Ottawa County Grand River Collaboration Resolution

At a regular meeting of the OTTAWA COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS, held at the Ottawa County Fillmore Street Complex in Olive Township, Michigan on the 24th day of August 2021, at 3 o’clock p.m. local time.

It was moved by and supported by Gregory DeJong that the following resolution be adopted.  WHEREAS, the Grand River (hereinafter called “River”) in Ottawa County, from the initial habitation by the first peoples to the present, has been one of the most significant natural, cultural, and economic features of the area;

WHEREAS, the River’s resources have historically been heavily utilized and impaired through overuse and pollution;

WHEREAS, over the past several decades, there has been a concerted and successful effort by public and private entities to restore and revitalize the River in West Michigan, including substantial efforts by several agencies to improve and enhance the 38-mile section of the River located within Ottawa County;

WHEREAS, since 1987, there has been a documented investment by Ottawa County public agencies of an estimated $60 million to protect critical riparian lands and enhance public access. Through this effort access has improved for every local unit of government directly along
the River;

WHEREAS, current plans for future public investment along the River corridor in Ottawa County total nearly $100 million;

WHEREAS, scientific and planning studies over the past several decades show the significant value of protected and unprotected lands along the River corridor for environmental and public health, and also note the opportunity for further enhancement and protection if a coordinated plan of action across relevant agencies and stakeholders can be developed;

WHEREAS, these studies include the recently completed Grand River Coastal Corridor Assessment (2021) by Audubon Great Lakes which noted that the intersection of the River corridor and Lake Michigan has been identified as a globally recognized Important Birding Area;

WHEREAS, there are several specific areas where opportunities for further enhancement and protection could be explored, including, but not limited to, the following:

1. A connected corridor of over 2,400 acres of public land in the area where the River intersects with the Lake Michigan dune and beach lands was recently completed, thereby offering significant opportunities to enhance and improve quality of life, to preserve and enhance environmental integrity, and to create new economic benefits;
2. A corridor of 2,000 acres of protected land, including and surrounding the Bass River State Recreation Area, will soon be further integrated with construction of the Idema Explorers Trail, opening the way for additional cooperation and planning efforts by the agencies involved to best utilize the land for recreation and restoration;
3. Some areas of the River corridor have relatively less protected land in comparison to other areas, including very the northern end of the corridor, where there are quality natural features such as ravines and wetlands areas
4. Some areas of the River corridor lack direct public boat/kayak access, again particularly on the northeastern end; unique riverfront communities such as the Lamont and Eastmanville are located in these areas and could benefit from public river access in their
communities;
5. High quality remote and natural spaces existing along the Crockery Creek and Bruce Bayoucomplexes feature some land protected and managed for conservation, but could provide even greater value with additional protection, especially as a large “wild” space that is atypical in this area of West Michigan; furthermore, this area has a special interest for indigenous people, and is identified as a large corridor of “resilient” land according to an analysis by The Nature Conservancy;
6. The Grand Valley State University Allendale Campus is also a critical component of vibrant and diverse community life, economic activity, and unique ecological characteristics (several natural features inventories note the exceptional quality of the ecological features of the GVSU riverfront ravines properties) with adjacent or future connections to public land presenting opportunities to better integrate and collaboratively
manage 900 acres of wooded ravines;

WHEREAS, current and planned regional land and water trail connections along the River corridor are developing and could be optimally integrated if a plan is implemented to create a seamless user experience, consistent wayfinding, coordinated marketing of these trails, and coordinated land use planning associated with the trail corridors;

WHEREAS, several recreational and planning studies have identified the tremendous potential for the various amenities and features along the River to attract residents and talent to the area, to enhance quality of life, and to attract visitors, particularly in coordination with amenities and features that exist or are in development upriver;

