mecosta county master...2000. table 1: mecosta county population estimates 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010...
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MecostaCountyMasterPlan
McKennaAssociates,Incorporated 1April2001 UpdatedNovember2014
INTRODUCTION
TheMecostaCountyMasterPlanisintendedtoguidethefuturegrowthanddevelopmentofMecostaCountyanditsassociatedtownshipsandmunicipalitiesoverthenextten(10)tofifteen(15)years.TheprimaryimpetusforthedevelopmentofthisplanistheCounty’sdesiretoensurethatthecommunitycontinuestobeaplacewhichexemplifiesallofthedesiredcharacteristicsassociatedwitharuralandagriculturallybasedlifestylewhilesimultaneouslyprovidingformeasuredgrowthandeconomicdevelopment.MecostaCounty’sagriculturalhistory,abundantlakeandriverresources,recreationalopportunitiesandexistingnaturalfeaturesaresomeoftheattributeswhichmustbepreservedandprotectedinthedevelopmentofthisplan.TheMasterPlanwillfirstdefinetheseissuesmostimportanttoacommunity.AnanalysisoftheexistingfeaturesanddefiningcharacteristicsoftheCountywillbeidentified.TheanalysiswillincludeasurveyofexistinglandusesinMecostaCounty,population,economic,andhousingstatistics,adescriptionofthephysicalconstraintsandresourcesandcirculationpatternsofthecommunity.Basedonallgatheredinformationandwithinputfromcitizens,goalsandobjectiveswillbecreatedwhichoutlinethegrowthanddevelopmentpatternsofthecommunityoverthenextten(10)tofifteen(15)years.ThesegoalsandobjectiveswillhelpcreatethefuturelanduseplanandcirculationplanfortheCounty.Finally,theimplementationsectionwillpresentsomekeystrategiestheCountycanusetomeetitsmasterplangoalsandobjectives.ByprovidinganoutlineforthedevelopmentofMecostaCounty,thecitizensareattemptingtopreserve,protectandenhancethedesirableattributesofthecommunityforthefutureresidentsoftheCounty.
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MecostaCountyMasterPlan
McKennaAssociates,Incorporated 2April2001 UpdatedNovember2014
DEMOGRAPHICPROFILE
MuchinformationisavailableaboutthepopulationofMecostaCounty.ThemostcomprehensivesourceofdataistheU.S.Census.Updated2010Censusfigures,estimatesandprojectionswereavailablerelativetoseveralfacetsoftheMecostaCountypopulation.Wherepossible,thisupdatedinformationisusedtosupplementthe1990and/or2000Censusdatapresentedintheprofile.POPULATIONTRENDSIn2010,thepopulationofMecostaCountywasfoundtobe42,798.Ofthatamount,33.1%(14,241)livedinurbanareas(i.e.BigRapids)and66.5%(28,557)livedinruralareasoftheCounty.TheCountysawthegreatestamountofgrowthbetween1970and1980,a32%increaseinpopulation.Sincethattimegrowthhasvariedfromlessthana1%increaseupto8.7%.In2010thepopulationincreased5.5%from2000.
Table1:MecostaCountyPopulationEstimates
1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 %Change2000‐2010
2020 %Change2010‐2020
27,992 36,961 37,308 40,553 42,798 5.5% 45,152 5.5%Source:U.S.CensusBureau2010
The1990through2010CensusinformationalsopointstothefactthatpeoplearemigratingtoMecostaCounty,primarilyfromotherlocationsintheStateofMichigan.ThismigrationpatterniscommoninareaslikeMecostaCountythathaveabundantnaturalresourcesandamenities(i.e.lakes,rivers,streams,forests,etc.).Thesefeaturesmakethecommunityattractivetothosepersonsseekingahighqualityoflivingwithabundantrecreationalopportunities.MecostaCountyhasbecomeadesirablelocationforthosewishingtoretire,ownasecondhomeorrecreationalproperty,orlocateawayfromthedownstateurbanareas.Itisalsointerestingtonotethattherearemoremales(21,487/50.2%)livinginMecostaCountythanfemales(21,311/49.8%)accordingtothe2010U.S.census.Thisissomewhatunusual,butcanbeattributedtothefactthatmoremalesareattendingFerrisStateUniversitythanfemales.Mostcommunitieshaveslightlymorefemaleresidentsthanmaleresidents,whichiscommonlyattributedtothefactthatfemalestendtolivelongerthanmales.AveragehouseholdsizeforMecostaCountyequaled2.45personsperhouseholdin2010.Thisrepresentsaslightreductioninhouseholdsizefromthe2000Census,whichreportedanaveragehouseholdsizeof2.49personsperhouseholdanda1970Censusfigureof3.06personsperhousehold.ThismirrorstheStateandNationaltrendsintheoverallreductionoftheaveragesizeofahousehold.
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MecostaCountyMasterPlan
McKennaAssociates,Incorporated 3April2001 UpdatedNovember2014
ItshouldbenotedthatasidentifiedbytheCounty’s1980InterimLandUsePlan,totalpopulationforMecostaCountywasprojectedtobeinexcessof47,000personsby1990.Theanticipateddouble‐digitgrowthinpopulationduringthe1980’swasnotrealizedasevidentbythe2010CensuspopulationfiguresnotedinTable1.REGIONALPOPULATIONTRENDSItisoftenbeneficialtocompareacommunity’sdemographicswiththoseofsurroundingjurisdictions.ThoughgeographicallysmallerthanallbutOsceolaoftheadjacentcounties,howMecostaCountycomparesincontexttoitsneighboringcountiescanassistplannersandpublicofficialsinpolicyandlandusedecisions.
Table2:MecostaCountyPopulationProjections
County 1990Population
2000Population
2010Population
%Changefrom2000to2010
2020Population(projected)
Mecosta 37,308 40,533 42,798 5.5% 45,152
Montcalm 53,059 61,266 63,342 3.4% 65,496
Newaygo 38,200 47,874 48,460 1.2% 49,042
Osceola 20,146 23,197 23,528 1.5% 23,881
Isabella 54624 63,351 70,311 11.0% 78,045
Source:U.S.CensusBureau/Populationprojectionsbasedonmostcurrentpopulationchangesfrom2000to2010
AsTable2shows,Mecostawasthe2ndfastestgrowingCountywithinthefiveCountyregionandthesecondsmallestinpopulationsecondonlytoOsceolaCounty.In2010MecostaCountyranked40thoutof83countiesintheStateofMichiganrelativetototalpopulation.AGECHARACTERISTICSTobetterunderstandthepopulationofMecostaCountyitisnecessarytoexaminetheagebreakdownofthepopulation.Thisinformationisusefulinpredictingfuturecommunityneedsrelatedtoserviceslikeeducation,housing,andculturalamenities.Fromthe2010U.S.Censusinformation,itisknownthatnearly26.4%(11,928)ofthepopulationwasundertheageoftwenty.Additionally,approximately15.4%(6,577)ofthepopulationwas65yearsofageandoveraccordingtothe2010Census.ThemedianagefortheCountywas30.0yearsofage.ThisinformationindicatesthatMecostaCountyisafairlyyoungcommunity.However,itmustbenotedthatFerrisStateUniversityaccountsforasignificantnumberofindividualsbetweentheagesof18and24thatliveinMecostaCounty.Therefore,manyoftheservicesandamenitiesdemandedbythisyoungerpopulationsegmentareprovidedinBigRapidsandnotdemandedthroughouttheCounty.
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MecostaCountyMasterPlan
McKennaAssociates,Incorporated 4April2001 UpdatedNovember2014
SPECIALPOPULATIONSFerrisStateUniversity,witha2013enrollmentof14,707students,isMichigan’sfastest‐growingpublicuniversity.Enrollmentincludesstudentsonthemaincampus,theKendallArtandDesignCollege,and16additionaloff‐campuscenters.FerrisStateUniversity’smaincampusinBigRapidshasa2010enrollmentof10,849students.StudentsenrolledatFerrisStateUniversityrepresentaspecialpopulationgroupandcompriseapproximately25%ofthetotalpopulationofMecostaCounty.ThisisthesamepercentageofthetotalpopulationasreportedintheCounty’s1980InterimLandUsePlan.MinorityenrollmentatFerriswas15.14%in2014withanAfrican‐Americanenrollmentof7%.Internationalenrollmentwas3%ofthestudentpopulationin2012.FerrisstudentsrepresenteverycountyinMichigan,nearlyeverystateintheU.S.,anddozensofcountriesworldwide.Inaddition,theelderlypopulationofMecostaCountyisincreasingasapercentageofthetotalpopulationoftheCounty.ThemedianageoftheCountyhassteadilyincreasedfrom22.7(1970),to23.0(1980),to25.6in1990to30yearsofagein2010.Thisisfurtherevidentinthetotalpopulationfiguresforpersonsovertheageof60in1980(4,858),1990(5,702),andasestimatedfor9,054personsin2010.
