(Year-end analysis by David T. Young)
The threat of massive economic and population growth has been discussed and feared for more than three decades for Leighton and Dorr townships and the City of Wayland.
But in the now dearly departed year of 2024, it seemed as though the threat was turning into a promise.
Signs appeared everywhere, as developers presented requests for residential, business and industrial projects, some of them substantial. Area Planning Commissions, Township Boards and the City Council have been inundated with such requests and local officials have been grappling with issues of how to cope with and regulate inevitable urban sprawl.
One of the most impactful was GRI Moline’s requests twice to bring in a 248-unit apartment complex along Division Avenue near 12th Street. The Leighton Township Planning Commission thus far has been able to hold the line because of very real fears about not being able to provide necessary infrastructure and public services.
Several compelling development possibilities have surfaced for 142nd Avenue in Dorr Township. One is for an industrial park not far from U.S.-131 and others are for businesses.
Then came the news that technology giant Microsoft has purchased two pieces of property in Dorr Township with the intention to build two data centers.
Not to be outdone, the Gun Lake Tribe has announced plans to build an apartment complex at the now vacant former Cars2Go lot at the corner of West Superior and Reno Drive in Wayland. Those plans are stalled by traffic concerns. Adding to the intrigue is a Michigan Department of Transportation grant for renovating West Superior and updating the traffic signal at that corner.
Honeycrispe Ventures has received approval for an industrial site on Reno Drive.
Some already have happened. A new U of M Health Center has opened at West Superior between the United Bank and Burger King. And this doesn’t even count the opening of five marijuana dispensaries within the Wayland city limits.
Because Wayland, and Dorr and Leighton Townships are conveniently situated along the U.S.-131 expressway between Kalamazoo and Grand Rapids, it makes sense that eventually urban sprawl would result. And the Gun Lake Casino and Tribe are buying up all kinds of land, some for business and some for residential developments.
Many observers believed the arrival of the Windsor Woods mobile home park in 1987 would jump start growth. It’s taken a while, but it looks like a serious promise now.
So the mission is very simply — if you can’t stop this growth, you must regulate it.
But there were other interesting and important stories about the northeast quadrant of Allegan County in 2024:
• Fires at Gun Lake Marina and two others elsewhere in December prompted authorities to have suspicions about arson.
• Former State Rep. Steve Johnson was removed from ballot, on a technicality after he won his bid for a seat on the Hopkins Board of Education. That issue will be resolved next month with an appointment that will replace an election for one seat.
• Wayland Fire Chief Jim Stoddard suffered a heart attack in May, later resigned and was succeeded by Jon Timmers.
• Dorr Township Board spent a lot of meeting time mulling over plans to move into new township hall at the former CrossWinds Church.
• In election news Tracy Bivins regained her City Council seat after losing by only one vote in the previous election. Abe Garcia was the odd man out. Mark Evans was unseated as Hopkins Township Supervisor after 28 years, seven four-year terms, losing in the primary to Cade Bolser. Stephanie Tromp and Erin Stepek were elected as newcomers on the Wayland Board of Education and Dan Cassini was retired.
• Four streets in northwest Wayland got a major reconstruction and repaving job done on Park, Church, Mill and Elm streets.
• Hopkins grad Trevor Smith hauled in a TD pass for Albion College; former Viking Colin Weber transferred to Rutgers after playing at University of North Carolina-Charlotte.
• Martin’s bid for a third straight state title in eight-man football was ruined by Mendon in the playoffs.
• Rachelle Smit and Angela Rigas won re-election to state representative seats easily. Both are deniers of the 2020 general election results and unabashed supporters of Donald Trump.
• Former Wayland Mayor Dave Miller died at age 81.
• Huntington Bank in Dorr closed.
• Dylan Pallett closed out his cross country career, was second in the Allegan County meet, and qualified for state.
• Josh Eggleston resigned as city manager to take Zeeland Township post; Erik Wilson, former Plainwell City Manager, succeeded him.
• Former United Church Pastor Nancy Zerban died. She had a lot of influence during her 17 years here.
