KOHOE property managers respond to ongoing Watervliet Charter Township dispute
- Angela Widdis
- 19 hours ago
- 5 min read
After previous articles addressing the ongoing dispute between Watervliet Township officials, residents of the Deerwood Estates subdivision and KOHOE Properties, the property’s managers have issued a detailed rebuttal outlining their version of events and requesting formal clarification from the township regarding the property’s zoning status.
In a letter addressed to the Watervliet Township Board and officials on Aug. 20, 2026, Robert Holbrook said the purpose of the correspondence was to document KOHOE’s efforts to comply with regulations and to obtain an official zoning interpretation that the property managers say they have been seeking since January 2026.
Holbrook stated the property has a history as a summer camp and campground predating KOHOE’s ownership. According to the letter, the property was later privatized after being acquired by Harlan Berk, who is also the founder of Deerwood Estates. KOHOE purchased the property from Berk in 2020 with the stated goal of restoring its campground use and bringing tourism and economic activity back to the area.
The property managers also addressed the long-running dispute with the subdivision over access to the property. They said the dispute, which lasted from 2021 through 2025, centered on an easement involving Lot 11 and access from Harlan Drive, a road that is currently under the jurisdiction of Deerwood Estates’ Home Owners Association.
