An Important and Disappointing Update

As you know, we have a 20-acre forest property in Brooks Township, just outside of Newaygo, MI. We have been working since February 2022 to satisfy the initial requirements the township gave us before making our official proposal to open a conservation burial grounds on the property. The last outstanding requirement that has taken so long to satisfy is an agreement from a local land conservancy for perpetual care of the property. Agreements like these can take years to finalize. We are now at the point of establishing an official relationship with a land conservancy.

However, recently we received disappointing news. The township passed a new ordinance banning all cemeteries.

The Brooks Township Cemetery Ordinance (Ordinance No. 2023-100) states:

“The Township Board finds that this Ordinance is essential for the health, safety and welfare of Brooks Township property owners, residents and visitors. In the past, cemeteries elsewhere have taken up large amounts of sometimes otherwise productive land. Cemetery landscaping, grass cutting, monument repair and upkeep costs have increased dramatically over time. The problems associated with abandoned or “orphan” cemeteries has increased throughout Michigan, and citizens look to the local municipal government (townships, cities or villages) to take over abandoned or orphan cemeteries. There currently are no known cemeteries in Brooks Township. The Township board also finds that there is sufficient space and vacant plots available in existing cemeteries within a 50-mile radius of Brooks Township to satisfy any demand for burials.

For the purposes of this Ordinance, the following word shall mean as follows:

Cemetery – Shall mean a burial ground or graveyard for dead people or pets, or a place where dead people or cremains are buried or interred. A cemetery can also be a designated place or area where the remains of people or pets who have died are buried or laid to rest. A cemetery shall include, but not necessarily be limited to, any conventional cemetery, green cemetery, conservation cemetery, burial forest or forest cemetery. This definition shall not include the noncommercial burial of a dead pet animal owned by the owner(s) of the property involved.

Cemeteries are expressly prohibited and banned within Brooks Township. No person shall construct, create or promote any cemetery within Brooks Township. No cemetery shall be created or utilized within Brooks Township.”

We are determined to open a conservation burial grounds in West Michigan and are actively pursuing next steps.

Your enthusiasm and support for the work we are doing has continued motivating us through the hurdles we have faced. We know without a doubt that you all want to see a green burial forest in this area, and we couldn’t be more grateful for that assurance. Some of you have visited and loved the property in Brooks Township. It all means so much to us.

We will continue this important work, because we believe in it and we know you are counting us.

With gratitude,

Peter & Annica Quakenbush