reflect its market value, while an identical lot right next to it still held by Mr. Moss could have an assessed value of $600. This rule was a policy decision by the Legislature meant to encourage development and to avoid punishing developers for making improvements to their land such as installing streets, sidewalks, utilities, ect. Neither side in the debate over the wisdom of purchasing Moon Valley should consider the assessed value since in this case the assessed value does not reflect the market value of the property.

By way of clarification the reduction in assessed value from $8,000 per to $4,000 per acre for the Moon Valley property was made by the PTABOA on recommendation of its hearing officer over the objection of the township. As I recall the hearing officer cited lack of access and cost of development as reasons for the reduction.

I do have some personal thoughts on Moon Valley. I enjoyed many hours playing in Moon Valley as a child. My children enjoyed many hours playing in Moon Valley. My fear is that if the Indiana DNR acquires the property the first thing they will do is put a fence around it and post signs proclaiming “Trespassers will be prosecuted.” I remember how Mt. Baldy changed when it went from the City’s West Beach to part of the National Lakeshore. It seems that Moon Valley as it has existed for generations is going to disappear. The only question is will it be lost to private development or governmental management.

Tom Wagner

Former Chief Deputy Michigan Township Assessor

Michigan City, IN

[Southsider2k12]

http://www.thenewsdispatch.com/articles/20...30813051803.txt

Efforts to preserve Moon Valley continue

By Tim Moran
Staff Writer
Published: Monday, June 20, 2011 5:08 PM CDT
MICHIGAN CITY — The effort to keep Moon Valley as green space continues well over a month after the City Council voted down a measure that might have guaranteed its preservation.

Supporters of local efforts to preserve the 57 acres of dunes near Long Beach organized a volunteer work day Saturday afternoon, where area residents worked to increase the bio-diversity of the area by planting a variety of greenery to support animal life.

Volunteers, including many gardeners, met at Stockwells Woods to add their contribution to the area. The event was organized by Save the Dunes Council, a local group hoping to preserve Moon Valley.

On May 11, Save the Dunes and the Department of Natural Resources submitted a grant application to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration for $75,000 to ensure the area be kept as green space.

Click here to find out more!
NOAA is in the process of comparing the Moon Valley proposal with other grant applications on environmental issues around the nation.

“We need to start connecting green spaces,” said Shawn Kaczmarek, founder of Save Moon Valley Group. “The ideal situation would be for more and more people to be in walking space of some decent green space, and Moon Valley is such a rare opportunity.”

Kaczmarek believes Moon Valley has a better shot at receiving the funding because the people living near and around the dunes “have a vested interest in Moon Valley.

“The area near and around Michigan City is phenomenal if you love nature,” he added.

On May 4, the Michigan City Common Council turned down a measure to pledge an amount no larger than $75,000 to preserve the area.