Hello everyone! First off I want to give a HUGE thank you for everyone who has signed this petition so far and everyone who contributed their hard-earned dollars to get this petition more signatures. I have good news for everyone: the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) has denied Lormax Stern (the developer)'s permit for the following reasons:

a) The proposed project will result in adverse impacts to the public trust and the
environment that are not minimal.
b) The project is not in the public interest.
c) The proposed project will result in an unacceptable disruption to aquatic resources.
d) The project purpose is too narrowly defined.
e) It has not been demonstrated that feasible and prudent alternatives do not exist.
f) It has not been demonstrated that this application accurately represents all wetland
impacts associated with the project.

This is a major win for our efforts to protect this land, but it’s not the end of the story. The developers will likely revise their proposal, and there’s still a risk that much of the land could be developed to include industrial buildings, hotels, and even a TopGolf, all while critical wetlands and the Plaster Creek watershed remain threatened.

I’ve been in touch with the Land Conservancy of West Michigan and Plaster Creek Stewards who have both been actively working to advocate for the protection of this space. Now that the permit was denied, we have a valuable window of time to push for the city’s Master Plan vision of conservation and green space.

What you can do:
If you want to take your support a step further by sending your own letters or emails to local Kentwood officials, I’d love to help! Email me directly at krystalhenry8@gmail.com and I can provide contact info for Kentwood's Mayor and City Commission as well as a sample letter that you can customize.

Every signature and every voice adds up, and our city officials will welcome the opinions/concerns of local residents. Thank you all for your big hearts and for caring about this land and the wildlife, history, and ecology it holds. 

~Krystal