Darwin Baas, director of the Kent County Department of Public Works, and colleague Rick Chapla visited the Dorr Township Board again Thursday for an update on plans for the “Reimagine Trash” sustainable business park in the northeast portion of the township.
The park is the result of the Kent County landfill nearing capacity, so Allegan County and Kent County are collaborating on a project to establish a progressive idea for handling refuse. The new park will attempt to reuse and repurpose about 90 percent of the trash taken in at a 250-acre site by the year 2050.
Chapla said the waste reduction project could result in 100 new jobs and an investment of as much as $100 million in the area. Furthermore, the cutting edge project could mean an increase in taxes collected by Dorr Township.
The location is 108th Avenue south to 146th Avenue and between 14th Street east to U.S.-131. 14th Street would be the main service road for the park.
Chapla said the Kent County DPW is seriously considering two business proposals, and one prospective anchor tenant could take up half of the 250 acres. Dorr Township takes in 200 acres, Byron Township about 50.
State and federal grants are being pursued for the project.
Chapla said a planned unit development (PUD) will be sought to accommodate the work. He added that the Kent DPW has been working with Lori Castello of Professional Code Inspections on determining what can and can’t be done at the site.
Baas said the original idea for the park came from former Congressman Vern Ehlers when he was a Kent County Commissioner.
He said with the approaching understanding that Kent County’s landfill soon will be full, “We wanted to know how we can do business differently and bring in businesses that process waste.”
He added that “Waste generation is not going away, it’s increasing.”
Though costs of establishing the park could run between $18 million and $20 million to be “shovel ready,” the project could later realize as much as $200 million.
Interestingly, there is a possibility down the road that an expressway interchange could be added to 146th Avenue.
Chapla said the Kent Kounty DPW would lease the site of the park, but not own it. Right now, the land is being used to farm soybeans and corn.
“We’re going to be attracting an anchor tenant and secondary tenants, which will be subject to taxation.”
Chapla said plans call for a high tech machine to separate and sort the waste into recycling operations. He said this facility will be the first of its kind in West Michigan.
COVER PHOTO: Darwin Baas (left) and Rick Chapla.