PLANNING PROJECTS

 

 

ONGOING WMRPC PROJECTS

 

The Region has several ongoing programs, including the Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS).  This program is funded by the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) and involves an annual process of collecting information about the region related to economic and community development.  The Region facilitates the process that includes the 16-member CEDS Committee, comprised of economic developers from across the Region.  The CEDS process is the first step for communities wishing to receive EDA grants for economic development projects such as infrastructure improvements, industrial parks, or other improvements related to jobs and the economy.  New rules established by EDA in 2006 require that the CEDS Committee be comprised of representatives from both the public and private sector, and the WMRPC has worked with our member communities to bring private sector representatives to the Committee.  Another change relates to the fact that our EDA grant cycle, and the entire CEDS process is now a three-year process, instead of a one year program – so the current CEDS document will be our guiding document until the end of 2009.  The CEDS Committee is reviewing a draft of the 2007-09 CEDS and is scheduled to adopt the strategy at the August 29, 2007 meeting.  The Board is scheduled to adopt the plan at the September 28, 2007 meeting.  The WMRPC is currently working with three communities to obtain EDA grants totaling over $4 million.  

 

Another ongoing program is with the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT).  The Region maintains a work program with MDOT that involves technical assistance to MDOT and local communities related to transportation planning.  The WMRPC performs transportation studies across the region and for specific corridor studies such as the M-40/M-89 Corridor in Allegan County, the M-104 Corridor in Ottawa County, and the M-66 Corridor in Ionia County.  The WMRPC was key in initiating the new Greenville Area Transportation Committee in June 2007.  This Committee will study transportation issues in the Greenville Area and involves two cities, six townships, three counties, law enforcement, MDOT, road commissions, and many other interested groups.  

 

For the past five years each of Michigan’s Regions have been very involved in a new transportation program called Asset Management – that program involves creating an inventory of road conditions across Michigan to determine how to implement the “right fix at the right time” to best maintain the State’s roadways.  The WMRPC is gearing up for the fifth year of data collection and has copies of 2003-2006 information available for anyone interested in the condition of roads across the Region.

 

 

 

Special WMRPC Projects

 

The WMRPC is currently wrapping-up a project that covers MDOT’s “Grand Region,” which includes the counties of Ionia, Kent, Mecosta, Montcalm, Muskegon, Newaygo, Oceana, and Ottawa.  MDOT requested that the WMRPC develop a map of non-motorized facilities to assist bicyclists in navigating the network of trails, and the traditional transportation network, across the eight county area.  Copies of the map will be printed in fall 2007.     

 

 

 

RECENTLY COMPLETED PROJECTS

 

Land Use Studies

 

The WMRPC worked closely with Osceola County’s Sherman Township to update the Sherman Township Master Plan.  The project began in 2006 and was completed early in 2007.  The Master Plan was performed with a very small budget, but included a variety of methods of public input, many productive meetings with the Planning Commission, digital mapping, and a very thorough set of goals and objectives for the Township to follow in the implementation phase of the process.  During the planning process the issue of wind turbine generators arose, creating the demand for more education of WMRPC staff related to this topic.    

 

Allegan and Ottawa Counties Shoreline Communities Study – This was a four-phase study that spanned the time period between 2001 and 2006 and was performed with funds from the WMRPC, MDOT, and (primarily) MDEQ’s Coastal Management Program.  The WMRPC worked with the 14 shoreline communities in Allegan and Ottawa Counties to identify issues related to growth, planning, and other community issues.  Information included joint demographic information and joint land use maps, a comparison of community goals, and a build-out analysis for each community  Issues culled from issue identification workshops, a community survey distributed to 3,000 shoreline residents, and interviews with community leaders helped identify issues.  The studies also compiled a list of programs that communities can use to address growth.  The fourth phase involved developing a summary of all of the information and creating a future land use map with uniform land use categories among all of the communities.  Copies of the studies are available. 

  

Between 2002 and 2005 The WMRPC assisted Big Rapids Township with performing the Big Rapids Township Land Use Plan.  This plan was funded by Big Rapids Township and involved a variety of methods for public input, coordinating mapping efforts with Michigan State University and the WMRPC, and very close work with a committee formed to develop the plan.

