SN 8.7.2021 FINAL

Page 2/The Sun and News, Saturday, August 7, 2021

Gaines Township Approves

First Phase of Alexander

Trails Housing Complex

James Gemmell
Contributing Writer
First-phase development
of a major housing project in
Gaines Charter Township
appears ready to get under-
way soon, after a long delay.
The township planning
commission voted 6-0 at its
July 22 meeting to give ten-
tative approval to the first
phase of the Alexander Trails
preliminary plat, which will
encompass 58 residential lots
on 29 acres. The township
board will now take up the
resolution to evaluate the
layout for the project’s first
phase.
The rest of the project
won’t go before the board
until sometime in the future.
The entire development, to
be built over 15 years, will
feature nearly 400 residential
units. The township approved
a planned unit development
designation for the project
last year.
The number of phases
that eventually will be need-
ed to complete the project
has not been determined. The
location is on a 159-acre par-
cel between Breton and
Hanna Lake avenues, north
of 76th Street.
Groundbreaking on Phase 1
was expected soon, accord-
ing to township planners.
And that can’t come quickly

enough for the developers,

who first presented the plan

to the township in December

2018.

Grand Rapid-based

Eastbrook Homes and

Signature Land Development

Corporation are the develop-

ers. Nederveld Inc. is the

project planner and engineer.

Rick Pulaski with Nederveld

told the planning commis-

sion that the COVID-19 pan-

demic and a lighting conflict

with a neighboring property

delayed the project getting

underway as quickly as

planned.

The rezoning for a

planned united development

was approved by the town-

ship in August 2020. The

PUD designation allows the

developer more flexibility in

determining lot sizes and

laying out the development

than the previous single-fam-

ily designation would have.

Meanwhile, several

neighbors have expressed

concern to township officials

about the extra traffic anoth-

er major development will

cause in the area, especially

along 76th Street.

The first phase of the

project going through the

approval process right now

will cover 29 acres. The

overall PUD plan, factoring

in properties that won’t be

considered until sometime in

the future, will have 399

units. That breaks down as

218 single-family homes, 84

two-story condominiums,

five two-unit ranch condos,

20 three-unit ranch condos,

six four-unit ranch condos

and three 76th Street outpar-

cels. The development even-

tually will be built on both

sides of Plaster Creek.

“Once those lots are

established, basically they’ve

got to make the lines on the

map for individual home-

owners’ lots, to be official,”

Township Planner Dan Wells

said.

“We are ready to bring it

forward now,” Pulaski told

the planning commission.

“These all will be single-fam-

ily, platted lots ... and we are

crossing Plaster Creek with

our road, getting it closer to

the Sienna Pointe subdivi-

sion.”

That does not sit well

with some residents of that

subdivision. Leon Pratt was

quoted in a Sun and News

article last year telling the

township board that building

a bridge over the creek would

lead to increased traffic con-

gestion.

A farmer who lives on

the northeast boundary of the

property told the planning

commission at its July meet-

ing the large development

also will lead to more off-

road vehicles driving over

farmland and destroying

crops.

But Pulaski said he fig-

ures the managers of the

housing developments will

“police” the situation well.

The first phase of

Alexander Trails will be for

single-family platted lots

only, Pulaski said, with a

“fair amount” of off-site

water main being extended

to the site, and a pump sta-

tion for wastewater being

added. Pulaski said that will

be in accordance with the

township’s master plan for

sanitary sewer. Sewer lines

will be extended to the site,

he said, “and that will poten-

tially serve other purposes,

as well.”

Underground utilities

also will be installed.

Jim & Jane Uyl Celebrate

50th Wedding Anniversary

Congratulations to Jim and Jane Uyl of Caledonia as they

celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on August 6.

They were married August 6, 1971. Their children are

Mark (Marcy), David (Kristin), Steve (Payshence),

and Kristin (Eric). They have 7 grandchildren, Jackson,

Grant, Madison, Eli, Wyatt, Logan, and Hudson.

With 9 Wines (Beer Coming Soon)

Hours: 12pm-8pm Tues.-Sat. • 12pm-4pm Sun

9175 Cherry Valley Ave SE, Caledonia

616.710.

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Beginning development of the Alexander Trails housing project in Gaines Charter

Township is expected to get underway next spring. (Image provided)

Blake Monroe (center) recently received the Travis Wenger Memorial Scholarship.

Joining him are (from left) Stephanie, Macy, Phil, Tyler, Becky and Madilynn Wenger.

(Photo provided)

Travis Wenger Memorial Scholarship

awarded to TKHS grad Blake Monroe

The family of Travis

Wenger again presented the

Travis Wenger Memorial

Scholarship at the Barry

County Fair.

This year’s recipient was

Blake Monroe, a 2021

graduate of Thornapple

Kellogg High School. He is

the son of Tracy and Shawn

Monroe.

Blake Monroe was

involved in 4-H for eight

years, mainly showing pigs.

He plans to attend Olivet

College to study exercise

science.

Wenger, the son of Phil

and Becky Wenger of

Middleville, was active in

Barry County 4-H as a youth.

He died in an automobile

accident in 2002 at the age of

19.

Attending the presentation

were Travis Wenger’s

parents, his brother, Tyler,

and Tyler’s wife, Stephanie,

and their daughters, Macy

and Madilynn.

“We are ready to bring it forward now. These all

will be single-family, platted lots ... and we are

crossing Plaster Creek with our road, getting it

closer to the Sienna Pointe subdivision.”

Rick Pulaski, Nederveld Inc.