United Growth for Kent County

Enewsletter 01/08/07

In This Issue

Articles

Welcome to the New United Growth for Kent County E-Newsletter and Web Site!

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We thought we'd start out the new year right by improving the look and function of our electronic newsletter and web site! Thanks to the Community Media Center's Grand Net for their excellent work and to the W.K. Kellogg Foundation for the funding to make this possible! United Growth for Kent County will continue to publish a quarterly newsletter where the winter and summer editions are electronic and the spring and fall editions are hard copy. All past newsletter editions since 2005 are available on the new web site at http://www.unitedgrowth.org.

We are still loading information up on the new web site (a big job!) so please keep visiting and remember to change your bookmarks! We are also working out the kinks with our new listserv for recipients of this e-newsletter. If you've received multiple copies of this e-newsletter, please send Merry Malfroid at a quick email to let her know and we will correct the problem. If you don't tell us, it will be difficult to fix. Thank you and Happy New Year!

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United Growth for Kent County Sets Goals for 2007

In an effort to determine a long-term vision for land use in Kent County, United Growth for Kent County conducted a vision and action planning session on November 21, 2006. Thirty United Growth members and friends participated in the process representing many diverse urban and rural interests, including: small business, township government, neighborhood associations, affordable housing, agri-business and environmental organizations.

Mary Robb, a professional facilitator and Muskegon/MSU Extension Director facilitated the session. The group brainstormed on the top land use issues in Kent County, what United Growth has done well in addressing land use issues, and what participants get out of United Growth for Kent County that they don't get out of participating with any other group.

The group then brainstormed answers to the following question: "What land use changes would you like to see in the next 10-20 years that United Growth for Kent County could impact?" Answers were compiled and voted on to determine the top priorities of the group. After the process, four goals were identified:

1. Revitalize existing neighborhoods and communities by revitalizing commercial corridors, creating walkability by designing for people instead of automobiles, better utilizing vacant land, and encouraging development in the inner-city.

2. Educate the public on land preservation tools and the benefits of the Purchase of Development Rights (PDR) program.

3. Increase density and mixed-use development along appropriate transit corridors.
4. Encourage intergovernmental communication and cooperation, especially along borders.

Members, as well as the public, will be invited to participate on committees that will be responsible for implementing each of the goals. Each committee will develop an action plan and then present it to the entire group for input. It is likely that grant funding will be sought to provide funding to implement each committee's action plan.

For more information, contact Kendra Wills at (616) 336-2028 or .

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Invitation to January 16, 2007 United Growth Coalition Meeting

Members of the public are invited to join United Growth for Kent County members and friends at the Tuesday, January 16, 2007 United Growth Coalition meeting from 8:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. at Kent/MSU Extension (775 Ball Ave NE Grand Rapids 49503). Participants will be invited to join one of four committees focused on each new goal.

Each committee will spend time at the meeting on January 16 narrowing down an action plan for 2007. At a future Coalition meeting, committees will present their action plans to the entire group for input before proceeding. Action plans will also be used to develop grant proposals seeking the necessary resources for implementation. Grant funds will leverage existing resources, which include membership dues and W.K. Kellogg Foundation grant support through the MSU Land Policy Institute.

There is no RSVP required for this meeting. For more information, contact Kendra Wills at (616)336-2028 or .

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United Growth for Kent County Plans First Membership Meeting

After becoming a non-profit corporation late last year, United Growth for Kent County will be hosting its first Membership Meeting. The Project Management Team is planning the event on Tuesday, March 20, 2007, from 8:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. at Kent/MSU Extension. The first Board of Directors of United Growth for Kent County, Inc. will be elected and the bylaws will be adopted. This will enable the group to pursue 501(c)3 status. Dr. June Thomas, an internationally recognized urban planning expert and professor at MSU, will be speaking.

Nominations for the Board of Directors will be accepted at the January 16, 2007 Coalition meeting and from the floor at the Membership Meeting. The bylaws currently state that a minimum of five members will be elected to the Board of Directors for a two year term.

Review of the bylaws will take place at the January and February Coalition meetings. A final draft copy of the bylaws will be posted online with notice to recipients of this e-newsletter prior to the Annual Meeting.

Only members in good standing will be allowed to cast a ballot for the Board of Directors. Individuals or organizations wishing to become a member should fill out the membership form located online at http://www.unitedgrowth.org and mail it to the new P.O. Box address. For more information, contact Kendra Wills at (616)336-2028 or .

