Wildwood Springs History
WILDWOOD SPRINGS
From Dream to Reality
Written by: Jan Zuidema (Resident and Carroll Bos's Daughter)
From Dream to Reality
Written by: Jan Zuidema (Resident and Carroll Bos's Daughter)
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In 1984, Carroll Bos had a dream. Having already developed numerous residential neighborhoods in the Tri-Cities, including Baird Point Farms, Viet’s Landing, River Run, and Dogwood Meadows, he had a vision of a new neighborhood on 174th Ave. between Dogwood
Drive and Taft Road. The 127 acre site was a mixture of open farmland, densely wooded areas, and marshy wetlands scattered through the property. There were areas where it was almost impossible to walk because of dense foliage and mucky land. Deer runs were the only narrow way to proceed through the deciduous woods in some places. It was a stunning parcel of natural land, used for farming, recreation, and hunting by nearby neighbors. |
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Partnering with his son, David C. Bos, president of David C. Bos Homes, and his son-in-law, Doug Zuidema, vice-president of Bos Homes, they began initial planning for the neighborhood. Working with Design + of Grand Rapids, they began crafting a mixture of ponds, open natural spaces filled with trees, ferns, and a variety of wildlife, places for a mixture of single family residential homes and site condominiums, the beautiful boulevard entrance, the unique clock tower, winding roads and sidewalks to create a sense of serenity and home. Exxel Engineering of Grand Rapids undertook the nuts and bolts of the specifics of construction: the width of the roads, the depth of the ponds, the size and placement of each lot, the utilities, and each additional detail to support the homes planned. Bureau and Associates of Grand Haven began a careful study of the 127 acre site, inventorying and evaluating the natural resources, looking for endangered or threatened species, and determining how the land could be utilized to enhance the lives of future residents, giving appropriate spaces for both man and wildlife to thrive together.
Through a deliberate consideration for the land, careful mapping led to a minimal loss of mature trees. The placement of the ponds, which, from west to east, drop fifteen feet, gave movement that cleanses and rejuvenates each pond as they ultimately filter into Spring Lake through natural ditches and culverts. As David said in the 1993 Dedication booklet, “Someone once said that God gave us the earth to use, not to use up. Nature is resilient but it can’t survive and thrive unless people share in its ongoing care. We can’t merely be passive observers and consumers. That’s why we emphasize to residents and visitors that they are an integral part of the environment and their actions will have consequences”. These words encapsulated the intent and purpose of every person who participated in the planning and building of Wildwood Springs.
Finally, in the fall of 1989, the project was ready to be presented to the Spring Lake Township Planning Commission. The initial reaction by the planning commission was positive, with member Marv Vanden Bosch noting “there’s going to be a lot of people opposing it, but they (Bos) have done their homework. You really can’t find a lot wrong with it. I think it’s going to be a real asset to the township”. He was right on both counts. Two neighbors with adjoining property and area environmentalists who were unhappy with the prospect of a development on the property had, by this time, enlisted the aid of a local environmental group, Interconnection, to try and prevent the approval. The West Michigan Environmental Action Council also objected primarily to the density of the project, stating that there was no transition room left between upland and wetland. Thus the battle lines were drawn in the one and a half year struggle to obtain the necessary permits and approvals to begin.
The DNR was the first permit issued in January of 1990. It took several revisions and compromises, with the final permit allowing the filling of two wetland road crossings and the creation of the seven ponds. Following this approval, in April of 1990, after months of debate, including the adding of the walk-through to Lake Hills School, and opposition in the form of threatened lawsuits, the Spring Lake Township board approved the request for the rezoning necessary for the project to begin. This approval came as a surprise to the opposition and caused them to ramp up their attempts to derail the process. Local newspaper coverage in both the Grand Haven Tribune and the Muskegon Chronicle contained allegations of Indian burial grounds and endangered species such as the painted turtle. Additional allegations of impropriety surfaced when the DNR Land and Water Management Division representative who had reviewed the project left that position to work for Bureau and Associates, the environmental consultants who had helped to craft the project.
To further complicate the process, in March the opposition group petitioned the DNR for a public hearing on their decision to grant the permit to the project. In May they also petitioned an Ottawa County judge to halt construction until this hearing could take place. Both petitions were granted. So Carroll, David, and Doug found themselves in court, defending not so much their project, but the DNR’s decision to let them proceed. In addition, because of both of these decisions, although work had begun on cutting a road into the development, it was voluntarily halted until all issues could be resolved and permits granted.
Meanwhile, because of the allegations of Indian burial grounds, an archeologist was hired to do a dig in the purported mounds, finding that they were piles of sand that had been placed there at some time in the past. Since there were no findings of any endangered turtles, other than one suspect picture, no further action was taken to prove or disprove this allegation.
In early 1991, the public hearing with the DNR was held, with Carroll, David, Doug, family members, attorneys, opposition members, and the press all present to present their cases to the Department of Natural Resources administrative law judge in Lansing. This was a high-stakes and emotional time for all sides; one with a dream for beautiful new neighborhoods, another with wanting the contested land to remain in its natural state. Finally, in June of 1991, the judge ruled that the original permits issued to work in the parcel’s wetland areas complied with environmental laws, thus allowing the project to proceed.
On a beautiful day in July of 1993, the grand opening of Wildwood Springs was held with area dignitaries, family members, representatives from all of the firms involved in the creation and building of the project, and interested buyers on hand. It was a festive occasion, with brief remarks, carriage rides through the neighborhood, and a catered dinner outside under a tent. There are a number of current residents who were at that opening and were among the first to move into their new homes in Wildwood. Since that time the 49 sites in Parson’s Walk, 53 sites in the Cottages, 8 sites in Water Chase, and all but 7 of the 76 sites in Chapel Wood are occupied by families, singles, and couples.
