PARK TWP. — A preserve with two bike skills courses, a blueberry patch, a hiking trail and a potential greenhouse has taken another step toward fruition in Park Township.
The Park Township Board of Trustees voted last week to explore an ordinance amendment that would allow private parks in the Agriculture and Permanent Open Space District. If approved, it would clear the path for Redlum Farm Preserve and Bike Park, a development on 20 acres of land donated by Larry Mulder at Greenly Street and 152nd Avenue.
The project is a partnership between Mulder, the Outdoor Discovery Center Network, and Park Township.
The park went before the Park Township Planning Commission in June for a possible rezoning from Agricultural Lands and Open Space to Public Lands and Open Space, but the commission instead recommended the ordinance change.
The decision didn't go without discussion. Park Township Supervisor Jim Gerard, in fact, asked trustees to accept the original proposal and rezone the property.
More: Biking, hiking trails part of proposed development at Greenly and 152nd
“I don’t do this often but I’m going to this time,” Gerard said. “I really appreciate what the planning commission does and have great respect for everything the planning commission does … (but) this is one of those times I’m going to recommend we don’t follow their recommendations, that we approve this.
“This is a gentleman that wants to do something wonderful for the community. Ultimately, the only thing (an ordinance change) does is postpone it by two months.”
That's because the amendment will need to return to the planning commission level, then back to the board.
Trustee Terry DeHaan disagreed with Gerard, calling the move "spot zoning." Community Development Director Meika Weiss previously told The Sentinel staffers were "leery" of rezoning the property because it's "in an agricultural zone and agricultural preservation has been (important)."
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Staff tentatively expects the amendment could appear on the August planning commission agenda, with a chance to return before trustees in September. If all goes well, the development would next move forward to site plan and special use review.
The planning commission meets next month Thursday, Aug. 22.
— Contact reporter Austin Metz at ametz@hollandsentinel.com.
This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: Park Township to explore ordinance amendment for Redlum Farm Preserve
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