As reported previously on this website, a promoter is proposing to hold up to five concerts this summer at Clark Lake. You can read the most recent article by clicking here.
Some facts:
- The location is about 450 yards from Hyde & North Shore, and about 680 yards from the Clark Lake shoreline.
- Concert goers would enter and exit via one road, Industrial Drive, which intersects with US127.
- Alcohol will be sold on the grounds.
- 1750 parking spaces.
- Up to 5000 could attend.
- Concerts require much more amplification than used by lake restaurants or private parties for bands. Even if speakers were directed away from the lake, bass disperses 360 degrees.
- Other venues, such as MIS, are designed for such uses.
- Benefits to Columbia Township, its residents, and businesses appear minimal. Other live entertainment is widely available. Most concert goers would likely arrive from elsewhere and not frequent local businesses.
- The entire Columbia Township police force will be needed at each event. Though the promoter intends to compensate them, their involvement might keep them from responding elsewhere.
Those at and around Clark Lake are stakeholders. If you are part of this community, consider participating in this survey. (Names and emails will not be shared).
Note: In a period of 15 minutes, the survey was inundated with responses. That, along with other evidence, indicated abuse. Because of that, the survey is now offline.
Feel free to leave a comment below.
Absolute NO. Plenty of other live music options in the area.
Well said Jack, NIMBY.
Totally against.
We did not purchase a home on beautiful Clarklake to experience multiple Faster Horses style concerts every year and all of the associated problems that come with them just a quarter of a mile from the Lake.
Totally No!!
Hard Pass
Until we see the sanitation plan and the environmental impact study (to protect against pollution in the Grand River, which flows immediately adjacent to the property) this proposal should not be under serious consideration. The answer had to be a solid no at this time.
Mr Leutz,
Thank you!
You make valid+reasonable arguments on all the important fronts.
What would the impact be with car safety+traffic congestion on rt. 127?
Loud noise and light pollution at night could disrupt the lake peace for local taxpayers and our fragile eco system.
Leaving local residents without proper police support is unreasonable in the event of an emergency.
Kirby North Ancona
I am against it
Absolutely Yes. Promotes local businesses such as Eagles Nest, Beach Bar, Luceros, and so on. Music will likely be done before 10pm and won’t be any louder than jet skis on the lake. This is great for the community!
There are too many risks & unknowns at this time regarding this field event. Why not host these large concerts at locations already designed for large crowds, food vendors, alcohol and vehicle parking? The Fair grounds sit empty most of the summer season.
Am I the only one not finding the survey? Either way my vote is no.
It is above, just below the last sentence.
Click here to take the survey
I agree. No benefit and plenty of negatives for Clark Lake and Columbia Township.
In addition to what is mentioned by others above – probably a huge increase in drunk and drug impaired driving on our roads.
For outside visitors that own boats and want to come early or stay overnight, those dangers could spill into Clark Lake via our public boat accesses.
Serious accidents would not surprise me.
The sponsers should pick some empty field that is more remote and not next to our Clark Lake community of families.
Well said. Totally agree. NO WAY from the Shawaker team.
I agree that it is a no for our family
NO. This has potential to be much more intrusive than the issues which were dealt with at The Township Park a couple of years back. What’s the benefit to the Township/County? NO
I’m a live music fan, but this area is too congested! Traffic would be a big issue!
MIS is the venue for large gatherings like this. Tried and true location with many entry and exits. What benefits does this bring to our comminity .We have local business that provide music almost every day all summer. Beach Bar, Eagles Nest and Boat Clubs .I’ll
PASS.
No way, it will hurt property values in the area. MIS is currently underutilized with concerts.
What’s so special about this location? Is it the size of the property so everyone can pitch tents then invade the Lake the morning after to wash up and sun-in-the-fun their hangovers? Call to arms everyone – get the AG down here – it’s going to be another Goose Lake.
I am unable to attend the Township meeting on Monday but have sent my list of concerns to the Supervisor. I hope those of you who have strong feelings will either attend the meeting or send a letter or email. It is my understanding that at the January meeting most in attendance spoke for the venue. They were likely NOT Clark Lake residents if the comments here are any indication.