112012001216
22193403
1222100695610331272131313291209
1063797
530390
209
‐1108‐1168‐1180
‐2087‐2795
‐1073‐962‐962
‐1121‐1271‐1362‐1366‐1268‐1131
‐852‐626‐494‐485
‐4000 ‐3000 ‐2000 ‐1000 0 1000 2000 3000 4000
NumberofPeople
AgeGroup
PopulationPyramid,2010
Female
Male
Under55‐910‐1415‐1920‐2425‐29
30‐3435‐3940‐4445‐4950‐5455‐5960‐6465‐6970‐7475‐7980‐8485+
Source:USCensus2010
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MecostaCountyMasterPlan
McKennaAssociates,Incorporated 5April2001 UpdatedNovember2014
Finally,MecostaCountyishomeofoneofthelargestandmostconservativeAmishcommunitiesintheStateofMichigan.Approximately120familiesresideinornearStanwoodandMorley.TheAmishlifestyleprecludestheownershipofelectricity,telephones,orautomobiles.TheAmishsupportthemselvesthroughfarming,sawmills,woodworking,contractservices,andtheproductionofcraftsandbakedgoods.TheAmishoperatenineschoolseducatingchildrenthroughtheeighthgrade.Uponthecompletionoftheeighthgrade,themalechildrenaretaughtfarmingskillsandthefemalechildrenlearnhomemakingskills.TheAmishhelpsupportafeedelevatorinStanwood.ThisStanwoodfeedelevatoristhesecondoftwoelevatorslocatedintheCounty.TheprimaryfeedelevatorislocatedinBigRapids.NewtotheAmishcommunityinthespringof2010wastheStanwoodProduceWholesaleAuction,L.L.C.TheadditionofthistothecommunityallowslocalAmishfarmerstoauctiontheirproducelocally.Table3identifiestheCounty’spopulationbyjurisdictionoverthepastforty(40)years.
Table3:MecostaCounty’sPopulationByJurisdiction
TotalPopulation(bycommunity) 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010AetnaTownshipMorleyVillage(Aetnatwp.portion)AustinTownshipBigRapids,CityBigRapidsCharterTownshipChippewaTownshipColfaxTownshipDeerfieldTownshipMorleyVillage(DeerfieldTwp.portion)ForkTownshipBarrytonVillage(ForkTwp.portion)GrantTownshipGreenCharterTownshipHintonTownshipMartinyTownshipMecostaTownshipStanwoodVillage(MecostaTwp.portion)MillbrookTownshipMortonTownshipMecostaVillage(MortonTwp.portion)SheridanTownshipWheatlandTownshipTotalforMecostaCounty
10022975091199516877651267817184109436847618087257561444241819998396616121427,992
1351312898143612471100918851032195134842264228478551210188520994717894281007142436,961
162232811021260331001035191512311971395393644283399513481966174101221223931020136537,308
2044310141510849324912391975163018516783816803209103516062435204108135974401357147440,553
2,2993061,56110,6014,2081,2121,9331,8161871,6043556863,2921,1261,6252,6152111,1134,3114571,3931,40342,798
Source:U.S.Census2010
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MecostaCountyMasterPlan
McKennaAssociates,Incorporated 6April2001 UpdatedNovember2014
EDUCATIONALATTAINMENTThepopulationofMecostaCountyisverywelleducated.83.8%ofMecostaCountyresidentsovertheageof25wereclassifiedashighschoolgraduatesorhigherintermsofeducationalattainmentin2010.Anadditional19.1%ofMecostaCountyresidentsheldabachelor’sdegreeorhigherin2010.ThisinformationisrelevantbecauseitisindicativeofthequalityoftheschoolsystemaswellastheincomeofresidentsofMecostaCounty.TherelativelyhighlevelofeducationalattainmentisquitelikelyalsoinfluencedbyFerrisStateUniversitywhichislocatedintheCityofBigRapids.CULTURALMAKEUPThevastmajorityofMecostaCountyresidentsclassifiedthemselvesaswhiteinthe2010U.S.Census.Infact,93.7%or40,095individualswereclassifiedthisway.Themostcommonfirstancestriesreportedin2010forMecostaCounty,bypercentagewere:German(26%),English(11%),U.S.orAmerican(10%),Irish(9%),Polish(5%),Dutch(4%)andFrench(exceptBasque)(4%).Themostprevalentancestryclaimedbyresidentsin1990wasGerman(13,205)followedbyEnglish(7,015)andIrish(5,734).Theremaining4%ofindividualswereclassifiedasAfricanAmerican(978),AmericanIndiana(258),Asian‐PacificIslander(187)andotherethnicbackground(146).Theethnicheritageofthecommunitywasconsistentwiththeracialcompositionasseeninthe1990Census.
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MecostaCountyMasterPlan
McKennaAssociates,Incorporated 7April2001 UpdatedNovember2014
HOUSINGCHARACTERISTICS
ItisimportanttoexaminethehousingstockinMecostaCountybecauseitservesasanindicatorofthequalityoflifeforresidentslivinginthecommunity.Furthermore,housinginformationalsoactsasaneconomicgaugeforthecommunityandsurroundingarea.GENERALCHARACTERISTICSIn2012,therewere21,159housingunitsinMecostaCounty.Ofthisamount15,695units(76.2%)wereoccupiedandtheremaining5,464units(24.8%)werevacant.Higherowneroccupancyisgenerallydesirableasitsuggestsastablepopulationbase,viableneighborhoods,andsufficienttaxbase.MecostaCountyhasaveryhighowneroccupancyratewithrelativelyfewrentalunitsforthesizeoftheCounty’spopulation.Inaddition,manyoftheCounty’svacantunitscanbeattributedtounoccupiedsecondandvacationhomesemptyatthetimeofthe2010Census.Table4providesinformationabouttheageoftheavailablehousingstock
Table4:AvailableHousingStock
YearStructureBuilt NumberofUnits
2010+ 71
2000to2009 2929
1990to1999 3773
1980to1989 2675
1970to1979 3888
1960to1969 2229
1950to1959 1705
1940to1949 932
1939orearlier 2957Source:U.S.Census2010
ThehousingunitsavailableinMecostaCountyincludemostlythreebedrooms(43.4%).Itisinterestingtonotethatapproximately44%ofthehomesbuiltbetween1990and1999weresinglewidepremanufacturedhomes.Another20%ofthehomesbuiltduringthisperiodweredoublewidepremanufacturedhomes.Relativetoage,approximately22%ofthehousingunitsintheCountywerebuiltbefore1950.Another22.5%ofthehousingunitsintheCountywerebuiltbetween1950and1970.Housingconstructiondroppedsharplyduringthe1980’sdueinparttoapoorStateandNationaleconomyandstagnantpopulationgrowth,butsawasurgeinthe1990’s,whichwassimilartotherestoftheU.S.ThisinformationisrelevantwhenmakingsubsequentrecommendationsintheCounty’sfinalMasterPlan.