Was the dream and the struggle that followed worth it, one might ask? Residents who now enjoy the blending of livable space with natural habitat would probably answer “yes”. Perhaps the opposition might, in retrospect, admit that the beauty of the natural areas, the continuing addition to the township’s tax base, and presence of vibrant families of all ages has been a positive thing.
Since it was the dream that Carroll Bos had, perhaps his words are the perfect coda to the history of Wildwood Springs. In the dedication booklet from 1993, he said:
Through a deliberate consideration for the land, careful mapping led to a minimal loss of mature trees. The placement of the ponds, which, from west to east, drop fifteen feet, gave movement that cleanses and rejuvenates each pond as they ultimately filter into Spring Lake through natural ditches and culverts. As David said in the 1993 Dedication booklet, “Someone once said that God gave us the earth to use, not to use up. Nature is resilient but it can’t survive and thrive unless people share in its ongoing care. We can’t merely be passive observers and consumers. That’s why we emphasize to residents and visitors that they are an integral part of the environment and their actions will have consequences”. These words encapsulated the intent and purpose of every person who participated in the planning and building of Wildwood Springs.
Finally, in the fall of 1989, the project was ready to be presented to the Spring Lake Township Planning Commission. The initial reaction by the planning commission was positive, with member Marv Vanden Bosch noting “there’s going to be a lot of people opposing it, but they (Bos) have done their homework. You really can’t find a lot wrong with it. I think it’s going to be a real asset to the township”. He was right on both counts. Two neighbors with adjoining property and area environmentalists who were unhappy with the prospect of a development on the property had, by this time, enlisted the aid of a local environmental group, Interconnection, to try and prevent the approval. The West Michigan Environmental Action Council also objected primarily to the density of the project, stating that there was no transition room left between upland and wetland. Thus the battle lines were drawn in the one and a half year struggle to obtain the necessary permits and approvals to begin.
The DNR was the first permit issued in January of 1990. It took several revisions and compromises, with the final permit allowing the filling of two wetland road crossings and the creation of the seven ponds. Following this approval, in April of 1990, after months of debate, including the adding of the walk-through to Lake Hills School, and opposition in the form of threatened lawsuits, the Spring Lake Township board approved the request for the rezoning necessary for the project to begin. This approval came as a surprise to the opposition and caused them to ramp up their attempts to derail the process. Local newspaper coverage in both the Grand Haven Tribune and the Muskegon Chronicle contained allegations of Indian burial grounds and endangered species such as the painted turtle. Additional allegations of impropriety surfaced when the DNR Land and Water Management Division representative who had reviewed the project left that position to work for Bureau and Associates, the environmental consultants who had helped to craft the project.
To further complicate the process, in March the opposition group petitioned the DNR for a public hearing on their decision to grant the permit to the project. In May they also petitioned an Ottawa County judge to halt construction until this hearing could take place. Both petitions were granted. So Carroll, David, and Doug found themselves in court, defending not so much their project, but the DNR’s decision to let them proceed. In addition, because of both of these decisions, although work had begun on cutting a road into the development, it was voluntarily halted until all issues could be resolved and permits granted.
Meanwhile, because of the allegations of Indian burial grounds, an archeologist was hired to do a dig in the purported mounds, finding that they were piles of sand that had been placed there at some time in the past. Since there were no findings of any endangered turtles, other than one suspect picture, no further action was taken to prove or disprove this allegation.
In early 1991, the public hearing with the DNR was held, with Carroll, David, Doug, family members, attorneys, opposition members, and the press all present to present their cases to the Department of Natural Resources administrative law judge in Lansing. This was a high-stakes and emotional time for all sides; one with a dream for beautiful new neighborhoods, another with wanting the contested land to remain in its natural state. Finally, in June of 1991, the judge ruled that the original permits issued to work in the parcel’s wetland areas complied with environmental laws, thus allowing the project to proceed.
On a beautiful day in July of 1993, the grand opening of Wildwood Springs was held with area dignitaries, family members, representatives from all of the firms involved in the creation and building of the project, and interested buyers on hand. It was a festive occasion, with brief remarks, carriage rides through the neighborhood, and a catered dinner outside under a tent. There are a number of current residents who were at that opening and were among the first to move into their new homes in Wildwood. Since that time the 49 sites in Parson’s Walk, 53 sites in the Cottages, 8 sites in Water Chase, and all but 7 of the 76 sites in Chapel Wood are occupied by families, singles, and couples.
Was the dream and the struggle that followed worth it, one might ask? Residents who now enjoy the blending of livable space with natural habitat would probably answer “yes”. Perhaps the opposition might, in retrospect, admit that the beauty of the natural areas, the continuing addition to the township’s tax base, and presence of vibrant families of all ages has been a positive thing.
Since it was the dream that Carroll Bos had, perhaps his words are the perfect coda to the history of Wildwood Springs. In the dedication booklet from 1993, he said:
“It’s a sensitive and beautiful blend of neo-traditional architecture, common areas designed with the pedestrian in mind,
and a natural setting that will be enhanced by the presence of caring residents. We have succeeded at bringing people
and nature together in harmony at Wildwood Springs and we are very proud of that accomplishment.” Carroll Bos - 1993
and a natural setting that will be enhanced by the presence of caring residents. We have succeeded at bringing people
and nature together in harmony at Wildwood Springs and we are very proud of that accomplishment.” Carroll Bos - 1993
CLICK ON IMAGE BELOW TO VIEW THE ORIGINAL WILDWOOD SPRINGS BROCHURE