I just moved out here for peace and to enjoy ClarkLake. I don’t want to live by a live music venue, nor did I plan on that. If I did I would have bought a place by MIS or in Jackson.
I also am not comfortable with how all police will need to be at that event, that opens up the township to criminals during those specific times and dates. In addition, all response times for residents would be slower when the venue is hosting events. Thats a safety and security issue.
Just not needed, would love for them to utilize current venues already available in Jackson County while not impacting the ecosystem, animals and residents in the ClarkLake area.
I wish the venue operators and owners well, but please use established venues that already exist in Jackson County. We don’t need all the extra stuff that comes with this and there isn’t much of a benefit to residents, I see more risk vs reward.
HARD PASS
Also add another comment. Township can’t even manage the park and decreased park hours as a result to the public. So how would things work by adding a live music venue along with everything else they already have to manage? As a tax payer, I feel like this could cost us more money in the long run. PASS
Have to agree with everyone, I would be a no.
Our reasons have been enumerated eloquently by all the other repliers. We have been Clark Lake homeowners for over 120 years and enjoy the laidback lakeside lifestyle.
Country Boots and other such events rightly have a place in our society, a place which is suited to the myriad issues voiced in these responses: MIS is one logical turnkey alternative, far better prepared to handle the crowds than a bare field, 600 yards from our pristine lake, starting from scratch rather like a countryfied Woodstock ’69.
We say “No thank you”
The extended Timberlake families at Eagle Point
No, I agree with what’s already been stated, mostly about local residents
without proper police and fire department support. Our tax dollars are
paying for these services.
Lois Moyer brings up an important point. Email/contact the Columbia Township Board voicing your opinion. Better yet, attend the meeting to be heard after you send your email. There are no positives to this venture for the local residents.
Thank You for tabling action on the proposed concerts promoted by Scott Vitale next to Clark Lake.
There are many questions and concerns that need to be answered.
Many people who live on Clark Lake including myself are very concerned with the Loud Music that will be flooding Clark Lake Area with speakers mounted 40 ft in the air so that the 1000+ concert goers can hear and blast Clark Lake 1/4miles away. As you are aware Columbia Township has ordinances governing loud music,. 90 Decibels at property edge. How can a concert be allowed and will the Ordinance be enforced?
Chief Niles stated that All Columbia Police Officers will be needed to control the Traffic
What happens if there is an emergency across the Township on Vineyard Lake or Lake Columbia or in our rural area?? Is the County Sheriff or State Police going to back up Columbia??
Where is a Contract between Columbia Township Police, Jackson County Sheriff and Michigan State Police and the Promoter stating responsibilities and Payment for Services for Traffic Control, Crowd Control and who knows what else. Columbia Township Police Dept does not have enough Officers to control and maintain 1000+ concert goers.
Has the Township done a Background Check on Scott Vitale concerning other concerts he has done?? Has the lawsuit MPVSports vs Scott Vitale case# ID 2020-200209SC And ID 2020200210SC BEEN SETTLED??
Were there any other concerts promoted by Mr Vitale with problems or lawsuits for non payment of bills?? The Township needs to look into past promotions.
THE TOWNSHIP DOESENT NEED A GOOSE LAKE CONCERT FIASCO.
What are the hours open to close be??
What are the hours for music going to be??
What is planned for Bleachers or Seating or is Everyone just going to be laying or standing around??
What is planned for FOOD VENDORS, how many and where??
What is planned for BEER & WINE SALES and WHO IS GOING TO ENFORCE THE DRINKING AGE??
What is planned for a WEATHER EMERGENCY and EVACUATION PLAN??
What has been planned for a MEDICAL EMERGENCY and is the Columbia Fire Dept going to be on scene. Is there a Contract Between Columbia Fire Dept and the Promoter stating responsibilities and payment for services??
What is planned for Security?? Is Security provided by a company or just friends and others with NO Training??
Who is responsible for cleaning up the area and repairing any damage caused by the event goers?
Is there a Bond Required from the Promoter $50,000.00 – $150,000 to be sure the Township Police and Fire are paid, and any other expenses related to the concert and Columbia Township.
There is NO BENEFIT TO COLUMBIA TOWNSHIP nor are there any regulations for such event.
There are many other areas better suited to have such an event.
Once a concert is allowed without regulations, many problems for Columbia Township could arise.