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MecostaCountyMasterPlan
McKennaAssociates,Incorporated 8April2001 UpdatedNovember2014
HOUSINGVALUEANDRENTSThemedianrentin2012was$668.In2012,themedianpropertyvalueforowneroccupiedhomeswas$112,500.NearlyhalfofthehousingunitsinMecostaCounty(43.2%)arevaluedbetween$0and$99,999.Another50.1%ofhousingunitsintheCountyarevaluedatbetween$100,000and$300,000.OTHERASSOCIATEDHOUSINGRELATEDINFORMATIONThemajorityofthehousingunitsintheCounty(72.6%)areowneroccupiedandnearlyasmany(71.6%)aresinglefamilydetachedunits(1).Thisisatthelowerrangeofthedesiredratioofsingle‐familyhomestorentalunitswithintheCounty.TheCountyshouldstrivetomaintainaratioofsingle‐familydwellingstorentalunitsofbetweentwothirds(2/3)andthreefourths(3/4)single‐familyunitstoensureastablepopulationbase.However,itshouldbenotedthatthemajorityoftherentalhousingintheCountyisconcentratedintheCityofBigRapidsandBigRapidsTownshipduetotheirurbanizednatureandthelocationofFerrisStateUniversityarea.Finally,approximately74.2%ofthehousingunitsintheCountyarecurrentlyoccupied.Theremaining25.8%arecurrentlyvacant.Itiscommontohaveintheneighborhoodof20%ofacommunity’spopulationmigrateinanygivenyear.AhigherpercentageofMecostaCountycanbeattributedtothetransitorynatureoftheuniversity’sstudentpopulationandrelatedsegmentsoftheoverallpopulation.NUMBEROFHOUSEHOLDSItisestimatedthatthenumberofhouseholdswithintheCountyhasincreasedby7.9%percentsince2000from14,915householdstoapproximately16,101householdsin2010.Thisrateofgrowthisslightlylessthanthe10.7%realizednationallyoverthesameperiodoftime.Householdgrowthisexpectedtocontinueincreasingatarateof8%whichoutpacestheexpectednationalrateof5.5%.ThisisdueinparttoincreasedpopulationgrowthintheCounty,thecontinueddeclineinthenumberofpersonsperhousehold,andtheCounty’sstatusasarecreationalandretirementdestination._________________________(1)U.S.CensusBureau,2008‐2012AmericanCommunitySurvey
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MecostaCountyMasterPlan
McKennaAssociates,Incorporated 9April2001 UpdatedNovember2014
ECONOMICPROFILE
BACKGROUNDMecostaCounty’seconomicbirthwasestablishedastheresultofthegrowinglumberingindustry.TheMuskegonRiverwasthecatalysttosupportthesuccessofthisindustry.Today,thelumberingerahaspassed.Initsplacearemanufacturing,industrialenterprises,andproductivefarmingoperationswhichhelptosustaintheeconomy.AmajorfocusofeconomicdevelopmentinMecostaCountyinthelast10‐15yearshasbeentourismandresortbusiness.EMPLOYMENTANDUNEMPLOYMENTTheMecostaCountylaborforceconsistsofapproximately17,063workers.Accordingtothe2008‐2012EconomicCensusMecostaCountyhas:
36–ManufacturingEstablishments 16–WholesaleEstablishments 147–RetailEstablishments 369–ServiceEstablishments
TheprincipalemployersinMecostaCountyarelistedinTable5.Thistablealsoindicatesthetypeofproductorserviceofeachemployeraswellasthenumberofemployees.
Table5:PrincipleEmployersInMecostaCounty2010
Firm Employees Product/Service
FerrisStateUniversity,BigRapids 2112 HigherEducation
WolverineWorldWide,BigRapids 425 SafetyandMilitaryFootwear
Haworth 280 OfficeFurniture
BigRapidsPublicSchoolDistrict 230 K‐12PublicEducation
FluidRoutingSolutions 320 AutomotiveParts
ChippewaHillsSchoolDistrict 245 K‐12PublicEducation
SpectrumHealthBigRapidsHospital 550 HealthCare
MorleyStanwoodSchoolDistrict 132 PublicEducation
FederalScrewWorks 130 ColdFormedBolts
CountyofMecosta 161 CountyGovernment
LeprinoFoods 152 MozzarellaStringCheese
SimondsInternational 71 WoodCuttingKnives/IndustrialBlades
BigRapidsProducts 350 MetalStamping
PioneerGroup 106 Newspapers/PhoneDirectories
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MecostaCountyMasterPlan
McKennaAssociates,Incorporated 10April2001 UpdatedNovember2014
Table5:PrincipleEmployersInMecostaCounty2010
Firm Employees Product/Service
CityofBigRapids 90 GovernmentandPublicServices/CityGovernment
DTE/MichiganConsolidatedGas 68 NaturalGasUtilityMOARCIndustries,Paris 206 Misc.Plastic&MetalManufacturingConsumersEnergy,BigRapids 51 ElectricalUtilityCompany
BenedictManufacturing 51 CNCMachiningHanchettManufacturing 10 KnifeGrinding&SawSharpening
EquipmentANRPipeline,BigRapids 42 GasTransitions/Storage
FlexCable&FurnaceProducts 40 WeldingResistanceCables
UnitedStateMarble,Remus 70 CastSyntheticMarbleProductsWal‐Mart 310 RetailDepartmentStore
Meijer 350 RetailDepartmentStore
IceMountain 275 BottledWater
AltercareofBigRapids 130 NursingHome
Metron 93 NursingHome
Reith‐Riley 80 AsphaltPaving
TrelanManufacturing/Strongs 16 TreeChippers
BigRapidsBoxCompany 10 Pallets
L.C.ConcreteProducts 6 Concrete
Lowes 120 HomeImprovementRetail
Hamtech 4 MetalCuttingJobShop
AcmePropellers 7 SpecialtyBoatPropellers
CrossroadsSchools 192 K‐12CharterSchool
NOCTI 33
CrosswordSchools 192 CharterK‐12School
SacketPotatoes 40
Aldi 12 GroceryStore
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MecostaCountyMasterPlan
McKennaAssociates,Incorporated 11April2001 UpdatedNovember2014
UNEMPLOYMENTRATETheMecostaCountyunemploymentratehassteadilygonedownduringthe1990’s.Despitethisoverallimprovement,theunemploymentratehasremainedhigherinMecostaCountythantheStateofMichiganinalmosteveryyear.ThisindicatesthateconomyinMecostaCountyisnotquiteasstrongastheMichiganeconomyingeneralbutremainsatorbelowthenationalaverage.ThefollowingtablecomparestheunemploymentratesofMecostaCounty,theStateofMichiganandtheNationasawholeoverthepasttenyears.Unemploymentrosesignificantlyfrom2000and2010andismuchhigherthanthenationalaverageduetomajorrecessionsinMichiganandtheUnitedStates.
Table6:UnemploymentRate1990‐2010
1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2010Mecosta 8.3 9.5 8.5 6.8 6.3 5.4 5.3 4.7 4.1 4.1 3.7 12.2
MI 7.6 9.3 8.9 7.1 5.9 5.4 4.9 4.2 3.9 3.8 3.4 11.1USA 5.5 6.7 7.4 6.8 6.1 5.7 5.3 4.9 4.5 4.2 4.1 9.1Source:U.S.Census2010
Table7identifiesthosepersonsinMecostaCounty16yearsofageandolderandtheprofessioninwhichtheywereemployed.
Table7:2012Employment
IndustrySectorofEmployment NumberofPersons
%ofEmploymentPersonsMecosta/Michigan
Agriculture,forestry,fisheries,andmining 565 3.3 1.3%
Construction 834989 5.58% 4.9%Manufacturing 2,0752,449 13.7414.4% 24.616.9%
CommunicationsandotherPublicUtilities 303 2% 2.1%Transportation 363 2.4% 3.3%WholesaleTrade 278276 1.86% 4.02.6%RetailTradeOccupations 3,2292,429 21.3914.2% 18.011.7%Finance,Insurance,andRealEstate 566 3.7% 5.4%BusinessandRepairServices 428 2.8% 4.7%PersonalServices 341 2.26% 2.7%EntertainmentandRecreatingServices,Arts,Entertainment,Recreation,Accommodations&FoodServices
2632041 1.7412.0% 1.29.4%
HealthandEducationalServicesandSocialAssistanceServices
9464952 6.26%29.0% 8.9%24.0%
EducationalServices 3,607 23.89% 8.6%PublicAdministration 444375 2.94%2.2% 3.8%3.8%
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MecostaCountyMasterPlan
McKennaAssociates,Incorporated 12April2001 UpdatedNovember2014
Table7:2012Employment
IndustrySectorofEmployment NumberofPersons
%ofEmploymentPersonsMecosta/Michigan
Transportation&Warehousing&Utilities 586 3.4% 4.2%Information 169 1.0% 1.7%Finance&Insurance,Realestate&Renting&Leasing 565 3.3% 5.5%Professional,Scientific,&Management&Administrative&WasteManagementServices
955 5.6% 9.1%
Source:U.S.Census2010
EMPLOYMENTCHARACTERISTICS50%oftheworkersinMecostaCountyhave“whitecollar”occupationswhile26.8%ofworkersintheCountyhad“bluecollar”occupationsandtheremaining22.8%hadother,predominantlyservicesectororientedoccupations(2).Thehighpercentageof“whitecollar”canbeattributedinparttothelocationofFerrisStateUniversitywithintheCountyaswellasthenumerousgovernmentalagenciessuchasthehospital,Countygovernment,andtheBigRapidsgovernment.WiththerecentlocationofnewindustrialmanufacturerstotheBigRapidsindustrialparkandnewretailcenterssuchasWal‐MartandMeijerenteringthemarketoverthepast15years,thepercentageofserviceindustryandmanufacturing“bluecollar”workerswillgrowasapercentageofthetotalemployment.Correspondingly,thepercentageof“whitecollar”jobswillbereducedasapercentageoftotalemploymenteventhoughthetotalnumberof“whitecollar”jobswillcontinuetogrow.ThisisduetotherelocationofexecutivesandmanagementprofessionalsassociatedwithnewbusinessandindustryandthecontinuedgrowthofFerrisStateUniversity.INCOMEANDPOVERTYSTATUSIn2012,MecostaCountyhadapercapita(perperson)personalincome(PCPI)of$19,184.ThisPCPIwasseventy‐five(75%)percentoftheStateaverageof$25,547,andsixty‐eight(68%)percentofthenationalaverageof$28,051.The2012PCPIreflectedanincreaseof17.18percentfrom2000.The2000‐2012Statechangewas15.65percentandthenationalchangewas29.94percent.Therefore,eventhoughthePCPIinMecostaCountyisincreasing,itisnotmaintainingpacewiththenationasawhole,butisgrowingfasterthanthestate,mostlikelyduetotheautodeclineduringtherecentrecession.Theslowerincreasecomparedtothenationisdueinparttothehighconcentrationofuniversitystudentswhoaretraditionallyclassifiedaslowerincomestudents.In2012itwasestimatedthattherewere8,992individualslivinginpovertyinMecostaCountyaccordingtotheU.S.CensusBureau.Thisfiguretranslatesinto22.9%ofthetotalpopulation.Forpeopleundertheageof18,theincidenceofpovertyroseto29.79%.Only7.2%ofthosepersonsovertheageof65arelivinginpoverty.ThisisareflectionoftheCounty’sstatusasaretirementandresortcommunitywithseniorcitizenshavingsufficientincomefortheirlateryears.In2012,themedianincomeisestimatedat$38,332(perhousehold).
