MINUTES
Cascade Charter Township
Downtown Development Authority Board of Directors
& Parks Advisory Committee
Special Combined Meeting
January 16, 2001
DDA Members Present: Biermacher, Clark, James, Johnson, Julien,
Kingsland and Wallace.
DDA Members Absent: Clay and Woodrick
Parks Members Present: Bottrall and Hoban
Parks Members Absent: Jaarda (with notice), Keyser, and J. McSorley
(with notice).
Others Present: David Clark, architect from FTC&H, Patricia
Cornelisse, landscape architect from Cornelisse Design Associates and
Jay Cravens, Township Manager.
ARTICLE 1. Call the Meeting to Order
Chairman Wallace called the meeting to order at 7:04 p.m.
ARTICLE 2. Approval of the Agenda
Member Biermacher made a motion to approve the
agenda submitted by staff. Member Clark seconded the motion. The
motion passed unanimously.
ARTICLE 3. Approval of the Minutes of November 21, 2000
Supervisor Julien made a motion to approve the
minutes of the November 21, 2000 meeting, as submitted by staff.
Member Kingsland seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.
ARTICLE 4. Presentation (and Consider Approval) of Various
Building & Structure Designs for the Leslie E. Tassell Riverfront Park
Pat Cornelisse gave the boards a progress report on the tasks
completed on the park. She mentioned that she recently had a meeting
with Janine Klinge, operations manager at STS Hydropower, who operates
the Cascade Dam. Pat showed Janine the design plans which call for
some park improvements that affect the dam property. The design plan
calls for the following improvements that affect the dam property.
The chain link fence along the canoe / portage path will have
to be removed. This will allow greater access to users of the
portage area to carry their non-motorized watercraft.
The gravel parking area will be eliminated. (This parking lot
was never considered safe, since it required vehicles to back out
into a busy road without clear vision.)
A new paved parking area will be constructed near the dam site
that will allow for safe ingress / egress, without the need to
back out into Thornapple River Drive. This parking area will allow
for 8 more parking spaces than the previous gravel parking lot.
A new maintenance garage and overlook area will be located near
the dam impoundment walls. These improvements will not affect or
cut into the slope / embankment area.
Access to the dam slope area will be maintained with the
development of the park.
Access to the non-motorized boat portage will be better defined
and maintained.
The excess trees currently on the slope will be removed where
feasible. Many of these trees are undesirable species for this
particular location.
No trees or aggressive shrubs will be planted on the slope /
embankment near the dam impoundment.
After describing the improvements plans on or adjacent to the dam
property, Pat mentioned the progress of the demolition of the houses
and cottages on the park property. She also mentioned that several
trees were removed during the demolition stage. They were removed at
this time to reduce the "shock potential" to the surrounding
neighborhood and passersby the park site.
Pat then began to describe to the boards the landscape design
features of the proposed plans. First the proposed park will be built
on two topographic levels. Presently the site has three levels. The
proposal will minimize the need for site grading where possible. This
will help to reduce the impact on the numerous trees that still remain
on the site.
The plans show the development of a riverfront gazebo and boardwalk
area. This area will be provided through funds donated by the Rex and
Joyce Kingsland Family. The riverfront gazebo will have a unique
curved roof that will imitate shape of a wave. This roof will be made
out of steel. The supports of the pavilion will also be unique. They
will be set at an angle or slant that will complement the structure.
Around the riverfront gazebo, will be a waterfront boardwalk and an
inter-active water fountain. There will also be a parking lot near
these improvements to provide convenient access to these features and
to the waterfront. These will also be developed from the funds donated
by the Kingsland Family.
The riverfront gazebo will have two fixed tables in the floor. The
gazebo will probably have a maximum seating capacity of 20 persons.
Up from the gazebo will be a parking lot and an overflow parking
lot. The overflow parking lot will be unique because it will be
constructed using turf / concrete blocks. These concrete blocks have
their center area hollowed out to allow for the planting of grass.
Member Bottrall asked about the location of park signs in this
area. Pat indicated that signs honoring the Kingsland Family will be
placed at or near the riverfront gazebo. The sign honoring Mr. Tassell
will be located near the pedestrian entrance to the park.
Chairman Wallace expressed concern about water and boat access. He
also cited a concern about safety. He felt there was a strong need to
discourage vehicles from backing a trailer into the park to launch a
watercraft. Chairman Wallace suggested the need to develop park rules
and signs to discourage this possibility.
Manager Cravens agreed with Chairman Wallace. He then explained the
Township has park rules in place, but they may need to be modified to
fit the unique water frontage issues this new park provides to the
public.
Supervisor Julien asked if the proposed plans allow access for
fishing. Pat responded that the plans would provide access for fishing
along the boardwalks.
Pat then mentioned how the park and its structures would be
lighted. Lighting would be designed to minimize light spillover to
other property, but would also consider safety and security issues at
the park. Pat then introduced Dave Clark to the boards.