This is my home and I’m very proud of what we have here.
Hard no. We have enough issues with the public park alcohol and fights. If people want music go to the beach bar with your family.
As a Columbia Township Board member, I appreciate the feedback provided by this survey. This website is a valuable asset to the community and I appreciate the forum that the Spirit Foundation and Rick provides in such a timely manner.
I remain against the project.
My family owns the property directly south of the Grand River from where these concerts would be held.
I am against this proposal for multiple reasons.
Some include:
1. These events would practically be in my backyard.
2. I can only imagine the disruption to the land and wildlife.
3. There would be only ONE entrance/ exit point onto 127.
4. Columbia township police coverage for the remaining needs of the community.
I just do not understand why MIS — which I already set up and equipped for these types of venues — can’t be utilized.
Big NO for me!
I agree that venue should be held in an area like MIS that is equipped to handle large crowds.
Congestion, noise, sufficient law enforcement are concerns of neighborhood residents.
Totally no!
How can you even consider this?
We got in trouble for having 150 people at a wedding reception on 10 acres. And you want 5000 people???
Really?? This makes me a little mad.
I love live entertainment as much as everyone, but this is the wrong venue. Will cause way too much traffic congestion. That section of US-127 already has a LONG history of traffic problems, accidents, and deaths; hence the long time name of “Death Alley” on that portion of the highway from Jefferson Road to McDevitt. Too close to Clark Lake residents who will be subjected to the loud music. We love local music, but is simply not the right location. Our police department doesn’t need the added problems that will surely arise. We don’t need the hassle of drinking, trash clean up, and noise, just to name a few. Sorry, but there are other locations that are far better suited for this type of event. It’s a big NO for me.
An absolute “NO” from me. Our township and the police force can’t even manage the small park on Hyde Road. It closes at 5 pm daily to keep riffraff from other communities out but it also prevents hard-working, tax-paying township residents from using the park in the late afternoon and evening. How is that fair to residents? And these same people think they can control a concert venue with thousands of people in attendance? Really. Reality check need by the township board.
Too many negatives that out weigh any benefits. We need to protect our lake and the surrounding environment.
I agree with many of the comments here.
I’ve read all the comments above and tend to agree with most, but I have some questions: Is this property entirely within Columbia Twp? Has it already been purchased? Or is this just a proposal on the table? If this gentleman owns it, can we tell him what to do with his property (treat him like the Dunnigan’s)? Does the entire police department really need to be tied up at events? Can he pay up front for off-duty sheriffs or rent-a-cops instead of using all Township law enforcement? Are they going to put in a traffic light on 127 to handle the traffic or add another round-about in the county? What is the impact of pollution to the area? Will people wash up or urinate in the Grand River? Will restrooms adequate for 5,000 people be built? Or will port-a-johns be used? How long will the evaluation process take considering the opposition here? How do we know the music will “likely end at 10 pm”? I shut the windows when a lawn mower is running next door, so I wouldn’t enjoy excess noise. I’ve heard that the massasauga rattlesnake, Michigan’s only poisonous snake, lives in the area. It is protected as a federally threatened species under the Endangered Species Act. How will the snakes that live in that area be protected? As for visiting restaurants in the area, will people attending concerts do that? Or will food be sold on site? What is the date and time of the township meeting concerning this? We all like the status quo, but where do we draw the line about telling someone how to use their property? Is there a very detailed plan for exactly what this gentleman is trying to accomplish (besides making money)? I think we would all feel better about this if we had more facts. Just wondering…
I’d say it’s not at all a good idea for most of the reasons listed in the other comments.
Not least among those would be added traffic (some likely impaired in various ways) on what we all know is a very dangerous road.
Also, thin to no police or other first responders available to the folks who fund such services could be a field day for wrongdoers in our area.
Add endangered species and the fact that others (the Mickels’) have been denied the ability to even have a wedding on their property and it’s a solid NO from me—unless of course there’s an extremely detailed plan in place to address ALL of the questions listed and any others that might come up while talking about this as our township board.
FEB 16 2023 @ 6:06A.M.
