Protecting the lake we love — and the rights of the families who call its shoreline home.
The North Lake Alliance is an independent voice for the property owners of North Lake Leelanau — dedicated to property and riparian rights and the responsible use and enjoyment of our lake and its shoreline.
Our Mission
To provide North Lake Leelanau property owners with an independent, thoughtful voice when decisions about zoning, land use, riparian rights and use of the lake and its shoreline 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.
Champion Worthwhile Projects
Encourage public/private partnerships that improve everyone's use and enjoyment of the lake.
Why "North" Alliance?
The Alliance is starting where the waterfront overlay and model language were presented. Leland Township, which is where the LLLA handout was presented on July 1, primarily borders the north basin of Lake Leelanau — so that is where an organized, informed property-owner voice is needed first.
Lake Leelanau is bordered by several townships, each with its own zoning authority. Property owners on the middle and south portions of the lake sit in Bingham, Solon, Centerville and Elmwood. As similar model language reaches those townships — and LLLA has publicly stated it is working with all six townships around the lake — additional property-owner voices in each will strengthen the case. We hope neighbors in those townships will organize alongside us, and we welcome the conversation.
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 a waterfront overlay district and provided a handout with model language. What was presented raised significant concerns and many found it quite alarming.
The North Lake Alliance is an independent property owner organization dedicated to protecting property and riparian rights 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 and use of the lake are being considered.
The North Lake Alliance may also champion public/private partnerships viewed as improving our use and enjoyment of the lake.
The North Lake Alliance is envisioned as a mostly 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.
Volunteer With Us
The Alliance runs on the time and energy of neighbors who care about North Lake Leelanau. There is a role for every level of availability — from an hour a month to steady involvement.
Attend & Report
Sit in on a Planning Commission meeting and share what you heard. We turn your notes into a plain-language summary for the Documents page.
Neighborhood Outreach
Help us reach more North Lake owners — introduce a neighbor, host a small dock-side gathering, or hand out information at community events.
Skills & Expertise
Legal, land-use planning, environmental, communications, or web skills are especially valuable. Even a few hours on a specific question makes a difference.
Contact
Questions, comments, or something we should know about? We'd like to hear from you.
Email: info@northlakealliance.com
Mail: North Lake Alliance, Leland, Michigan
Join the North Lake Alliance
Membership is open to all property owners on North Lake Leelanau and others interested in preserving riparian property rights. Dues fund this mission.
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