• Hopkins celebrated its 75th year playing football and Henika District Library observed its 125th year
• The aging and vacant Moline Elementary building was brought down and asbestos removed. Leighton Township bought the buildings to clear the way for more recreation land.
• Harmony Laker for Wayland and Stephanie Ainsworth for Cornerstone University both scored 1,000th career points in women’s hoops.
• The Fifelski family sold Dorr Marathon after 55 years and son Caleb opened his towing business on 142nd Avenue as co-owner of new towing and recovery business.
• WHS grad Tyler Omness of Kalamazoo College named an All-American Scholar for golf .
• WHS grad Tyler Merren competed in his fifth international Goalball Paralympics.
• Area clergy and public safety officers launched “Save Our Kids, Lock Your Guns” campaign.
• Both Martin and Wayland softball teams’ seasons ended in regionals. Wayland won its 27th district and 29th conference titles.
• Adam Huff was state champion in discus and Lane Button (150 pounds) was state champ in wrestling, as were Martin’s Haylen Buell (132) and Logan Gilbert (106).
• Hopkins girls won the O-K Silver Conference track championship.
• Wayland Union voters handily approve the non-homestead millage levy renewal.
• The Rock ’N Bowl business probably was saved with liquor sale approval from Leighton Township. The establishment continues to serve local residents and the Wayland and Martin high school bowling teams.
• Landen Klinge broke the Hopkins pole vault record; Veyda Conley now holds two Martin distance records, and Jacob Helder set the record for Hopkins 400-meter run. Evie Mathis broke the Wayland school record in the pole vault during her freshman year.
• Kateleen Balfoort was elected as new Wayland City treasurer after the surprising firing of Cherie Parrish.
• Longtime Hopkins FFA advisor Roy Miller died at age 89.
• Jack Sipple resigned from Martin Township Board after serving as trustee for 55 years; Jim DeYoung succeeded him.
• Consumers Power called off its April 13 planned power outage, moved it to Dec. 7. Everything went off without a hitch despite fears.
• Wayland Union’s sports classification was moved by MHSAA from Division 2 to Division 1.
• Longtime community activist and Allegan County United Way director Mimi Gabriel of Hopkins died.
• Former Martin School Board member Austin Marsman ran for state rep., but lost to Republican House Speaker Matt Hall in the 42nd District.
• Former Wayland Schools Transportation Director Evelyn Jansen died at age 87.
• Wayland and Hopkins robotics teams competed in state meet after enjoying quality seasons.
• Ailing longtime Dorr Planning Commission Chairman Bob Wagner stepped down to become vice chairman. Dan Beute took over as chair.
• Martin Schools Odyssey of the Mind team qualified for “Worlds.”
• The Hopkins Township Board begins doing business in new expansion of the library and connection to the Village Hall.
• Former Wildcats Stephanie Ainsworth, Emma Ludema, Bella Harnish and Kadence Bottrall, and Breanna Hyde scored big successes in collegiate basketball, softball, bowling and track, respectively. Former Martin hoops star Kiaya Warner shined as well.
• North Star Aggregates won its lawsuit against the Watson Township Planning Commission over use of a site on 12th Street.
• Zac Hale was Martin’s first state qualifying bowler and the Lady Clippers took 13th in state. Martin wrestling team finally bowed in the quarterfinal round of the state tournament.
• A record setting mild winter included temps over 70 degrees and very little snow.
• Wayland freshman Evie Mathis was pole vault runner-up at state indoor meet and tied for second in state outdoor meet.
• Haven Baker and Kyle VanEss of WHS qualify for Division 2 state bowling tourney.
• Karla Heckathorn was.hired as new Wayland Schools Transportation Director.
• Hopkins High School alum and former Wayland head basketball coach Kelly McEwen was honored by Wyoming Park High School Athletic Hall of Fame.
• WHS public safety officer Jon Schaefer earned praise for saving the life of a basketball referee at Cedar Springs.
• Wayland citizens protested the city’s policy of mandating they clear sidewalks of snow.
• Dollar General reopened its store in downtown Wayland after its roof collapsed.
• Wayland Schools put together two community forums to try to gain input from local citizens, but both were plagued by poor attendance.