The Township Park on Hyde Road is locked by 5 or 6 pm now due to arguments, fighting etc is what I heard . This makes it so our locals who live here can’t swim after those hours or have a cookout . Now you want to bring in people from out of town to disrupt our area . I’m sure that will be trouble with fights , drunk driving and drugs . I don’t see where this will be a benefit to our peaceful area . I say absolutely not !!!
Clarklake residents,
Please make your feelings known to our Columbia Township Commissioners. This avenue (Clarklake Spirit Foundation site) is a good start. Emails and/or letters are needed as is attendance at the Township meeting. If the above comments are any indication, it’s clear that our lake community is not in favor of this proposal.
I see no ‘up side’ to the proposal. My vote is a clear and strong NO.
As stated above by other commenters, we have plenty of options for live music almost every night of the week in the summer here. Definitely don’t need this brought in here!
How has this even moved to discussion stage? 1700 cars, driven by concertgoers who have been drinking for 4 to 8 hours, on to US127, a highway with record number of accidents and deaths? It’s senseless
Absolutely NO. There is plenty of other venues for large events already in the area
This is not a viable option. Just say NO.
I am a music lover and it sounds amazing, however, 127 is a very scary road with many accidents.
No. Let them use MIS. Too many negative issues.
I don’t what the problem is here, already a commercial area anyways
I have already sent an email to Barry Marsh expressing my concerns for this proposed event. There is enough music floating over the waters of Clark Lake. Sometimes just peace and quiet would be nice. I’m also very concerned about the possibility of very dangerous traffic situations on 127. Also, the man hours needed to police this event could be very overwhelming.
i live on Thompson Ct. which is located directly behind the parking zone. My issues are as follows…
1.) I do not want to be kept awake by concert volumes.
2.) I do not want to worry about crime.
3.) I do not want to have vandalism.
4.) I do not want my local community to feel vulnerable.
I have been a concert goer, the back of the parking lot is where the drugs are done, after the concert is over people don’t always pack up and take their leave, they’re amped up and want to cause trouble. I understand the want for a venue, but I purchased my home for the wildlife and feeling of exclusivity. If I wanted a party kind of location that’s what I would’ve sought out originally. I’m not comfortable with this option and do not want to move because of it.
I am very much opposed to this proposal for most of the reasons already cited. I’m especially concerned about ingress and egress traffic on US127. As mentioned several times above, 127 isa very dangerous and heavily traveled highway with many semi trucks. Adding all of this congestion is senseless.
Noise is also a major concern, we are on Sandy Beach and regularly hear 127 noise, truck tires, sirens, motorcycles, jake brakes, etc. the decibels emanating from these concerts would be significantly worse.
PLEASE, make this nightmare go away.
Thank you.
That is strange, Waterville, Ohio is going through about the same matter but on a much larger scale. Some people are trying to it on .
the vote of the people. Best of luck!!
Totally against such a venue. We hear 127 traffic from 2mi away. The music would extend at least as far. Not at all suited use in this community. Where do we cast our vote?
It was just a little over two years ago that we purchased our home on beautiful Clark Lake. Prior to moving here we owned a home in Rochester Hills relatively close to Meadow Brook Amphitheatre. As a matter of fact, our former house in Rochester hills is about the same proximity to Meadow Brook, as the proposed venue in Clarklake. Ironically enough, the seating capacity for this new venue is almost the same also. (7700 capacity at Meadow Brook, 5000 Clarklake). The infrastructure in Rochester Hills allows traffic to enter Meadow Brook from the north, south, east, and west. it was four lanes of entry from the east and west, and two lanes from the north and south. Even with the multiple entry and exit ports for Meadow Brook, traffic going in and out was HORRIBLE. If you wanted to go to the store or leave the subdivision for any reason, the traffic made it next to impossible. That being said, I believe that the only proposed ports of entry and exit for the new venue are from 127. (A two lane road at that location). Meadow Brook also used THREE different sources for security. They had the resources of the Rochester Hills police department, Oakland County sheriffs department, and the adjoining Oakland University Police. Has anyone given any thought to the fact that most of our weather comes from the west and the wind pushes sound in it’s direction ? I don’t think that you actually know the ramifications of this proposal until you have lived with something like this. Obviously it is a HUGE NO from my wife and myself. Feasibility studies for something of this magnitude typically take several years. How much thought has gone into this proposal ?