The Ottawa County Housing Commission moved the small‑footprint homes initiative forward and agreed to provide a letter of support for a demonstration project in Holland.

Staff told commissioners the final small‑footprint plans are scheduled for public release in early January and that a preview web page and contact form will be available so stakeholders and local planners can review materials before the formal public launch. Staff said the intention is to equip the county’s 24 municipalities with tangible design and zoning examples to ease local conversations about smaller, attainable lots.

Commissioners discussed a specific demonstration project — described in meeting materials as the 'Hope Bridge' housing development — that will combine adaptive reuse of a historic estate with modestly sized dwellings. Staff said the project team will submit a planned unit development (PUD) package to the City of Holland on Dec. 17, and Holland’s planning commission is expected to review the application on Jan. 17. During the review, Holland transportation staff has indicated a sidewalk requirement for the multi‑unit submittal; engineers estimated building a sidewalk could add roughly $80,000–$100,000 to the project budget, a cost staff said could affect the attainable‑housing price point.

The commission reviewed and read a drafted letter of support intended for inclusion with the Holland PUD package and agreed to have the chair sign it. The draft endorses the project as a local showcase of small footprint homes and highlights Doors of Hope (project partner) and local design consultants as collaborators in the proposal.

Commissioners also discussed next steps for stakeholder engagement and strategic planning: staff will convene a facilitated strategic‑planning session (proposed for February) that could include separate stakeholder workshops (employers, civic organizations, developers) and a final report to the board of commissioners.

Provenance: small‑footprint initiative discussion begins at SEG 1008 and the letter review and agreement to sign concludes at SEG 1300.