19 May Ms. Karen High Oshtemo Township 7275 West Main Street Kalamazoo, MI Greenway Planning Study Preliminary DRAFT Report

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1 19 May 2016 Ms. Karen High Oshtem Twnship 7275 West Main Street Kalamaz, MI Re: Greenway Planning Study Preliminary DRAFT Reprt Dear Ms. High: O Byle, Cwell, Blalck & Assciates, Inc. (OCBA), in cllabratin with the Suthwest Michigan Land Cnservancy (SWMLC), is pleased t present the fllwing preliminary reprt identifying ptential greenway crridrs that have the ptential t include nn-mtrized trail rutes within natural crridrs in the interir f Oshtem Twnship. OCBA prvided planning and develpment while SWMLC prvided expertise in natural area evaluatin thrugh gegraphic infrmatin systems (GIS) data assessment and in the field. The Oshtem Twnship 2012 Nn-Mtrized Plan Update recmmends a framewrk fr nnmtrized cnnectins between areas f higher ppulatin and majr destinatins in the Twnship. The framewrk fllws existing key crridrs and recmmends imprvements t the rad right-f-way r alternatives that utilize the lcal rads and ff-rad pathways. In cntrast, the Twnship s gal fr this study is t identify a ptential framewrk fr greenways and assciated nn-mtrized trails thrugh the interir f the Twnship that relate t natural cnditins. With this in mind, the ptential greenways framewrk shuld identify pssible crridrs fr a system that cnnects t the existing and prpsed nn-mtrized trail system as well as make cnnectins between such elements as parks and cmmercial ndes. The planning effrts cmpleted t date lked fr patterns f pen space and prperty wnership that have the ptential t be develped int greenway crridrs capable f including pssible nn-mtrized trails. The greenway crridrs wuld prvide ptential rutes fr nnmtrized trails as well as ecsystem services in the frm f scenic viewsheds and ther public spaces; wildlife crridrs; permeable land cver t prmte strmwater infiltratin and grundwater recharge; and ther envirnmental benefits. We used existing available data frm the Twnship and ther surces t evaluate such natural and cultural characteristics as sils, tpgraphy, water resurces, wetlands, vegetatin, histric structures, land wnership, and existing and future land use t explre pssible crridrs. After an initial meeting t discuss the Twnship s initial gals and bjectives, we have develped a preliminary greenway crridr map and recmmendatins n future steps t mve the prcess frward and identify issues t be reslved. O Byle, Cwell, Blalck & Assciates, Inc. 521 Suth Riverview Drive Kalamaz, Michigan

2 Oshtem Twnship Greenways Study Greenway planning, criteria and strategies fr implementatin Page 2 Oshtem Twnship Greenways Study Greenway planning, gals and bjectives, and implementatin strategies What is a Greenway? "A greenway is a crridr f pen space, varying greatly in scale, and incrprating r linking diverse natural, cultural, and scenic resurces. Sme greenways are recreatinal crridrs r scenic byways accmmdating pedestrian and nn-mtrized vehicle traffic n bth land and water; while thers functin almst exclusively fr envirnmental prtectin and are nt designed fr human passage." Surce: Pennsylvania Greenways - An Actin Plan fr Creating Cnnectins. Purpse f the Greenway Plan The greenway planning prcess will examine the varius methds by which Oshtem Twnship culd develp a greenway netwrk t help preserve its essential natural resurces, character and quality f life. The purpse f this prject is t develp a netwrk f cnnectins between the Twnship s diverse natural areas, its varius cultural, histric, and recreatinal resurces, and lcal ppulatin centers. These cnnectins will help t preserve the Twnship s natural resurces and pen spaces while prviding valuable recreatinal pprtunities fr lcal residents. Types f Greenways The greenway planning prcess fr OshtemTwnship shuld explre and define the type f greenways that best fit the Twnship. Generally, there are tw types f greenways as fllws: Cnservatin Greenways are crridrs whse primary functin is preservatin f sensitive envirnmental features and habitats, such as wetlands, steep slpes, fldplains, exceptinal value water-quality streams, high-value natural areas identified by the Oshtem Twnship Natural Heritage Inventry, utstanding gelgic r scenic features, and land surrunding the Twnship s drinking water surces. They are linear tracts f essentially undevelped pen space. Sme lwimpact activity, like hiking r wildlife bservatin, is acceptable in these crridrs, but intense develpment and mtrized vehicle use are nt recmmended. O Byle, Cwell, Blalck & Assciates, Inc. 521 Suth Riverview Drive Kalamaz, Michigan

