Areas of Expertise > Land Development

Lake Michigan Townhomes and Cottages at Diamond Point, New Buffalo, MI

Assisted the owner in the abandonment of several streets and represented the owner to the City Planning Commission and Zoning Board.
  • The project is a condominium community that includes four townhouse buildings containing 44, three-bedroom, three- story townhomes; 17 two- and three-bedroom cottages of four separate designs; and a community center with a lounge, recreational pool & spa.
  • The 12-acre site will contain recreational amenities including a tennis court, putting green, walking trails, and a pond.







Services Provided:
Architecture Design - Preliminary Engineering - Surveying - Design Engineering - Construction Engineering - Permitting - Design Rendering - Construction Administration

6
Pokagonek Édawat - Phases I & II Dowagiac, MI

Developed a Master Plan for this 320- acre, mixed-use site.
  • This 43-acre condominium development is one of the area’s first open space/cluster designs.
  • It consists of 17 single-family units on 20 lots, with environmental elements including restoration of the surrounding area to native prairie, woodlands and agricultural uses, preservation and accentuation of rare circular glacial depressions, and considerable open space around the homes.
  • The development also includes private roads and drives with interlocking pavers, walking paths, and underground public gas, electric, telephone, sanitary sewer, and cable.
  • Future phases will expand on the site restoration, and may include commercial and retail amenities.

This project received the Best Practices and Innovation Award by the Department of Housing and Urban Development, office of Native American Programs.

Services Provided:
Surveying - Site Design - Design Engineering - Construction Engineering - Right-of- Way - Construction Administration - Permitting - Landscape Architecture - Architecture

5
Four Winds Casino & Resort New Buffalo, MI

This project was unique because it involved a separate Native American
Sovereign Band and multiple local governments.
  • Evaluated natural features and layout site to minimize impact to cultural and environmentally sensitive areas.
  • By carefully laying out the roads, buildings, parking and other improvements, the on-site work only required one minor USACOE permit and the relocation of some prairie trillium. No culturally sensitive areas were disturbed.
  • Obtain a FONSI and the required approvals and permits to construct the onsite and offsite improvements. We were the lead consultant for the preparation of the environmental assessment that is now considered a model for other Native American gaming projects across the country.
  • Our thorough understanding of the various regulations and requirements was the key to obtaining over 25 approvals and permits that were required from local, county, state and federal agencies.

Services Provided:
Surveying - Design Engineering - Construction Engineering - Right of Way Acquisition
Planning - Environmental

4
The Villas at the River Sodus Township, MI

Roadways and utilities had to cross designated wetlands. The area is
located in a floodplain so both MDEQ and ACOE permits were required.
  • This planned unit development includes 92 condominiums and a clubhouse with paved roads, parking areas and nature trails.
  • The site has municipal sanitary sewer and water, the latter of which required a bore and jack under a roadway for connection.
  • Also included is a man-made pond incorporated into the landscaping.
  • The condominiums are all ranch-home designs and are available in four sizes ranging from 1,325 to 1,856 square feet. Amenities include a clubhouse with fireplace, large-screen television, a kitchen, an exercise room, indoor golf ball driving and putting areas, a heated outdoor pool, woodland walking trails, and a private boat launch on the river.

Services Provided:
Surveying - Engineering - Inspection - Planning - Right-of-Way - Construction Inspection - Testing - Permitting -Utilities

3
Watervliet Industrial Park Watervliet, MI

Turned a Brownfield area into an industrial park to complement a downtown commercial district
  • The Berrien County Brownfield Authority developed an 82 acre industrial park at a site of a former paper mill spray field. The site was designated a Brownfield and was also designated a Renaissance Zone.
  • Berrien County Community Development Department secured several businesses for the park.
  • The most significant was an ethanol plant. The private investment and new job creation allowed the use of various funding sources, such as Michigan Economic Development Commission, Economic Development Agency and Michigan Department of Transportation.
  • The site offers new roads, watermain, sanitary sewers with a lift station and a stormwater retention and treatment system. A future addition will be a CSX railroad spur that will provide transportation for the ethanol plant.

Services Provided:
Surveying - Engineering - Inspection - Planning - Right-of-Way - Construction - Inspection - Testing - Permitting -Utilities

3
Ramada Water Park Watervliet, MI

This new 99-room Ramada Inn is connected to a 14,000-square-foot water park.
  • The water park offers multiple recreational and social amenities including a pool and slides, a children's play area, a mezzanine with space for parties and entertaining, a restaurant and a bar.
  • A new strip mall was also designed and constructed near the facilities.
  • Additional work includes extension of a roadway with pavement and concrete curb and gutter as well as storm and sanitary sewer and watermain installation.




Services Provided:

Surveying - Site Design - Design Engineering - Construction Engineering - Right-of-Way - Construction Inspection and Testing - Permitting - Planning - Architectural Design

 

Work In Progress


Four Winds North Casino, Hartford MI

Wightman & Associates is providing engineering, surveying, and inspection services for all aspects of this 35-acre project including ALTA/ACSM Land Title survey, topographical surveying, and site layout of the casino site, as well as designing the on-site and off-site utilities. The off-site utility work includes approximately 2.2 miles of water main, 3.4 miles of sanitary forcemain and a new lift station.

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Harbor Shores
Hideaway Development Phase II
Benton Harbor, MI

The project will be a 58 lot residential development with a club house. The project is on the Paw Paw River and is adjacent to hole #6 of the Harbor Shores Golf Course. The project is designed to incorporate eco-friendly concepts. The site will have narrow bituminous roads with rain gardens along the edges to capture and clean up the storm water runoff. The native soils do not consist of good road bed material and will result in the use of various geotextile fabrics to reinforce the roadway. There are two county drains which will be modified as part of this project. Both of these drains will incorporate native stones and plantings to assist in the cleansing of the storm water as well as create the sound of cascading water. The site will be served with both sanitary sewer and water main.

Nottawaseppi Huran Band of The Potawatomi
Mishkoswen Master Land Use Plan & Development,
Athens Township, MI -

A 13-unit development will be constructed north of T Drive and be accessed from the existing reservation property (Pamptopee Trail).  A private water system consisting of wells and 8” water main, new roads and five LEED homes are included in the project.