The tension between nearby residents and new waterfront property owner Matt Sagorac of Sagorac Enterprises of Fish Creek continues to build. Sagorac addressed the dispute about the property he purchased at the former Alpine Resort during the Egg Harbor Plan Commission meeting on May 27th. The meeting was scheduled to review the preliminary plat for Sagorac Estates, which included a plan to subdivide two lots. While there’s no current plan resolution, indignation continues.
Marguerite Roza, a resident of Egg Harbor, spoke during the open session at the meeting and addressed her concerns regarding the Alpine property, calling the project ‘a Battle for the Soul of Egg Harbor.’ She recapped the historic meaning behind the resort saying buildings were being erased and replaced with private estates, jeopardizing the integrity of the historical value following the land sale.
“In January, the waterfront portion sold again in an off-market transaction, the seller kept the golf property and a wealthy buyer purchased the waterfront. Both see big profit in carving up the acreage and selling off parcels for private residences,” Roza said, “proposed plans treat the land as a golden goose.”
Roza argued that when a preservation group inquired about purchasing the waterfront parcel, the current owner, Matt Sagorac, requested $20M; a number double of what he paid for the land in January.
A second resident who attended the meeting to speak could not due to being emotional about the project. Instead, Sagorac was quick to take the mic to defend his project.
“I’m trying to open restaurants and create things for the village and I’m here doing this which I shouldn’t have to be,” said owner Matt Sagorac, “you’re not losing anything.”
Sagorac argued that the golf course and the cottages are all being repurposed and that he feels the continual delays are a costly, futile effort. Stances clashed during the meeting as he explained he spent $7M of his own money on the property and that he should have the right to do what he wants with it and that the building structure itself wasn’t salvageable.
“You don’t even realize that the buildings have been deemed unsafe by both the Fire Department and a structural engineer,” he said, “I didn’t create this problem once again, but of course, the fingers always pointed at the new guy, right? And it just isn’t right, it isn’t right at all, and I just love it when people think they’re losing what they think is theirs.”
Sagorac contended he proposed a price to a different buyer and that he gave them 30 days to consider, and they didn’t make a deal.
“When I bought it, I took it, I wish it had been a public transition. No one has the money to pass $7,000,000 here; I spent the $7,000,000, it’s my money,” Sagorac stated, “don’t tell me how I can do it any differently, I wish I would have never done it.”
Photo Credit: The Alpine Resort