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MecostaCountyMasterPlan
McKennaAssociates,Incorporated 13April2001 UpdatedNovember2014
ItshouldbenotedthataverageincomeforMecostaCountyisgreatlyinfluencedbythesalariesofeducationalprofessionalsemployedbyFerrisStateUniversityaswellastheeightpublicschooldistrictswhichserveresidentsofMecostaCounty.[2]ClaritasReport,2000[3]ClaritasReport,2000
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MecostaCountyMasterPlan
McKennaAssociates,Incorporated 14April2001 UpdatedNovember2014
PHYSICALCHARACTER–NATURALFEATURES
ThephysicalelementswhichmakeupMecostaCountyareitsnaturalresources.Theyincludethegeology,soil,topography,wetlands,waterbodies,farmandforestedlandsaswellasothercharacteristicsoftheCounty.Ananalysisoftheseresourcesisbasictoplanning,becauseeachoftheseresourcesprovideboththeopportunitiesandconstraintsonlandusedevelopment.Tounderstandtheseresourcesandtouseandmanagethemwisely,isthekeytosoundlanduseplanningitistheintentofthissectiontoprovidethatunderstandingbyreviewingthecharacteristicsoftheCounty’snaturalresources(4).GEOLOGYMecostaCountywascompletelycoveredbyaseriesofglaciersduringthePleistoceneEpoch.Theseglaciersleftdeposits450to825feetthickontheoriginalbedrockofshaleandlimestone.ThepresenttopographyandsoilmaterialresultedprimarilyfromtheglacialdepositsoftheWisconsinGlacier,whichwasthelastglaciertocoverthisareaandwhichmeltedapproximately12,000yearsago.TheWisconsinGlacierhadtwolobeswhichaffectedMecostaCounty.TheSaginawLobetotheeastandtheLakeMichiganLobetothewestcametogetherwheretheMuskegonRiveristoday.Asthetwolobesmelted,theyleftundulatingtoslopingmorainesthroughoutmostoftheCounty.Thewaterflowingfromtheselobesformedanoutwashplainabout2‐3mileswide.TheMuskegonRivernowflowsthroughthisoutwashplain.AsecondoutwashplainwasformedbywaterfromtheSaginawLobe.TheLittleMuskegonRiverandChippewaRiverarenowlocatedinthis1to6milewideplain(5).Inaddition,sandandgraveldepositswereleftbehindbyrecedingglaciersthroughouttheCountymorespecificallyinGreen,BigRapids,Aetna,Hinton,Morton,andMartinyTownships.IntheeasternportionsoftheCounty,glacialTillPlaindepositswereleftaswellasinAustinandDeerfieldTownships.GlacialMorainedepositscreatedthelineofhills,valleysandrollinglandsfoundincentralMecostaCounty.Finally,largesectionsoficewhichhadbrokenawayfromtheglacierslaterformedthelakesexistingcurrentlyinChippewa,Martiny,andMortonTownships.ThehighconcentrationandabundantavailabilityofgraveldepositsmakeMecostaCountyanattractivelocationforminingandmineralextractionoperations.Asavailabledepositsandminingdecreasesinothercountiesacrossthestate,MecostaCountywillexperienceincreasedpressuretotapthisvaluablenaturalresource.Asminingandmineralextractionincreases,theCountyshouldtakeprecautionsinthepermittingandoperatingofthesefacilitiestominimizedetrimentaleffectstoadjacentpropertyandprotectthearea’senvironmentalquality.Furthermore,theCountymustrequireappropriatereclamationofminedsitessoastoreturnittoanattractiveandfunctionalproperty.(4)1980MecostaCountyInterimLandUsePlan(5)1996BigRapidsComprehensiveDevelopmentPlan
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MecostaCountyMasterPlan
McKennaAssociates,Incorporated 15April2001 UpdatedNovember2014
CLIMATEVARIABLESMecostaCountyenjoysarelativelymoderateclimate.TheCountyseldomexperiencesprolongedperiodsofeitherhotorhumidweatherduringthesummerorextremelycoldweatherduringthewinter.TheCounty’sgrowingseason,importanttoitsagriculturallybasedeconomy,typicallylasts128daysonaverage.Duringthesummer,theaverageminimumtemperatureis56degreesFandtheaveragemaximumdailytemperatureis82degreesF.Thoughextremelyhotdaysarerare,theCountydoesgenerallyrecordeight(8)daysabove90degreeseachyear.Averagerainfallduringtheyearisabout35incheswith18.6inches,or58%ofthisamountdistributedduringthetypicalcropseasonofMayorOctober.Finally,thunderstormsoccuronaverage36dayseachyear,primarilyduringthemonthsofJuneandJuly.Duringthewinter,theaverageminimumtemperatureis11degreesandtheaveragemaximumdailytemperatureis28degrees.Infact,90%oftheminimumtemperaturesbetweenNovemberandMarchfallbelow32degrees.Theaveragesnowfallduringthewinteris65inches.TheCountygenerallyrecordsonaverage16dayswheretemperaturesfallbelow0degreesF.Inaddition,duetotheCounty’sproximitytoLakeMichigan,MecostaCountyexperiencesoccasionallakeeffectsnowoccurrenceswhenthewindsareoutofthenorthwest.Thesunshinessixty‐four(64%)ofthetimepossibleinthesummerandtwenty‐one(21%)percentofthetimepossibleinthewinter.Theprevailingwindisfromthesouthwestandaveragesten(10)mph.SOILTYPESTheU.S.DepartmentofAgriculturehasmappedthelocationofthevarioussoiltypesfoundthroughouttheCountyandhascreatedtheSoilSurveyofMecostaCounty,Michigan.ThisbookisavaluableresourceforidentifyingthegeneralcharacteristicsofthesoilsfoundthroughouttheCounty.Featuresincludethedescriptionsofthevarioussoilclassifications,yieldsperacreofcrop,woodlandmanagementandproductivity,sanitaryfacilitiesandphysicalandchemicalpropertiesofthesoilsareidentified.Thesurveyisageneraloverviewofthesoiltypesandisintendedforplanningpurposes.Sitespecificandconstructionpurposeswouldrequireaspecificscientificsiteanalysis.Thesoilsurveyalsogroupsvarioussoilswithsimilarstatisticsintoassociations.TheUSDANaturalResourcesConservationServicehasrecentlyupdatedthesoilclassificationforMecostaCountyandhasdevelopedadigitaldatabaseofthisinformation.Anupdatedcomputerdigitizedsoilsdatamaphasbeencreatedasacomponentofthislanduseplan.Inaddition,thevariouscountysoilclassificationshavebeengroupedintoeightsoilassociationsinaccordancetotheMecostaCountySoilSurveyforgeneralreference.SOILASSOCIATIONSPerrington‐Coloma‐Ithacaassociation:
Nearlyleveltosteep,welldrained,somewhatexcessivelydrained,andsomewhatpoorlydrained,loamyandsandysoils
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MecostaCountyMasterPlan
McKennaAssociates,Incorporated 16April2001 UpdatedNovember2014
thatformedinglacialtilloroutwashdeposits
ColomaAssociation: Nearlyleveltosteep,somewhatexcessivelydrained,sandysoilsthatformedinglacialtilloroutwashdeposits.
