I.
Lake Michigan and Grand River Coastline
In addition to equitable access to the coast, it is well documented that residential or commercial real estate near water is valuable. Increased land value translates to increased public tax revenues for public goods and services. A coastline access and land plan could coordinate the right balance between existing and new public and private real estate frontages and/ or create addresses with frontages onto a public linear park near the water’s edge. Striking the right balance of public and private investments, with stakeholder input, would foster win-win development scenarios.
The significance of Grand Haven’s coastline in terms of neighborhood and economic development cannot be understated. In order to maintain this potential development opportunity, the coastline must be carefully curated with respect to coastal and inland ecologies.
Lake Michigan, The Grand River, and their tributary coastlines are becoming more volatile due to changes in climate variability and unusual climate events, such as artic cold air bursts. These global trends effect the lakes annual precipitation and evaporation cycles creating an unpredictable oscillation between low and high water levels.
Evidence for this has already been recorded. Lake Michigan and its tributaries had unprecedented low water levels in 2013 (lowest since records began in 1918) and then unprecedented high levels already in 2019-2020 (highest since records began in 1918). Environmental and Climate Scientists from the Great Lakes Integrated Sciences and Assesments (GLISA) believe that this trend is a “new normal” for the Great Lakes region. (GLISA is a joint think tank between the University of Michigan and Michigan State University with support from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Agency (NOAA)).
The unpredictability of lake levels creates a challenge to maintain an ecologically balanced coastline with respect to the city. The oscillation of high and low water levels can lead to coastal erosion. When water levels are low, there is a risk of resource depletion; as well as risks to property value.
Coastline Curation and Conservation
II.
Furthermore, when water levels are high, the city’s storm water management system is stressed with potential overflow and flooding. Oscillation between high and low water levels calls attention to what scientists call the lake’s “water budget”. If the range of water that flows in and out of the Great Lakes water system becomes out of balance there is a disruptive ecological ripple effect. Volatility also concerns land value and in some instances property assets such as buildings.
A key planning initiative should focus on the proper curation of coastal wetlands along the river and dune landscapes along the lake in order to mitigate ecological imbalance and property risks.
Example: Coastline Curation, conservation, and reclamation planning
Wetlands and dune landscapes are natural buffers to flooding and erosion. These landscapes slowly release excess storm water from potential overflow zones, gradually mitigating the effects of storm surges and heavy rain events. Wetlands and dune landscapes also stabilize the soil at each coastline and prevent erosion.
Wetland and dune landscape conservation is important, including if possible, protecting these landscapes from over development, known as encroachment. In extreme instances, policy incentives are even able to create “retreat” zones to reverse development. For example, many Atlantic coastal cities have begun to demarcate lowland areas at most risk of flooding or coastal erosion, and incentivize what is termed “managed retreat.” Overdevelopment in wetland areas was brought into clear focus following initiatives in response to Hurricane Sandy in 2013.
Grand Haven is not threatened by hurricane super storms, however, there are lake and river way lowlands at risk of rain flood events and coastline erosion. To prepare for such risks, reclamation zones within the flood and erosion plane could be demarcated, and properties on brownfield or underutilized parcels,such as parking lots, could be repurposed. Selected sites could be integrated into an ecologically sensitive park network and serve both recreation and infrastructural purposes. In addition, existing property owners and future coastline development can be informed of flood and erosion mitigation strategies, and incentivized to retrofit their properties according to coastal development best practices.
Examples:
A. The wetland areas to the east and west of the US31 drawbridge between Grand Haven, Fruitport, and Spring lake is a possible zone for reclamation and park development. A long term plan should imagine the conversion and revitalization of Harbor Island. There are many contemporary precedents of post industrial sites converted to high-value add public parks mixed with energy production. (Noted as “A” on city map.)
B. The parking lots in the Jackson St. Shopping Complex could be more efficiently organized and benefit from a coastal plan that is both accessible, ecologically sensitive, including a potential for increased building density with new infill development. (Noted as “B” on city map.)
C. The industrial district and airport land area is a possible land use that could couple multiple uses and renewable energy investments. Many of the developments were built as an “industry in the park” building typology. These areas could be zoned for wind energy investments. Furthermore, airport regulations limit vertical obstructions, and thus contain considerable land area for possible solar energy production. (Noted as “C” on city map.)
D. Development guidelines for property owners within the coastal dune landscape and riverfront edge could be a responsible way to maintain a healthy lake coastline that is mutually beneficial to its owners (who have an invested stake in their coastal properties), and citizens at large (who have access the water within the tidal zone). (Noted as “D” on pg. 4 city map.)
The selection of examples above concern the curation of the natural and built environment at Grand Haven’s coastline, one of the city’s most important geographic assets. Further geographic and planning investigations are able to enrich our understanding of the city’s existing assets, and the challenges and opportunities for the city’s future sustainable development. Inquiry into the city’s neighborhoods, and its commerical and industrial districts could provide a spatial and organizational framework for further inquiry.
In the first place, an observer is struck by the fact that Grand Haven has approximately 10 miles of coastline at the nexus of Lake Michigan and the Grand River: two of the most abundant and valuable water bodies in the entire State of Michigan. In other words, more than 50% of the city limit is determined by a coastline!
This geographic asset provides economic opportunities – in terms recreation, commerce, housing and industry - especially in an era of increased attention and investments in “green” technologies, and new living and working trends. In addition to economic opportunities, there is a responsibility to maintain the livelihood of this water resource for generations to come.
The cities historical and future prosperity will remain tied to a careful curation, conservation, and utilization of the economic, community, and environmental opportunities in and around the city’s coastlines. This will require documentation, planning, and strategic visioning.
Example: Coastline access and land planning
Along the civic portion of the Grand River’s mouth and the Grand Haven State Park there is continuous access to the waterfront. However, inland at the Grand River channels and bayous, there is less continuity of coastal access. Along the South Channel to the Lost Channel and into the Pottawatomie Bayou there is an opportunity to join the various coastal open spaces into a linear park network (See below). This network can be multi-functional, serving economic, community and infrastructural needs.
For example, the East Grand River Park, Klempel Park, Mercury Park, and Pottawattomie Park could form nodes of a continuous network, with additional open spaces added in the future. An East to West “Lakeshore - River Connector” through the industrial zone at Hayes Street to the Lakeshore bike network near the Rosy Mound park entrance could close the network and form a continuous loop. Imagine, a park system that is adjacent to every major residential, commercial, and industrial district within the city of Grand Haven and township edges, providing all citizens access to the city’s coastline!
© PĀR