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Governor Vetoes Agricultural Districts Legislation

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In a January 4, 2007 letter to the Legislature, the Governor states that she did not sign five bills, including the bill that would have allowed for the creation of agricultural districts, due to the enormous fiscal challenges the state budget faces. She also stated that sales tax revenues have dropped sharply in the past few months and the elimination of the Single Business Tax with no replacement "has created a massive fiscal hole."

Under the vetoed House Bill 4257 of 2006, the owner of farmland within an agricultural district would enter into a contract with the Michigan Department of Agriculture. The contract would require that farmland remain in agricultural use for an initial term of 20 years in exchange for an income tax credit that would reduce the landowner's income taxes to $7 per acre starting in 2008. To apply for an agricultural district, farmers would have to live in a county, city, village or townships that has adopted a resolution to participate under the act and has a comprehensive land use plan (master plan) that meets the same requirements as those set by the Michigan Agricultural Preservation Board for eligibility for state grant funding for PDR.

The Senate Fiscal Agency (SFA) stated that the bill would have no fiscal impact on local units of government but did estimate a reduction of State General Fund revenue by approximately $1.1 to $1.8 million in the first year, and as much as $8.9 million by the time enrollment closed in 2013.

The bill was supported by several organizations, including the Michigan Association of Counties, the Michigan Townships Association and the Michigan Farm Bureau.

Thanks to Steve Petrides for the continued use of his Kent County agriculture photographs!

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GrandWalk Trail to be Studied by MSU Planning Students

MSU planning practicum students will be conducting research and assessments along Indian Mill Creek within the GrandWalk boundaries to help determine the feasibility of a trail that would eventually connect the existing Muskatawa and White Pine trials. The information generated by the students will be shared with the several groups working in this area.

GrandWalk consists of an area of 1,200+ acres of industrial, commercial, residential, and natural land located in northwest Grand Rapids and the City of Walker. Right Place, Inc. has taken a leadership role in planning for GrandWalk’s economic, environmental, and social future. A Steering Team to advise this planning effort consists of representatives from: Grand Valley State University, City of Grand Rapids, City of Walker, Michigan State University, and Progressive AE.

Planning efforts for GrandWalk are just in the beginning phases. A primary planning focus in 2007 will be the development of a trail along Indian Mill Creek. The MSU planning students will assist in this planning by providing baseline demographic information on the area as well as data and recommendations on trail development.

Many groups have already been involved with Indian Mill Creek and trail development in the GrandWalk area. The MSU planning students will coordinate their work with these other efforts, which include:

• West Grand Neighborhood Organization
• Indian Mill Creek Watershed Advisory Council
• West Michigan Environmental Action Council
• West Michigan Trails and Greenways Council
• Steepletown Youth Group
• Walker’s Master Plan and Parks and Recreation Plan
• Grand Rapids’ Master Plan and Parks and Recreation Plan
• West Michigan Strategic Alliance green infrastructure plan

As part of their research, the MSU students will attempt to identify other stakeholders who should be involved. For further information, contact Carol Townsend at (616)336-2029 or at .

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Kent County PDR Program Update

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Three more farms are slated for preservation through the Kent County Purchase of Development Rights (PDR) Program in early 2007 bringing the total preserved acreage to 550 acres. These three farms are: the 75 acre Clayton and Mary Heffron Trust farm in Grattan Township, the 144 acre Richard Seif Estate farm in Grattan Township, and the 80 acre Linda Bradford Trust farm in Sparta Township.

The Bradford farm will be the first farm located on the Fruit Ridge to be preserved through the county PDR program, and will join the Bull farm in Tyrone Township which was preserved through the state PDR program. At least one more farm, the 152 acre Robinson farm in Sparta Township, will be preserved in 2007 if a grant from the Michigan Agricultural Preservation Fund is awarded. This will create a new corridor of preserved land within the Fruit Ridge region.

The Kent County PDR Program continues to be of interest to many landowners as 70 people attended a dinner and presentation held by the Kent County Agricultural Preservation Board in December at Grattan Township Hall. County Commissioner Gary Rolls, County Commissioner Elect Sandi Parrish and Ag Preservation Board Chair Dennis Heffron gave a 30 minute presentation on the status of the county PDR Program, including available funding, pending applications and next steps.

The presentation also included tips for PDR applicants to increase the likelihood their land will be preserved through PDR. Tips included: consider donating a portion of the value of your development rights as local matching funds and take advantage of a new federal tax deduction for conservation easement donations only available in 2007, consider donating funds to cover the cost of your development rights appraisal, talk with your local unit of government about updating their master plan to become qualified to access state grant funding for PDR. To date, only farms in Ada, Grattan, Lowell and Sparta Townships are eligible to access state grant funds for PDR.