Remus‐Spinks‐MetaAssociation Nearlyleveltorolling,well‐drained,loamyandsandysoilsthatformedinglacialtilldeposits.
MarletteAssociation: Undulatingtorollingmoderatelywelldrainedandwelldrained,loamysoilsthatformedinglacialtill.
MecostaAssociation: Nearlyleveltogentlyrolling,somewhatexcessivelydrained,sandysoilsthatformedinoutwashdepositsorglacialtill.
Coloma‐Covert‐ThetfordAssociation: Nearlyleveltorolling,somewhatexcessivelydrained,moderatelywelldrained,andsomewhatpoorlydrained,sandysoilsthatformedinoutwashdepositsorglacialtill.
Wauseon‐ArkonaAssociation: Nearlylevelorundulating,verypoorlydrainedandsomewhatpoorlydrained,loamyandsandysoilsthatformedinoutwashdepositsorglacialtill.
Houghton‐AdrianAssociation: Nearlylevelverypoorlydrained,muchsoilsthatformedinorganicmaterialoveroutwashdeposits.
WETLANDS&FLOODPLAINAREASThereareanestimated51,922acresofwetlandsinMecostaCounty.Approximately29,960acresofthewetlandareaintheCountyisforested.Inaddition,9,442acresarecoveredwithshrubsand7,303acreswithothervariousvegetation.Approximately5,490acresofthewetlandareaisnotcoveredinvegetation.Aportionofthe52,000acresofwetlandsintheCountyhavebeenartificiallycreatedasmanmadefloodingareasforrecreationalandenvironmentalpurposes.TheseincludetheHaymarshStateGameArea,CanadianLakesandMartinyLakesfloodingprojects.ThelattertwoprojectshaveattractedpermanentandretirementresidentialdevelopmenttotheCounty.OthersignificantCountywetlandareasincludethoselocatedinAustin,Morton,Sheridan,Grant,Colfax,andBigRapidstownships.Theremainderofthewetlandareasareprimarilylocatedinthefloodplainareasandadjacenttothemanylakes,rivers,andstreamslocatedwithintheCounty.Wetlands,althoughviewedfromadevelopmentandagriculturalstandpointaregenerallyconsideredasunproductive,useless,orwastedareas.WetlandsareactuallyextremelyimportanttotheCounty’senvironment.Thevariousbogs,marshes,potholesandpondsserveasnaturalsystemsforpollutionmitigationfromagriculturalrunoffandurbandevelopment.Inaddition,wetlandsserveastheprimary
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MecostaCountyMasterPlan
McKennaAssociates,Incorporated 17April2001 UpdatedNovember2014
meansofgroundwateraquiferrecharge.ThisisimportantduetothefactthatthemajorityofthepopulationofMecostaCountygetstheirdrinkingwaterfromundergroundwells.Furthermore,wetlandsprovidenecessaryhabitatforadiversearrayofwildlifewhichareessentialforbreeding,nesting,feedingandprovidingprotectivecover.Finally,wetlandsserveasanecosystem’sregulatorofsurfacewaterbyabsorbingwaterduringverywetperiodsoftheyearandreleasingwaterduringdryperiods.Wetlandsoverfive(5)acresinsizeareprotectedbylawandregulatedbytheMichiganDepartmentofEnvironmentalQuality.Smallersizedwetlandsshouldalsobeprotectedthroughappropriatelandmanagement,sitedesign,siteplanreview,andenvironmentallysensitivedevelopment.Floodplainsarelocatedadjacenttorivers,streams,creeks,andlakesandareareasthatareinundatedwithwaterduringtimesofheavyrainsorannualsnowmeltrunoff.Floodplainsserveasnaturalprotectionagainstfloodingandarenaturalsafetyvalvesforthecollectionandremovalofstormwaterandexcesssurfacewaterwithinawatershed.Developmentinfloodplainsshouldbediscouragedorprohibitedifatallpossibleinordertominimizepotentialpropertydamageandloss.Developmentwithinafloodplainwillresultinthefurtherdisplacementofwaterandcompoundthefloodingproblem.Floodplainsshouldbemaintainedasnaturalopenspaceorutilizedforlowimpactdevelopmentsuchasparks,golfcoursesandothersimilarusesnotincorporatedsubstantialphysicalstructuresthatwouldbesubjecttodamageordisplacewaterfurther.TheNationalFloodInsuranceProgramidentifiesareasdesignatedaspotentialfloodproneareasandmaintainedaprograminwhichpropertyownersmaypurchasefloodinsuranceiftheirpropertyislocatedwithina100yearor500yearfloodplain.MecostaCountyisgreatlyaffectedbyfloodplainsbasedonthevastsystemofrivers,streams,creeks,andabundantlakeslocatedwithintheCounty.TheCountyshouldprotecttheseareasfromfurtherencroachmentbydevelopmentinordertominimizepropertylossandthedegradationofnaturalareas.Recentstormsoverthelastfewyearshavereinforcedtheimportanceoffloodplainmanagement.FEMA,DEQandlocaljurisdictionsarecurrentlyupdatingthefloodplainmapsandtownshipordinanceswhereneeded.Themapsandordinancesshouldgointoeffectwithinthenextyear.FOREST&WOODLANDRESOURCESVirginforestoncecoveredalmostallofthelandinMecostaCounty,butthetreeshavesincebeenclearedfromthelandmostsuitableforcultivationandfarming.Inthoseareasremainingwoodland,thesoilsaretoowet,toosandy,ortoosteepforagriculturalpurposes.Woodlandcoveragecurrentlyoccupiesapproximately160,000acres,orabout44%oftheCounty.Maps#1‐4indicatethatlandusecoverforMecostaCountyincludingthatlandwhichisforested,wetland,farmed,orurban.ThefollowingtableoutlinesthegenerallandcoverbynaturallanduseclassificationasidentifiedbytheMichiganStateUniversity’sDepartmentofForestryandExtensiveServiceasaresultofalandcoversurveycompletedin1993.
Table8:NaturalLandUseClassification
LandUseClassification(1993) ThousandsofAcres PercentageofTotalNon‐ForestLand 190.4 52.10%
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MecostaCountyMasterPlan
McKennaAssociates,Incorporated 18April2001 UpdatedNovember2014
Table8:NaturalLandUseClassification
LandUseClassification(1993) ThousandsofAcres PercentageofTotalTimberland 163.4 44.70%
ReservedTimberland 0.0 0.0%
OtherForestLand 0.0 0.0%
Water 11.7 3.20%
TotalLand&WaterArea 365.5 100%Source:MecostaCountyMSUExtension
Table9:TimberlandForestType
TreeSpecies ThousandAcres PercentofTotal
JackPine 4.3 2.65%
RedPine 5.5 3.36%
WhitePine 1.2 0.73%
PaperBirch 1.6 0.98%
Aspen 36.8 22.52%
Maple‐Birch 71.5 43.76%
Elm–Ash–SoftMaple 23.9 14.63%
Oak‐Hickory 13.5 8.26%
NorthernWhiteCedar 3.8 2.32%
WhiteSpruce 1.3 0.79%
Total 163.4 100%Source:MecostaCountyMSUExtension
TheabovetableidentifiesthevariousspeciesoftreeslocatedwithinMecostaCounty.Forestedareasareanimportantrecreational,visual,economic,andculturalcomponentoflifeinMecostaCounty.UnderstandingthetypesoftreesgrowingintheCounty,wheretheyarelocated,howtheyareownedandmanagedwillassisttheCountyinpreservingthisimportantnaturalresource.OftheidentifiedtimberlandlocatedinMecostaCounty,thefollowingtableoutlinestheownershipinwhichthesewoodedareasareheld.