 

 

Economic Development

 

Economic Development Inventory and Analysis – The WMRPC completed a study in 2006 that inventoried all of the economic development opportunities across the seven-county area.  The key points of the study (funded by EDA and the WMRPC) include:

● Provides the means to create a more focused approach to economic development 

● Developed an inventory of industrial parks and land planned/zoned for industrial uses

● Developed an inventory of economic development programs

● Established recommendations related to the need for additional facilities and programs

● Defined the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats (SWOT) of the seven-county area served by the West Michigan Regional Planning Commission (WMRPC) related to economic development

 

 

Transportation

 

In 2006 the WMRPC was approached by the Cadillac MDOT offices to assist in determining the feasibility of expanding transit services in Mecosta and Osceola counties.  The WMRPC worked with a committee consisting of officials from MDOT, the Mecosta Osceola Transit Authority (MOTA), the two counties, and others to determine the feasibility of expanding transit.  Many meetings were held, a community survey was performed, key-person interviews were performed, and potential routes were established with the assistance of MDOT.  While this was a fairly controversial topic in the two county area the WMRPC assisted since we were a neutral body that presented unbiased information for the Committee to consider.

 

The WMRPC is currently assisting the Montcalm County Transit Committee in determining the feasibility of expanding transit services in Montcalm County.  The WMRPC serves on a committee consisting of county officials and agencies across Montcalm County to determine the feasibility of establishing countywide transit services.  In addition to serving on the Committee, specific tasks that the Region has performed include assisting in the development of a community wide survey, and tabulating/analyzing the results of the survey.

 

 

Recreation Planning

 

The WMRPC is involved in recreation planning in many ways.  One task we perform is to review every recreation plan in Region 8 and maintain a file of all current recreation plans.  This helps communities and the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR), which requires up-to-date plans for communities to seek grants from the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund (MNRTF) or the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF).

 

The WMRPC also develops recreation plans for communities and assists in the grant process.  The following describes some recent planning efforts:

  

Allegan County – The WMRPC worked with The Casco Township Recreation Committee to develop the Casco Township Parks and Recreation Plan in 2006/07.  Access to Lake Michigan is a key issue in the Township, and one that goes well beyond the goals of a traditional recreation plan.  Other issues and actions include developing an active recreation park, and assisting in the acquisition of a natural area along Lake Michigan. 

 

Ionia County – The WMRPC updated the Village of Lyon’s Recreation Plan in 2006/07.  The plan focuses on improvements to the Village’s parks, especially Hazel Devore Island Park, which is a unique park situated on an island in the Grand River.  The WMRPC developed the County’s recreation plan in 2003 and has since assisted in updating the goals for Bertha Brock Park and has provided support for two successful grant applications.  Bertha Brock Park (west of Ionia) and Greenview Point Park (east of Lyons) both received MDNR funds in 2005.  

 

Montcalm County – The WMRPC updated the Montcalm County Parks and Recreation Plan in 2003 and performed a survey of County residents in 2001 to determine their opinions of the County’s parks.  The WMRPC is currently working with Montcalm County to update its Recreation Plan.  Additionally, the WMRPC recently assisted the County in applying for a grant from the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund to build an accessible fishing pier in Krampe Park (currently being evaluated by the MDNR). 

 

The WMRPC updated Crystal Township’s recreation plan in 2006/2007, which focuses on improving the Township’s active recreation park, David Noll Park.  Additional issues include security at parks, administration, and improving the Township’s other parks.  The Township was successful in receiving a grant from the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund with the last plan performed by the WMRPC. 

 

Also over the past several years the WMRPC has developed or assisted in developing recreation plans for Pierson Township (2003), the Sheridan Area (2004) (and a successful  grant recipient), and Hopkins Township (2005). 

 

The WMRPC also assisted numerous communities with developing recreation plans by creating a template specific to each county that is easily adapted to each community.  The template has been used by many communities over the years.  

 

Other activities include reviewing grant applications, writing letters of support for projects, determining the area influenced by a park, and determining the opinions of MDNR staff on questions related to plans and grants.

 

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