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Committee approves Grand Haven Dunes memorandum of understanding to begin cooperative planning
Summary
The committee approved and forwarded to the board a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to establish interagency cooperative planning and management for the Grand Haven Dunes property, including a master plan, operations and maintenance plan, and natural resources management planning.
The Planning & Policy Committee on June 10 voted to approve and forward a memorandum of understanding aimed at cooperative planning for the Grand Haven Dunes property and the wider Grand River coastal corridor.
A county parks representative told commissioners the Grand River coastal corridor is a biodiversity hotspot and important birding area; the MOU is designed to create a framework for cooperative planning, public access, volunteer coordination, education and funding to implement plans. The representative said the initial focus will be on creating a master plan and operations and maintenance and natural resources management plans. Agencies and partners will have opportunities for input at every step.
The MOU notes parcels immediately north and south of the property (Ottawa Sands to the north and Ferrysburg/Kitch- courts/dune preserves to the south) and envisions coordinated planning across those adjacent lands. The parks representative said any physical projects such as trails will require cooperative funding decisions among partners.
The committee approved the motion by voice vote and forwarded the MOU to the full board. No specific funding appropriation was made at the committee level; staff said future plans will include identifying funding sources to implement the plans once partners finalize recommendations.