WHEREAS, continued investment in the River will result in greater integration with the Kent County Grand River amenities, including the connection of the Idema Explorers Trail in Georgetown Township to Kent Trails in Grandville, the removal of dams in Grand Rapids (creating a connected water trail from Grand Haven to Riverside Park in Grand Rapids, as well as destinations further upriver), and the development of overnight camping amenities at Ottawa Sands that would serve hikers, bikers, and kayakers coming from the east;

WHEREAS, similar regional-scale recreational amenities across the nation have led to millions and, in some cases, billions of dollars in real estate development and community transformation in communities such as New York City, Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, Detroit, Nashville, and Knoxville;

WHEREAS, these existing and future amenities will drive demand for housing and tourism facilities along the River, and several studies have noted that a coordinated plan would help facilitate the successful integration of future development and public riverfront properties, while maintaining the character of the river, and promoting equitable access;

WHEREAS, directed efforts are underway/in development in Kent and Ottawa Counties to monitor surface and groundwater quality, and coordinated monitoring of water quality on the River could complement any planning efforts and provide benchmarks/measurables for supporting and promoting the best possible water quality;

WHEREAS, the Land Use Survey of the Grand River in Ottawa County, Michigan (1985), Grand River Greenway Study (1995), the Natural and Cultural Features of the Inventory of the Grand River (1998), the Grand River Heritage Water Trail – Assessment and Improvement Plan (2016), the Grand River Identity Study (2020), and the Grand River Coastal Corridor Assessment (2021) all indicate the need for coordinated action, further engagement
with Tribal nations, equitable access to amenities and features, and “landscape-level” planning to protect, enhance, and take advantage of this significant natural resource and the past and future investments that have been and will be made to protect and enhance it;

WHEREAS, River stakeholders in Ottawa County, involving local and state agencies, GVSU, and key non-profit and private entities, support a coordinated regional, “landscape-level” scale planning effort that could lay groundwork needed to engage with possible partners in Kent County and the Tribal nations;

WHEREAS, this could lead to an Ottawa County Grand River Partnership which could review the feasibility of a coordinated River corridor planning effort similar to the Grand Rapids “River for All” plan; this planning effort could potentially include, but would not be limited to,
the following:

1. Examine needs for regional trail coordination, gaps in trail connectivity, and wayfinding, and determine whether a defined Grand River trail network on both sides of the River should be established;
2. Identify and provide concepts for “opportunity” sites along the river (e.g. land preservation, new parks, mixed-use and affordable housing, mobility improvements);
3. Review the potential to collaboratively market the River corridor to residents and visitors;
4. Develop “landscape-level” conservation planning for the River corridor;
5. Develop River-focused arts and interpretive planning;
6. Review needs for additional dedicated facilities along the River (e.g. visitor centers, research centers, and/or history/culture centers);
7. Review options for long-term River-based partnerships within Ottawa County and West Michigan;

WHEREAS, coordination of any possible formal corridor plan for the Grand River should occur where applicable in collaboration with the Ottawa County Planning and Performance Improvement Department’s emerging critical effort to create a Countywide Coordinated Future Land Use Plan, which will provide the context and critical data to effectively inform such river corridor planning efforts with respect to rigorously and strategically identifying “opportunity” sites along the river, including but not limited to, sites for land and farmland preservation, new regional parks, affordable housing developments, place-making sites, and mixed-use developments; and provide recommendations for mobility, transit, and transportation
improvements;

NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the OTTAWA COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS recognizes the significant natural, cultural, and economic value of the River;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the OTTAWA COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS supports efforts to protect and enhance the River corridor’s natural, cultural, and historical resources, provide enhanced river access that preserves the river’s character, and desires to better coordinate initiatives along the River corridor;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED the OTTAWA COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS will designate representatives to participate in preliminary discussions regarding the establishment of the Ottawa County Grand River Partnership.

Yeas: Allen Dannenberg, Joseph Baumann, Matthew Fenske, Randall Meppelink, Kyle Terpstra, Francisco Garcia, Gregory DeJong, James Holtvluwer, Douglas Zylstra, Roger Bergman.
Nays: None