Table10:TimberlandOwnership
TimberlandOwnership(1993) ThousandsofAcres PercentageofTotalPrivateIndividuals 128.6 78.70%StateofMichigan 20.7 12.67%
CountyorMunicipalOwnership 7.1 4.34%
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MecostaCountyMasterPlan
McKennaAssociates,Incorporated 19April2001 UpdatedNovember2014
Table10:TimberlandOwnership
TimberlandOwnership(1993) ThousandsofAcres PercentageofTotalPrivateCorporation 5.8 3.55%
Farmers 1.2 0.74%
ForestIndustry 0.0 0.0%
NationalForest 0.0 0.0%
Misc.FederalOwners 0.0 0.0%
Total 163.4 100%Source:MecostaCountyMSUExtension
Asidentifiedabove,thevastmajority(nearly79%)offorestedlandwithinMecostaCountyisheldinprivateownershipbyindividualpropertyowners.ThesecondlargestforestlandholderistheStateofMichiganwithitsvariousrecreationalandStateForestareas.ThisinformationassiststheCountyPlanningCommissionandtheMecostaCountyConservationDistrictinitseffortstoappropriatelymanagelanduseanddevelopmentwithintheCounty.AreflectionofthehealthoftheCounty’sforestandtimberresourcescanbereflectedintheamountoftimberthatisharvestedonanannualbasis.ThefollowingtabledescribestheaverageannualharvestedamountsbytimbertypeinMecostaCounty.
Table11:AnnualNetAverageRemovalofTimber1980‐1993
TimberType GrowingStockThousandCubicFeet SawTimberThousandBoardFeetPine 0 0OtherSoftwoods 25 135
SoftHardwoods 767 1,872
HardHardwoods 131 242
Total 923 2,249Source:MecostaCountyMSUExtension
SURFACEANDGROUNDWATERRESOURCESApproximately2%ofthesurfaceareaoftheCountyiscoveredwithwaterintheformoflakes,rivers,ponds,streams,andcreeks.Thispercentageincreasestoapproximately16%ifwetlandsandfloodedareasareincludedinthecalculation.Thisbasicstatistichasnotchangedsignificantlyfromtheanalysisofthe1980landuseplan.MajorwaterresourcesarelocatedthroughouttheCountywiththeprimaryconcentrationsinthecentral(CanadianLakes),northern(MartinyandHaymarshFloodingProjects),andwestern(MuskegonRiver),areasoftheCounty.AccordingtotheMSUExtensionOffice,thereare399lakesandpondsofvarioussizeslocatedinMecosta.ThemajorlakeslocatedwithintheCountyincludeChippewaLake,theCanadianLakeschain,Mecosta,BlueandRoundLakes,SchoolSectionLake,HorseheadLake,andtheMartinyTownshiplakechainincludingTubbs,Evans,Lost,andBoomlakesamongothers.Thecombinedareaofallnaturaland
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MecostaCountyMasterPlan
McKennaAssociates,Incorporated 20April2001 UpdatedNovember2014
artificiallakesandpondsisestimatedatapproximately8,827acres.Inaddition,thereareapproximately484milesofriversandstreamsmeanderingthroughtheCounty.MajorriverssystemswithintheCountyincludetheMuskegonRiver,LittleMuskegonRiver,andChippewaRiver.Inaddition,theCountyislocatedwithinthreemajorwetlands.TheyaretheMuskegonRiverBasin,TittabawasseeRiverBasin,andtheGrandRiverBasin.Fromthesethreemajorwatershedbasinsextendsthirty‐four(34)sub‐basinswithintheCounty.ThelocatingofNestleIceMountainWaterBottlingFacilityinMecostaCountyhighlightsthefactthattheCountyhasanabundantsourceofqualitygroundwater.Infact,thoughtheCityofBigRapidshashistoricallydrawnitssupplyofmunicipaldrinkingwaterfromtheMuskegonRiver,itnowdrawsfromanewgroundwateraquiferwellfieldtoservetheresidentsandcustomersoftheBigRapidsmunicipalwatersystem.ThoseCountyresidentsnototherwisecustomersofamunicipalwatersystemdrawtheirwaterfromwells,furthertappingtheCounty’sabundantandcleansourceofgroundwater.TherehasalsobeenanincreaseinthenumberofAgriculturalwellsthroughouttheCounty.Thoughgenerallyabundant,caremustbeobservedinthemanagementanddevelopmentoflandwithintheCounty.Thepotentialforsurfaceandgroundwaterpollutionincreasesasdevelopment,particularlycommercial,industrial,agriculturalrunoff,oranimalfeedingoperationsareexpandedandnewsitesdeveloped.
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MecostaCountyMasterPlan
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COMMUNITYFACILITIES
MECOSTACOUNTYBUILDINGLocatedat400ElmStreetintheCityofBigRapids,thecurrentCourthouseandAdministrationbuildingwasconstructedin1970.TheMecostaCountyBuildingprovidesofficespaceforavarietyofgovernmentalfunctions.TheMecostaCountyBoardofCommissionershasitsofficesandconductsitsmeetingsinthisbuilding.Inaddition,theCircuitCourt,DistrictCourt,andProbatehavecourtroomsandofficespaceinthefacility.Furthermore,theCountyJailandSheriff’soffices,alsoconstructedin1970,areadjacenttotheCountyBuilding.Thejailandsheriff’sofficewererenovatedandexpandedin2000‐2001byapproximately1/3insizetoaccommodateadditionalinmatecapacity.Finally,theCountyBuildingalsohousestheofficesoftheCountyClerk,RegisterofDeeds,Treasurer,andEqualization.COUNTYSERVICESBUILDINGCompletedin1995,theMecostaCountyServicesBuildinghousestheCountyBuildingandZoningDepartment,DrainCommissioner,RSVP,VeteransAffairs,MSUCooperativeExtensionOffice,EmergencyManagement,District#10HealthDepartment,andfacilitiesfortheCounty’sEMSambulanceservices.Thefacilityislocatedat14485NorthlandDriveinBigRapids.MECOSTACOUNTYCONSERVATIONDISTRICTTheofficeoftheCountyConservationDistrictislocatedat18260NorthlandDriveinBigRapids.TheConservationDistrictworkstoprotectandimprovetheenvironmentalqualityofMecostaCountythroughsoundlandusemanagementpracticesbyworkingwiththeagriculturalcommunityinsoilconservationandfarmingpracticesandwithcommunitiesandotherlocalorganizationsdevotedtoprotectingtheCounty’swaterquality,forestryandwildliferesources.OLDMECOSTACOUNTYJAILANDSHERIFF’SRESIDENCEBuiltin1893,thishistoricstructuredwassavedfromdemolitionin1975.TheOldJailisapublicbuildingrestoredandoperatedbytheBigRapidsHistoricPreservationCommission.Meetingroomsareavailablebyreservationtoindividualsandcommunitygroups.MECOSTACOUNTYROADCOMMISSIONGARAGE/OFFICESTheMecostaCountyRoadCommissionoperatesanofficeandservicefacilitylocatedat120DeKrafft,inBigRapids.TheRoadCommissionalsomaintainsgaragesnorthofRemustoservicetheeastsideoftheCountyandnearMorleytoservethesouth‐centralareasoftheCounty.TheRoadCommissionhasjurisdictionoverandmaintains1156.11milesofprimaryandlocalCountyroadsalongwithmaintaining301MilesofStateTrunklineforMDOT.TheRoadCommissionisalsoresponsibleforthemaintenanceoftheCountybridges,culverts,andadjacentpublicroadright‐of‐ways.TheRoadCommissionhas38employeesandhasanannualbudgetforallexpendituresin2014of$7,081,842.
