August 24, 1988 - Big Bay Point Lighthouse Keeper, Norman "Buck" Gotschall, submits 19 pages of history, photographs, and hand drawn trail maps to complete the National Historic and State Historic Site registration for the Lighthouse structures and land.  Included in his registration was the valuable Fresnel lens, which he retrieved from Traverse City and installed in the newly renovated Fog House.  For details on the historical registration, see "HistReg" under News of this website.

April, 1992 - Lighthouse Three Inc. purchases the lighthouse, Fresnel lens, and approximately 50 acres for $500,000.

February 1, 2001 - Linda and Jeff Gamble, President and Secretary/Treasure of Lighthouse Three, Inc., the Developer for the Lighthouse Point Condominium, join the Powell Township Planning Commission.  Vice President of Lighthouse Three, Inc. is
John E. Gale, who remains a resident of the Chicago area.

March 4, 2003 - Excerpt from Powell Township Planning Commission Meeting Minutes: "Linda Gamble excused herself from the committee to explain their [Linda and Jeff] problem.  They presented a site plan which was zoned Lakes & Rivers but 2 sites will be non-conforming.  Would like to know what they could do.  We cannot rezone, because it could be considered spot zoning.  Check with Howard.  Stay under 15 lots.  Their attorney should be the one to help them.  Planning Commission can add land condos in RR5 as a conditional use permit.  Can petition us for re-zoning with signatures of all the property owners on lighthouse road okaying this."

July 6, 2003 - Excerpt from Powell Township Planning Commission Meeting Minutes: "Jeff Gamble requested clarification on treatment of land condominiums being treated as lots for the purpose of building permits.  The Planning Commission is to request the Township Board Contact the township attorney for an opinion on how to designate property for land condominiums be handled as each new owner request a building permit.  The Commission does not feel this is a special use of the land and should be able to receive a regular building permit for a single-family dwelling."

August 5, 2003 - Excerpt from Powell Township Planning Commission Meeting Minutes: "NEW BUSINESS A. Large projects in the Township.  J. Gamble still has not gotten his answer to a question he asked at the July Planning Commission meeting on how to designate property for land condominiums be handled as each new owner requests a building permit.  The Planning Commission was to request the Township Board contact the township attorney for an opinion on this matter.  The Commission does not feel this is a special use of the land and should be able to receive regular building permits for a single-family dwelling.  The Planning Commission can say yea or nay on subdivision laws, it was stated that it should be in the Comprehensive Plan which no one on the Planning Commission has except for J. Stanley who has Vince Bevins copy.  C. Burns will see about getting 8 copies of the Comprehensive Plan for Powell Township."

December 16, 2003 - Mining Journal publishes numerous changes to the Powell Township Zoning Ordinance, including adding "condominiums" to the list of Conditional Uses Authorized by Permit sections for zoning Districts RR-5 and LS/R.

February 1, 2004 and March 1, 2004 - Linda and Jeff Gamble conclude their membership on the Powell Township Planning Commission

October 1, 2004 - Adjacent property owners receive notification of this proposed land use the Friday preceding the Tuesday hearing.  This was the first time that many had ever heard of the proposed condominium project.  


October 5, 2004 - Planning Commission Meeting & Public hearing on the Conditional use permit submitted by Lighthouse Three Inc. for 12 unit site condominium. 

With one abstention, the Planning Commission immediately approved the Conditional use permit.  Planning Commission Members voting in favor of the Conditional Use Permit:  Pam Butterfield, Jerry Sherman, Joseph Stanley, Carol Burns, Doris Childers, Carol Wilcox, Richard Goad, Steven Labar; abstention by Danny Johnson


October 26, 2004
An Appeal to the Commission decision is filed by adjacent property owner Elayne Shelton.


May 10, 2005 - The Township Board hears the appeal presentation, given by Bill Vanni (Lighthouse Rd property owner), Al Pierce (Professional Planner / Surveyor, ECI of Ishpeming), and Elayne Shelton. 

Basis for the appeal "Requirements set forth in Article VIII Conditional Use Permits, Powell Township Zoning Ordinance, were not satisfactorily met."  24 pages of presentation material were submitted. 

The Board, with counseling from the Township attorney, voted unanimously to send the Conditional use permit back to the Planning Commission, for clarifications regarding zoning ordinance sections 802 (which includes section 704 and section 804) and 803.


August 15, 2005 - Powell Township announces a public hearing for August 23 to consider public input on the conditional use permit issued to the Lighthouse Three, Inc for a 12 unit site condominium project.

