Newberg Township Ordinance No. 2026-01

NEWBERG TOWNSHIP
CASS COUNTY
STATE OF MICHIGAN

ORDINANCE NO. 2026-01

AN ORDINANCE PROHIBITING MARINA OPERATION ON HARWOOD LAKE, NEWBERG TOWNSHIP, CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN.

Section 1. Title and Purpose. This Ordinance shall be known and cited as the “Harwood Lake Marina Prohibition Ordinance”. The purpose of this Ordinance is to protect the environmental integrity, water quality, and natural beauty of Harwood Lake, and to promote the health, safety, and welfare of the residents and visitors of Newberg Township.

Section 2. Definitions. For the purposes of this Ordinance, the following terms shall have the meanings ascribed to them:
a. “Marina” shall be defined as any facility that includes infrastructure for dockage and mooring services to multiple people, including the public and/or private persons, who do not each own the parcel on which the infrastructure for dockage and mooring services is located. This shall include but not be limited to boat launches, docks, piers, and boat storage services offered to or utilized by any party other than the titled owner(s) of the parcel of land on which the infrastructure for dockage and moorings are located, whether or not for profit.
b. “Harwood Lake” means the lake located in Newberg Township, Cass County, Michigan.

Section 3. Prohibition. It shall be unlawful for any person, firm, or corporation to operate or maintain a marina on Harwood Lake.

Section 4. Exceptions.
This Ordinance shall not apply to:
a. Private, non-commercial boat docks or piers serving a single residential property.
b. Public boat launches or fishing access sites operated by a government agency.

Section 5. Enforcement.
The Newberg Township Board, or its designated representative, shall be responsible for enforcing this Ordinance.

Section 6. Penalties. Any person, firm, or corporation violating this Ordinance shall be responsible for a civil infraction, and upon a plea or finding of responsibility, shall be punished by a fine of not more than $200.00 and the entry of an order requiring compliance with local and state law.

Section 7. Effective Date. This Ordinance shall take effect immediately upon publication.

Section 8. Repeal of Conflicting Ordinances.
All Ordinances or parts of Ordinances in conflict with this Ordinance are hereby repealed.

Section 9. Severability. If any section, subsection, sentence, clause, or phrase of this Ordinance is, for any reason, held to be unconstitutional or invalid, such decision shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions of this Ordinance.

Ayes: Duff, Covery, Blackburn, Harvey, Griffiths

Nays:  None

ORDINANCE DECLARED ADOPTED

Amanda Norton-Duff
Township Clerk

CERTIFICATION
I hereby certify that the foregoing is a true and complete copy of an Ordinance adopted by Newberg Township, County of Cass, State of Michigan, at a Regular Meeting, held on March 9, 2026, and that said Meeting was conducted and public notice of said meeting was given, pursuant to and in full compliance with Act No. 267, Public Acts of Michigan, 1976, as amended.

Amanda Norton-Duff
Township Clerk

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