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MecostaCountyMasterPlan
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MECOSTACOUNTYCOMMISSIONOFAGING/SENIORCENTERTheMecostaCountyCommissiononAgingisaCountysupportedagencyprovidingvariousactivities,programs,andassistancetoseniorresidentsofMecostaCounty60yearsofageorolder.TheagencyislocatedintheSeniorCenterfacilitylocatedat1295480thAvenue.Theagency’sgoalistoprovidesupportforseniorsintheirefforttoremainintheirownhomes,maintainingindependence,health,dignityandself‐respect.Theagencyprovideshomedeliveredmeals,medicaltransportation,homemakeraides,respitestaff,homemaintenanceworkers,apublicdiningroom,exerciseclassesandnumerousothersupportservices.TheCommissiononAgingandSeniorCenterhasservedover800clientsin2013.TheSeniorCenterprovidesalocationatwhichresidentscanmaintainhealthylifestylesbyparticipatinginrecreational,educational,andleisureactivities.TheSeniorCenterandCommissiononAgingencouragesthecommunitytosharetheirskillswhileatthesametimeenrichingtheirownlivesthroughincreasedknowledgeandvolunteerexperience.TheSeniorCenterwasvisitedbyover16,000peoplein2013.MECOSTACOUNTYDRAINCOMMISSIONERTheMecostaCountyDrainCommissioner’sofficeislocatedintheMecostaCountyServicesBuilding,14485NorthlandDrive,Room105,BigRapids,MI49307andisopenMonday‐Friday;8:30a.amto5:00p.m.TheDrainCommissioner’sofficehasjurisdictionforthemaintenanceofthirty‐nine(39)CountyDrainsandseven(7)lakelevels.TheDrainCommissioner’sofficeisalsoresponsibleforenforcingtheMichiganDrainCodeof1956,theconstruction,maintenanceandinspectionofallCountydrains,establishingdrainagedistrictsandthedeterminationanassignmentofdrainassessments.Inaddition,theDrainCommissionersecuresright‐of‐wayandeasementsforCountydrains,representstheCountydrainagedistrictsincourtproceedingsandreviewsandapprovesallplatsforsubdivisions,manufacturedhomedevelopmentsandsitecondominiumprojectsinMecostaCounty.TheDrainCommissioner’sofficehasestablishedasetofgoalsfromwhichitseekstoimproveitsservicetotheresidentsofMecostaCounty.Theseincludeinspectingallcountydrains,maintainandimprovedrainagetothebestofourability,assistCountyresidentsexperiencingfloodingproblemsandeducatethecommunityoftheimportanceandresponsibilitiesoftheMecostaCountyDrainCommissioner’soffice.MecostaCountyDrainCommissioner’sofficeistheCountyCertifiedEnforcementAgency(CEA)toadministerPart91ofPA451,TheEnvironmentalProtectionAct.Wehavebeentheenforcingagencysince2001.AllemployeesintheDrainCommissioner’sofficearecertifiedtoissueSoilErosionandSedimentationControl(SESC)permitsandinspectprojects.TheDrainCommissioner’sofficealsooverseesstormwatermanagementoncommercialandindustrialprojectsthatarewithinacountydrainagedistrictordrainright‐of‐way.Wealsohavetheauthoritytoreviewstormwaterifaskedbyatownshipthatreviewsandapprovescommercialandindustrialsites.
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MecostaCountyMasterPlan
McKennaAssociates,Incorporated 23April2001 UpdatedNovember2014
TheDrainCommissionerwouldlikeeveryonetoknowthatpermitsarenecessarywhenproposingacrossingoveraCountydrainright‐of‐wayandoccasionallywhenconstructingwithinadrainagedistrict.ItisadvisableforpropertyownerstocontacttheDrainCommissioner’sofficewhenbuildinginoradjacenttoaCountydrainordrainagedistrict.SPECTRUMHEALTHBIGRAPIDSHOSPITALLocatedintheCityofBigRapids,SpectrumHealthBigRapidsHospitalisaprogressive53bedacutecarefacilitylicensedbytheStateofMichiganandaccreditedbytheJointCommissiononAccreditationofHealthcareOrganizations.38physiciansareonactivestaffplus73specializedphysiciansoncourtesystaff.Approximately500peopleareemployedbothfullandparttimebythehospital.Inpatientareasincludemedical/surgical/pediatrics,criticalcare,inpatientrehabilitation,andobstetrics.In2013,2,807peoplewereadmittedforinpatienttreatmentandservices.Inaddition,therewereover650birthsatSpectrumHealthBigRapidsHospitalin2013.Therewerealso14,468homecarevisitsand23,837emergencydepartmentvisits.Therewereapproximately460,000outpatientvisitsincluding,laboratory,x‐ray,ultrasound,nuclearmedicine,physicaltherapyandambulatorysurgeryservicesin2013.Thereareregularlyscheduledspecialtyclinicsforaudiology,cardiology,dermatology,neurology,oncology,orthopedics,otolaryngology(ear,noseandthroat),sleepmedicineandurology.EducationalopportunitiesaboundforthecommunityfromC.P.R.classes,prenatalclasses,diabeteseducationclasses,nutritionalcounselingandmanysupportgroups.Numeroushospitalpersonnelareavailabletospeaktocommunitygroupsandorganizations.SpectrumHealthBigRapidsHospitalworkscloselywiththecommunity,businessesandindustrytoprovidequalityhealthcareservices.SpectrumHealthtakesgreatprideinitsmissiontoimprovethehealthofthecommunitiesweserve.[6]BIGRAPIDSCITYHALLBigRapidsCityHallislocatedat226NorthMichiganAvenue,whichhousestheadministrativeofficesoftheCity,including:CityManager,Clerk,Treasurer,PublicServices,Assessing,Transportation,Recreation,andNeighborhoodServices.ThePoliceandFiredepartmentsaelocatedat435N.MichiganAvenue.TOWNSHIPHALLSEachofthesixteen(16)townshipsmaintainsatownshiphallatwhichtheyconductandholdtheirmonthlymeetings.BigRapids,Mecosta,andMortonTownshipsprovidetheirownbuildingandzoningservices.Manyofthetownshipsofferclean‐updays,whichallowcitizensanopportunitytoremovelargeitems,scrap,andhouseholdgoodsatalowcost.(6)InformationprovidedbySpectrumHealthBigRapids
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MecostaCountyMasterPlan
McKennaAssociates,Incorporated 24April2001 UpdatedNovember2014
SCHOOLDISTRICTSMecostaCountyisservicedbysevendifferentpublicschooldistricts.However,thethreeschooldistrictswithfacilitieslocatedwithinMecostaCountyserveover90%ofthechildrenintheCounty.CHIPPEWAHILLSSCHOOLDISTRICTThelargestofthethreeschooldistrictsinMecostaCountyistheChippewaHillsSchoolDistrict.Aconsolidationofsmallerdistricts,ChippewaHillscoversthenorth‐centralandeasternsectionsofMecostaCounty.ChippewaHillshasanenrollmentof2,181studentsandemploys318people.TheschooldistrictdoesnothavereadilyavailableinformationrelativetothenumberofstudentswhoresideoutsideofMecostaCounty.BIGRAPIDSPUBLICSCHOOLSThesecondlargestdistrictintheCountyisthatofBigRapidsPublicSchools.TheBigRapidsDistrictemploys361peopleandhasanenrollmentofapproximately1,946childrenfromtheCityofBigRapidsandsurroundingtownshipsinthenorthwesterncornerofMecostaandnortheastNewaygoCounties.BigRapidsdoesnottrackhowmanystudentsareenrolledfromoutsideofMecostaCounty.Recentlythedistricthasaddedavirtualhighschooltoprovideanotheravenueandresourceforstudentstoreceivetheirhighschooldiploma.MORLEYSTANWOODCOMMUNITYSCHOOLSMorley‐StanwoodCommunitySchoolDistrictserves1,203studentsinthesouth‐centralandwesternTownshipsofMecostaCountyandtheVillagesofStanwoodandMorley.Theschooldistrictemploys197people.LAKEVIEWCOMMUNITYSCHOOLDISTRICTLakeviewCommunitySchoolDistrictislocatedintheCityofLakeviewinMontcalmCountyanditsserviceareincludesparcelslocatedinsoutheasternMecostaCounty.LakeviewCommunitySchoolsemploy242peopleandhasanenrollmentofapproximately1,268K‐12gradestudents.MONTABELLACOMMUNITYSCHOOLSMontabellaCommunitySchoolsarelocatedsouthofMecostaCountyinMontcalmCounty.TheMontabellaSchoolDistrictservessomesouthernpropertyownersofMecostaCounty.MontabellaCommunitySchoolsemploy214peopleandhasanenrollmentofapproximately830.