Dave began to describe the design process he and his colleagues
used to design the buildings and structures proposed for the park. The
buildings and structures were inspired by some of the building design
elements on the Cascade Dam. The buildings and structures show brick
colors similar to the dam as well as recesses in the columns similar
to the walls on the dam building. The structures will have hipped-
roofs that are steel.
There was considerable discussion about the potential uses that
would use the larger picnic pavilion. Events such as weddings or
family reunions were discussed in length. Access to the pavilion was
also a major point of discussion.
Chairman Wallace asked about the barrier-free aspects of the
pavilion. Pat indicated that all structures would be barrier-free and
would provide access in compliance with current laws. Member James
asked about the interior of the pavilion. Dave indicated the rafters
would be exposed steel. They would be rounded beams to discourage
climbing and bird nesting. Member Hoban asked about the height of the
pavilion. Dave responded that the beams would be 10 feet high.
The picnic pavilion will have the capacity to hold 40 – 45 persons.
Member Johnson asked if landscaping is being considered in this
area. Pat indicated landscaping would be placed to provide screening
to reduce noise from Thornapple River Drive. Member Kingsland asked
about the steps beside the proposed picnic pavilion. She suggested
they include some kind of standing area.
Supervisor Julien asked about the potential to include the Tuffy
Muffler site into the park. Pat responded quickly that this area could
be used as an area for more parking as well as extending the park to
Cascade Road. Supervisor Julien expressed concern about the visibility
of the park from the Cascade Road / Thornapple River Drive
intersection.
Member Bottrall asked about barrier free access to the riverfront
gazebo. Pat showed that this structure will be served by a winding
walkway that will have a grade that will allow for safe accessibility.
It will also be designed to discourage easy access to vehicles trying
to gain access to the waterfront, skateboarders and roller bladers.
Member James asked about the pillars across from the picnic
pavilion. Pat stated they were added to provide definition to the edge
of the grass area near the pavilion. The pillars would be 6 feet in
height and be four feet by four feet wide. There would be a staircase
between the pillars to provide a transition to the lower levels of the
park.
Dave then described the design of the bathroom building. The
interior of the bathrooms would be basic and utilitarian. There would
be concrete block walls separating each toilet with steel doors for
privacy. Member Johnson asked about the height of the roof of the
proposed building. Dave responded that the roof would be 20 feet in
height. Member James asked about the footprint (size) of the building.
Dave responded that it would be 30 feet by 30 feet. Member James then
asked about the mechanical room and electrical room within the
building. He asked if there would be a need to store tools and
equipment there? Dave responded that the rooms could be equipped with
tools and equipment if necessary. Manager Cravens then stated that
tools and equipment are typically brought to each park site when
necessary. Tools and equipment could also be stored in the maintenance
garage, located near the dam property.
Member Johnson expressed concern about the size and location of the
proposed bathroom building. She also had concern about the location of
the entrance / door area facing the road. Dave mentioned that the size
of the building is dictated to some extent by the barrier-free access
requirements for bathroom facilities. Placement of the doors to the
street side was done for security reasons. Their visibility should
discourage vandalism and provide security to female users of the
facility. He also noted that the bathrooms have a mechanical chase or
crawl room to access the back of the plumbing fixtures. This chase
will make it easier to replace plumbing fixtures should the need
arise. Member Johnson then restated her concern about the location of
the bathroom building. Member Clark suggested increasing the size of
the picnic pavilion to reduce the impact of the bathroom building.
Pat then reminded everyone that landscape materials would screen
the bathroom building to an extent. It was also stated that its
location is strongly dictated by its connections to public water and
sewer. Already the building has to be lowered 6 inches to 1 foot to
allow for these utility connections.
Member Bottrall asked if consideration could be made to move the
park sign closer to the road. Moving it closer to the road would allow
for greater visibility.
Motion by Supervisor Julien and seconded by Member Biermacher that
the plans be approved subject to the comments received tonight. The
motion passed unanimously.
ARTICLE 5. Progress Report on Old 28th St.
Streetscape Construction
Manager Cravens stated that little progress has taken place on the
streetscape project since December. Work has been stalled by the large
accumulation of snow we received. Should we receive a winter thaw,
work could start up again.
Member Johnson asked about the tree sizes proposed for the
streetscape project. Pat indicated that tree sizes would be slightly
smaller than originally requested, mainly due to price and
availability. Trees would be installed by June 1st to allow
for new growth and recovery.
ARTICLE 6. Any Other Business
Supervisor Julien asked that copies of the design plans brought
before the Board tonight be distributed to everyone so they could be
studied at home.
ARTICLE 7. Adjournment
On a motion by Member James and seconded by Supervisor Julien the
meeting was adjourned at 8:43 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Jay W. Cravens, Executive Director