August 19, 2005 - Powell Township attorney is advised that the zoning map hanging in the Township office indicates that the Lighthouse property includes a portion of land zoned RS-10.  Per the Zoning ordinance, Condominiums are not allowed in RS-10.  Shortly after, Powell Township attorney advises the Planning Commission not to have the Conditional Use Permit hearing and many people are advised not to travel to the hearing because it will be rescheduled. 


August 22, 2005 - One day before the scheduled pubic hearing, Powell Township Planning Commission Chairman Sherbinow quotes in the Mining Journal that the issues with the conditional use permit appeal are the results of a "minor clerical slip-up."

August 23, 2005 - Planning Commission Meeting - Chairman Sherbinow announced that the Planning Commission will make no decision regarding the conditional use permit until the zoning map question is resolved.  The Planning Commission votes to refer the zoning issue to the Zoning Board of Appeals. 


September 29, 2005 - Planning Commission Meeting Chairperson Linda Sherbinow submits a request for interpretation of the Powell Township Zoning map.  The statement of circumstances generating the request: "The Township Zoning map is not clear as to where the LS/R ends and the RS-10 begins in Section 1, T51N, R27W Powell Township, Marquette, MI."


October 15, 2005 - Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) meeting.  Much information regarding the official map was presented by Al Pierce, which indicated that a portion of the lighthouse property was clearly zoned RS-10. 

The Zoning Board persisted in referencing an undated, invalid, hand-colored zoning map (see "Undated Township Zoning Map", June 6 letter to the Planning Commission), which showed the entire tip of the peninsula to be zoned LS/R down to the Section line. 

Following lengthy discussion and two failed motions, and immediately after a recess and closed door session with the Township Supervisor, a motion was made, seconded and unanimously passed by Zoning Board members Gerry Harrington, Marian Albritten, and Judy Bourgeois.


Late October / Early November, 2005 - Powell Township announces a public hearing scheduled for November 14 Lighthouse Three, Inc conditional use permit for a 12 unit site condominium project.


November 10, 2005 - Circuit Court Judge John Weber approves a temporary restraining order preventing  Powell Township's Planning Commission from hearing the Conditional Use Permit for Lighthouse III, Inc., until the lighthouse property zoning districts have been clarified.


June 6, 2006 - Planning Commission Meeting - Public Hearing for rezoning request (from LS/R to RS-10) by Lighthouse Three, Inc.

The Powell Township Planning Commission dismissed all points made by many letters, many signatures on two petitions, many speakers at the meeting, and additional map evidence provided by a professional surveyor to quickly have discussion and vote 6-0 in favor of the lighthouse rezoning. 

This vote was taken after an attorney and a professional surveyor advised that a vote not be taken because of numerous legal issues.  But due to apparent pressure to continue progress on the lighthouse development (as noted during the meeting where she repeatedly mentioned pressure from unnamed sources to keep the project moving), Chairperson Sherbinow encouraged the continuation and said "let the chips fall where they may".

Voting 6-0 YES to rezoning the lighthouse property were: Richard Goad, Darlene Turner, Pam Butterfield, Linda Sherbinow, Doris Childers, Judy Bourgeois.  Absent (asking to be excused earlier): Members Carol Burns and Dan Johnson.


July 12, 2006 - Marquette County Planning Commission reviews the Powell Township proposal for zoning map amendments.  In their July 13 letter issued to Powell Township, they list  concerns with "…specific size of the subject parcel as advertised.  Staff also had concerns with the zoning map, and how it is interpreted"  They voted 4-0 to support the proposed zoning map amendment, "…pending the review and approval of this case by their legal counsel, Zoning Board of Appeals, Planning Commission, and Zoning Administrator."


August 15, 2006 - Powell Township Board Meeting.  No public comment was allowed prior to the vote being taken.   No acknowledgement of many letters objecting to the rezoning was made.  With very little discussion, voting unanimously to approve the rezoning request by Lighthouse Three, Inc were Board members Vince Bevins, Arline Erickson, Nita Small, D.J. Burns, Darlene Turner.


Late August, 2006 - Powell Township announces public hearing for "continuation" of Lighthouse Three, Inc. conditional use permit for 12-unit site condominium.  Scheduled for September 5, 2006.


September 5, 2006 - After 5 hours of testimony between Township Supervisor Vince Bevins, Professional Surveyor Al Pierce, supplemented with Affidavit by 1990-1998 Planning Commission Chairman, Jerry Grenmen and questions by Plaintiff attorney Kevin Koch, the Hon. Judge John R. Weber approves a temporary injunction preventing the Planning Commission from conducting the Public hearing on Lighthouse Three, Inc. Conditional Use permit …." until this Court can rule on the merits of the Plaintiff's amended complaint."  Please see "Motion and Affidavits for Temporary Injunction", this web site for more details.