3 Oshtem Twnship Greenways Study Greenway planning, criteria and strategies fr implementatin Page 3 Recreatinal and Transprtatin Greenways are crridrs in which trail develpment is recmmended. These greenways cnnect ppulatin centers and pints f interest. They bring peple int cntact with the utdrs and engender an appreciatin f the natural wrld. These trails als prvide alternative, envirnmentally-friendly transprtatin ptins fr cmmuters and visitrs. In sme cases, recreatinal trails verlay areas where cnservatin f natural assets is als an bjective. T avid cnflicts, recreatinal uses shuld be planned t minimize impacts. Fr example, a biking trail alng a river r stream crridr shuld be designed t preserve steep slpes, wetlands, and ther sensitive areas. Develping a greenway plan: a three-step prcess. The verall prcess t develp a greenway is best described as a three-step prcess. Inventry phase, during which infrmatin abut the Twnship s natural, cultural, histrical, and scenic assets is gathered t identify ptential cnservatin and/r recreatin crridrs. This step is nearly cmplete as described belw, althugh the data shuld be reviewed and cnfirmed. Visin phase, during which planning prcess synthesizes infrmatin gathered in the inventry phase int a prpsed netwrk f greenways and/r trails linking imprtant destinatins thrughut the Twnship. Implementatin phase, which prvides infrmatin and recmmendatins n implementing the Greenways Plan. It shuld include specific tls such as recmmended management structure, priritized trail and greenway segments, ptential funding surces, and suggestins fr pilt/demnstratin prjects. Preliminary Inventry One f the main gals in identifying ptential greenway crridrs during the preliminary inventry in Oshtem Twnship was t identify cnnectivity between existing natural landscapes that wuld be used by wildlife. T these ends the Twnship was evaluated using GIS map layers and then verified via n the grund rad surveys t evaluate natural cnditins at a very carse level. SWMLC staff lked fr ptential natural landscapes using a variety f land cver data prvided by Oshtem Twnship. Land cver f varius frest types, wetlands, and nnagricultural fields were cnsidered as gd ptential fr wildlife usage. These land cver types were further evaluated using a series f aerial images frm 1998 t Lking at histric images prvided cntext as t which lands had seen significant change ver the last tw decades which wuld typically indicate a decrease in eclgical integrity. In mst cases, dramatic remval f vegetatin cver indicates clearing fr a land use incmpatible fr wildlife while a significant increase in wdy vegetatin ver a relatively O Byle, Cwell, Blalck & Assciates, Inc. 521 Suth Riverview Drive Kalamaz, Michigan