Five new members were appointed to the Kent County Agricultural Preservation Board in 2007. The first meeting will take place on January 10, 2007 from 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. at Kent/MSU Extension. The 2007 application cycle dates and scoring criteria will be discussed at this meeting. 2007 Kent County Agricultural Board members are:

Dennis Heffon, Agricultural Representative (and United Growth for Kent County member)
Gabe Hudson, Agricultural Representative
Don Hilton, Agricultural Representative (and United Growth for Kent County member)
Chip Hurley, Conservation Interest Representative
Mari Stone, Township Representative (and United Growth for Kent County member)
John Francis, Real Estate/Land Development Representative
Gary Rolls, Kent County Commissioner

The Kent County PDR Program was fortunate enough to have two volunteer interns who have greatly contributed to the program. Thank you Tom Tilma and Bill Poelma for your excellent work! Thank you also to Sarah Shannon, GVSU student, who wrote a grant proposal for the PDR Program for her grantwriting class.

Purchase of Development Rights is only one of many tools to preserve farmland. PDR in a voluntary program that accepts applications on an annual basis from owners of prime and unique farmland. Successful applicants are paid for the value of their development rights, as determined by an appraisal, in exchange for a permanent agricultural conservation easement on the property. The Kent County Board of Commissioners adopted the ordinance establishing the Kent County PDR Program in November of 2002. Funding for the Kent County program comes from federal and state grant programs as well as local townships, landowner and individual contributions as well as over $1 million in support from local foundations. To date, the Kent County PDR Program has preserved two farms, the 106 acre Howard farm in Vergennes Township and the 145 acre Flanagan farm in Grattan Township.

For more information on the Kent County PDR Program, contact Kendra Wills at (616)336-2028 or or visit the newly updated Kent County PDR Program web site at http://www.accesskent.com/YourGovernment/BOC/PDR.

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Participation in Zoning Re-Write Encouraged

Grand Rapids continues its process of re-writing the Zoning Code. A new schedule of meetings has been released by Suzanne Schulz, City Planning Director, and the Grand Rapids Planning Commission. United Growth’s Urban Committee is encouraging neighborhood residents and business owners to participate.

The Grand Rapids Master Plan was passed and adopted in 2002. In order to fully implement the Master Plan, a new Zoning Code needs to be written. The new deadline for completing this is now August 2007 - a timeline longer than anyone had wanted.

The new meeting schedule for the zoning ordinance begins January 10, 2007, and continues with a series of meetings first with the public and the planning staff. Then eight days after the public meeting, the Planning Commission will meet to review that section of the ordinance just reviewed by the public. A complete list of the meetings can be found at http://www.unitedgrowth.org/pdfs/coalition_docs/Zoning_participation_schedule_2007.pdf

The Urban Committee would like to organize a citywide meeting at the end of May when a complete draft of the ordinance is completed. This would give the public an opportunity to see the ordinance in its totality. Keep checking United Growth’s web page for the latest information on this meeting.

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New Citizen Planner Online Program

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The Citizen Planner Online program provides a convenient way for volunteer community leaders to obtain the latest technical knowledge and information needed to preform their duties more effectively and responsibly. Now all seven modules offered through the classroom-based program are available online. Participants may choose to take any combination of modules and units. Modules are $69.99 each. Registration information is available at http://www.citizenplanner.msu.edu/online.

Each module is designed to provide a comprehensive learning experience, whether you are a new planning official or an experienced professional looking for a refresher. The seven modules are:

1. Planning Official Roles and Responsibilities
2. The Zoning Process
3. Legal Foundations
4. The Comprehensive Plan
5. The Planning Process
6. Zoning Tools and Techniques
7. The Art of Community Planning

A reception to formally launch the Citizen Planner Online program will be held on Thursday, January 25, 2007 from 4:00 - 6:00 p.m. at the Kellogg Hotel and Conference Center in East Lansing. MSU President Dr. Lou Anna K. Simon will lead a ribbon cutting ceremony and remarks will be given by MSU Extension Director Dr. Tom Coon, MSU Land Policy Institute Director Dr. Soji Adelaja, Senator Patricia Birkholz (invited) and Representative Kevin Elsenheimer. A hands-on demonstration of the online program will also be available. If you would like to attend this public reception, RSVP by January 18 to (517)432-7600.

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