4 Oshtem Twnship Greenways Study Greenway planning, criteria and strategies fr implementatin Page 4 shrt perid f time indicates a likely invasin f nn-native invasive shrubs such as autumn live and Tartarian hneysuckle. After identifying ptential blcks f gd wildlife habitat, cnnectivity between blcks was cnsidered with majr rads, husing develpments, and ther active uses f the landscape cnsidered as likely barriers t wildlife mvement. One f the mst significant barriers fr wildlife mvement and trails is M-43 which in effect bisects the Twnship. Higher density f husing was cnsidered a ptential barrier fr wildlife while larger lts with natural landscaping present less f a barrier fr mst wildlife. Nature preserves, arbretums, and ther prtected natural areas were given special cnsideratin as t their value fr wildlife. Additinal layers were cnsidered as having ptential implicatins fr lng term cnservatin value such as grundwater recharge, parcel size, wetland designatin, and thers. These layers largely served t cnfirm the lcatin f crridrs previusly identified. While the attached mapping f the crridrs identified shws sharply defined edges, they shuld be cnsidered as general regins suitable fr wildlife mvement. It wuld take a mre detailed evaluatin f existing cnditins and develpment f cnservatin values weighted fr imprtance by stake hlders t identify areas f specific cnservatin values. Public Participatin Greenway planning shuld invlve an intensive public participatin prcess that slicits knwledge and expertise frm lcal residents and fficials - thse wh knw Oshtem Twnship best. During this prcess, input wuld be btained thrugh the fllwing: Steering Cmmittee. A steering cmmittee wuld be assembled t help guide the planning prcess. Members culd include representatives f Twnship Gvernment, public and private schl districts, and nn-prfit rganizatins and ther stakehlders having expertise in planning, recreatin, agriculture, and cnservatin. The Steering Cmmittee wuld review and cmment n all aspects f the Greenways Plan as it is develped. Public Meetings. At least tw meetings shuld be held t btain feedback n the plan frm the general public. The first meeting wuld intrduce the planning prcess and slicit infrmatin abut significant Twnship destinatins, natural areas wrth cnserving, and ptential trail pprtunities. At the secnd meeting, the draft Greenways Plan wuld be presented and the public asked t cmment n its recmmendatins. Significant cmments wuld be addressed in the final plan. Fcus Grups - In additin, Twnship staff and/r cnsultants wuld hld meetings with fcus grups, r lcal rganizatins interested in varius aspects f the Greenways Plan. The fcus f such meetings wuld be a cncentratin n each grup s interests that may parallel ideals f greenway planning. O Byle, Cwell, Blalck & Assciates, Inc. 521 Suth Riverview Drive Kalamaz, Michigan

5 Oshtem Twnship Greenways Study Greenway planning, criteria and strategies fr implementatin Page 5 Gals and bjectives With preserving and enhancing the Twnship s character and quality f life as the main gal f the Greenway Plan, specific bjectives such as the fllwing culd be develped t supprt this main gal: Prtect existing natural areas primarily fr eclgical health and preservatin f wildlife habitat; Prmte the preservatin f agricultural land; Prvide recreatinal pprtunities fr Twnship residents thrugh preservatin and cnnectin f existing pen spaces; Prmte ecnmic grwth via recreatinal r ec-turism; Educate Twnship residents n the aspects and benefits f Greenways Planning, including the benefits f implementatin f the gals listed abve. Greenways can serve many functins. When determining the guiding principles t be used t designate greenways fr Oshtem Twnship, cnsider the bjectives established in the early part f the planning prcess. The gals and bjectives shuld supprt the general functins that define prpsed Greenways in Oshtem Twnship. Strategies fr Implementatin The Greenways Plan shuld ffer step-by-step recmmendatins utlining the prcess f implementing the prpsed greenways netwrk in Oshtem Twnship. This is the sequence f events needed t carry the Greenways Plan frm the visin described earlier t cmpletin f cnservatin and recreatin greenway crridrs. Fr each brad bjective, the plan shuld specify a sequence f priritized tasks, alng with respective estimated csts, and the parties respnsible fr leadership and assistance in the undertaking f each task. Respnsible parties will need t seek funding thrugh grants r cst reimbursement prgrams thrughut the implementatin prcess. This sectin shuld als prvide lists f ptential funding surces. The tasks culd be priritized int three designatins: Shrt-term (S) pririties shuld be accmplished in the first 2 years after fficial adptin f the Greenways Plan. These strategies will lay the fundatin fr successful implementatin f the greenways plan. Middle-term (M) pririties shuld be undertaken in years 3 thrugh 5. Lng-term (L) pririties are expected t begin 5 r mre years dwn the rad. O Byle, Cwell, Blalck & Assciates, Inc. 521 Suth Riverview Drive Kalamaz, Michigan

6 Oshtem Twnship Greenways Study Greenway planning, criteria and strategies fr implementatin Page 6 Many f the strategies have little r n cst beynd the administrative csts t be incurred by the respnsible parties. Where recmmended tasks require an additinal expense fr implementatin, a cst estimate wuld be included. Advancing Individual Greenway Segments In rder t gain wide-spread acceptance f the greenway plan and build mmentum tward ultimate implementatin, it will be helpful t identify small steps that have a high prbability f success t create early wins. The fllwing steps shw the prcess that the Twnship may take t advance the implementatin f a specific greenway segment. Apprach the cmmunity t educate them n the benefits f establishing greenways. Wrk with stakehlders t identify a demnstratin prject that will result in a success stry, achieve cnsensus and supprt fr advancing the prject. Meet with lcal supprters t discuss greenway prtectin and/r trail develpment, plan a strategy fr appraching landwner(s) in the prject area, and identify land trusts r ther rganizatins as pssible partners. Determine wh will hld prperty r easement if prperty acquisitin r easement establishment is successful. Assist partners in determining the need fr further planning and the feasibility f prperty acquisitin r easement establishment. Help partners t anticipate questins, issues, and cncerns f landwner(s). Prepare a respnse detailing hw prper planning will specifically address landwner questins and issues, alleviate cncerns, and prmte healthy relatinships between the Twnship and landwner(s). Cach Twnship fficials and partners in preparing t negtiate the acquisitin r establishment f easements n the greenway segment. Apprach landwner(s) with Twnship fficials and partners t discuss the prject, identify landwner issues / cncerns, and address the ability f planning and design t address thse cncerns in a manner acceptable t the all parties. Ask landwner(s) permissin t advance planning and design f the greenway segment. Schedule a fllw- up meeting with landwner t present a cnceptual design fr the greenway segment. Present preliminary planning and design f greenway segment, ask wner if his/her cncerns have been sufficiently addressed. Revise planning and/r design if necessary until acceptable t all parties. Review methds f acquisitin and preservatin and negtiate with landwners t acquire prperty r establish easement(s). O Byle, Cwell, Blalck & Assciates, Inc. 521 Suth Riverview Drive Kalamaz, Michigan

7 Oshtem Twnship Greenways Study Greenway planning, criteria and strategies fr implementatin Page 7 Arrange fr Twnship legal cunsel t arrange legal paperwrk fr acquisitin f prperty r establishment f easements in greenway segment. Establish a cnstructin budget, and determine the Twnship s level f participatin in develpment f the greenway segment. Prepare grant applicatins t secure funding fr acquisitin and/r develpment f greenway segment. Develp an initial greenway segment. Greenway Plan as a Decisin-Making Tl Once finalized and apprved by the Twnship, the Greenway Plan culd serve as a flexible tl fr making decisins regarding the prtectin f natural, cultural, histric, and scenic resurces. By encmpassing a variety f issues pertinent t these resurces, the Plan will lay the fundatin fr the cntinued success f pen space cnservatin and increased quality f life in Oshtem Twnship. Specific plicy details and greenway lcatins may be adjusted as needed thrughut the planning prcess and implementatin. Sund Greenway Planning shuld include cllabratin with lcal gvernment agencies, private grups, and interested citizens t create plicies fr develpment and/r cnservatin. This multi-layered apprach, shuld prduce shrt-, medium-, and lng-term strategies fr natural resurce cnservatin and greenway develpment in harmny with ptential ecnmic develpment. Selected Resurces American Trails, Cnnecting Michigan: A Statewide Trailways Visin and Actin Plan, Greenways: A Guide t Planning, Design, and Develpment, Flink, Charles A.; Searns, Rber M.; Schwarz, Lring LaB., Editr, The Cnservatin Fund, GreenWays Initiative, Cmmunity Fundatin fr Sutheast Michigan, Michigan Trails & Greenways Alliance, Natinal Park Service, Trails and Greenways Clearinghuse, West Michigan Trails & Greenways Calitin, O Byle, Cwell, Blalck & Assciates, Inc. 521 Suth Riverview Drive Kalamaz, Michigan

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