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MecostaCountyMasterPlan
McKennaAssociates,Incorporated 25April2001 UpdatedNovember2014
REEDCITYAREAPUBLICSCHOOLSTheReedCityAreaPublicSchoolsarelocatedinReedCity,whichislocatedinOsceolaCountydirectlynorthofMecostaCounty.Thedistrictemploys283peopleandhasanenrollmentofapproximately1,514students.Thoughspecificnumbersareunavailable,studentsattendReedCityAreaSchoolswhileresidinginOsceola,Lake,MecostaandNewaygoCounties.EVARTPUBLICSCHOOLSTheEvartPublicSchoolDistrictisalsolocatedinOsceolaCountyandhasaK‐12enrollmentof923students.TheEvartSchoolDistrictemploys169people.TheschooldistrictdoesnotdisseminatebetweenOsceolaandMecostaCountystudents.CROSSROADSCHARTERACADEMYCrossroadsAcademyisaCharterSchoollocatedintheCityofBigRapids.Ithas678totalstudentsandemploys192people.TheSchooloffersK‐12enrollment.PRIVATESCHOOLSTheremainderoftheCounty’schildrenareservicedbyfiveprivateK‐8elementaryschools,andoneK‐12privateschool.Inaddition,theCountyishometosevenAmishK‐8schools,mostlylocatedinSouthernMecostaCounty.INTERMEDIATESCHOOLDISTRICTThefourMecostaCountybasedschooldistrictsbelongtotheMecosta‐OsceolaIntermediateSchoolDistrictwhichoperatesaCareerCenterwithinMecostaCountyproviding14careerandtechnicalprogramstohighschooljuniorsandseniors.Theintermediateschooldistrictswerecreatedtoprovidespecializedinstructiononaregionallevelthatcouldnototherwisebeprovidedbyanindividualschooldistrict.Theseservicesincludeinstructionalopportunitiesforgiftedanddisabledchildren,earlychildhoodprograms,vocationalandcareerrelatedskills.LIBRARYSYSTEMTheBigRapidsCommunityLibraryislocatedat426S.MichiganAve.intheCityofBigRapids.Thelibraryservesacitypopulationofapproximately10,601people.Thelibraryalsohaslibraryservicecontractstoserve9,424residentsofBigRapids,Colfax,Grant,andGreenTownshipsinMecostaCountyaswellasBartonandNorwichTownshipsinNewaygoCounty.Thisresultsinatotalservicepopulationof20,025,classifyingtheBigRapidsCommunityLibraryasaclassfourlibrarybytheStateofMichigan.ThisservicepopulationnumberdoesnotincludeFerrisStateUniversitycommunity,whichaccountsforabout5%ofthelibrary’sannualcirculation.
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MecostaCountyMasterPlan
McKennaAssociates,Incorporated 26April2001 UpdatedNovember2014
TheBigRapidsCommunityLibraryparticipatesintheMichiganElectronicLibraryCatalog(MelCat)program.ThisprogramallowscityandtownshipresidentstoordermaterialsfromlibrariesacrossthestateofMichiganatnocost.ThelibraryisalsoapartoftheFerrisnetOrganization.ThismembershipenablestheBigRapidsCommunityLibrarycardholdertomakeuseofthematerialsattheFerrisStateUniversityLibrary,andforFSUfaculty,staff,alumni,emeriti,andstudentstousetheirFerrisI.D.toborrowmaterialsattheBigRapidsCommunityLibrary.Thematerialscollectionavailableatthelibrarycontainsapproximately55,000items.Thisincludesbooks,eBooks,audioandvideomaterialsaswellasmagazines,microfilm,andmicrofiche.Onaverage,theBigRapidsCommunityLibraryadds2,500itemstoitscollectioneachyear.Servicesthatthelibraryoffersinclude: ‐TheHomeboundDeliveryProgram‐thelibrarydeliversbooks,audiobooks,moviesandmagazinestoindividualswhoarehomeboundduetoinjury,physicaldisability,orage. ‐SummerReadingProgram‐thelibraryoffersprogramsbetweenthemonthsofJuneandAugusttoMecostaCountyresidentstopromoteliteracy.Thelibraryalsoprovidescommunityenrichingprogramsforadultsandchildrenthroughouttherestoftheyear. ‐InternetServices‐thelibraryoffersfreewirelessinternetaccessandpubliccomputers,aswellasfaxing,scanning,andcopyingservicesatalowcost.Libraryusagestatisticsindicatethatnearly70,000peoplevisitthelibraryeachyear.Thelibraryalsocirculatesabout80,000itemseachyear.TheBigRapidsCommunityLibraryisaplacethatcantransformlives.Throughtheservicesavailableatthelibrary,individualscanlearnnewskills,becomeeducatedaboutaspecificsubject,applyforajobonline,helpchildrenwithhomework,savemoney,andimprovetheirqualityoflife.InadditiontotheBigRapidsCommunityLibrary,otherindependentlibrariesthatexistinMecostaCountyincludeBarrytonPublicLibraryinBarryton,WheatlandTownshipLibraryinRemus,MortonTownshipLibraryinMecosta,aswellastheWalton‐EricksonLibraryinMorley,eachoftheselibrariesservicetheirrespectivecommunities.FERRISSTATEUNIVERSITYFoundedin1884byMichiganEducatorandstatesmanWoodbridgeN.Ferris,theUniversityhasdevelopedamodern,600acrecampusintheCityofBigRapidsandBigRapidsTownship.TheUniversityhassuccessfullylobbiedforstateandprivatefundingforagreatdealofconstructionandimprovementoverthelastseveralyears,includingTheEastCampusApartmentsandtheJimCrowMuseum.Theuniversityhasalsodonedemolitionforfuturegrowthprojectsandupgradestoexistingbuildings,infrastructureandgrounds,spendingapproximately$20millionperyearforthelastfiveyears..Ferrisoffersmorethan170educationalprograms,includingassociates,bachelorsandmastersdegrees,anddoctoratesfromitshighlyregardedCollegeofPharmacyandMichiganCollegeofOptometry.
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MecostaCountyMasterPlan
McKennaAssociates,Incorporated 27April2001 UpdatedNovember2014
FerrisStateUniversityishometotheNationalElastomerCenter,whichcombinesmorethan30yearsofplasticsexperiencewiththenation’sfirstrubbertechnologyprogram.Thebestknownandonlyuniversitybasedbachelor’sdegreeprograminHVACR(Heating,Ventilation,AirConditioningandRefrigeration)isfoundatFerris,aswellasoutstandingprogramsinsuchdiverseareasascriminaljustice,professionalgolfmanagementandsurveyingengineering.InJanuary2001,amergerbetweenFerrisandtheKendallCollegeofArtandDesignbecameofficial,givingtheUniversitystrongexpertiseinthefinearts,aswellasindustrial,interior,andfurnituredesign.Furthermore,inthefallof2001,FerrisbeganofferingitsfirsteverBachelorofArtsdegreesinEnglish,History,andSociology.FerrisStateUniversityemploysapproximately2,103fullandpart‐timeemployeesand2,000studentemployees.TheUniversityranksasthelargestemployerinMecostaCountywithatotalpayrollinexcessof$60milliondollarseachyear.Inaddition,Ferris’morethan200registeredstudentorganizationsdevotehundredsofhoursofcommunityservicewithsuchactivitiesaspaintinghomes,helpingbuildaffordablehousing,organizingholidayfoodandgiftdrivesandraisingmoneyforcharitableorganizations.MECOSTACOUNTYPARKSSYSTEMTheMecostaCountyParkCommissionoperatesfiveparkswithintheCountyofferingavarietyofrecreationalopportunitiesforresidentsandvisitorsalike.TheParkCommissionhasdevelopedafiveyearplanforparkandrecreationimprovementsthatwasadoptedinthewinterof2013astheMecostaCountyParkCommissionRecreationMasterPlanfor2014‐2018.BrowerPark LocatedfourmileswestofStanwood(tenmilessouthofBigRapids)onthe
MuskegonRiver,BrowerParkprovidesaccessto18milesofnavigablewaterwaysalongthebackwatersoftheHardyDam.Theparkisinexcessof200acresandincludesalmost8000ft.offrontageontheMuskegonRiver.Theparkprovides230campsites,10camp‐n‐cabins,fishing,swimming,andboatingaccess.
SchoolSectionLakeVeteran’sPark
LocatedtwomileswestofM‐20attheintersectionof9MileRd.and90thAvenue,SchoolSectionLakeParkprovides86acresofrecreationalactivities.Theparkincludes167moderncampsitesandfivecampingcabinsalongwithalargepicnicareawithsheltersandasandybeach.TheparkalsohasaFamilyGroupCampwithsixrusticcabinsandamainlodgehousingakitchenanddiningarea.Theparkisapproximately6mileswestoftheVillageofRemusandiscentrallylocatedwithinMecostaCounty.
ParisPark LocatedonoldUS‐131sixmilesnorthofBigRapids,ParisParkistheformersiteoftheOldParisStateFishHatchery.Theparkhas40woodedacresandislocatedadjacenttotheMuskegonRiver.Theparkincludes68campsites,picnicareas,threecamp‐n‐cabinsandtwocanoeorsmallboatlaunches.
Merrill‐Gorrel Located3milesnorthofBarrytonoffofM‐66,approximatelyfivemilessouthofUS‐
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MecostaCountyMasterPlan
McKennaAssociates,Incorporated 28April2001 UpdatedNovember2014
Campground 10.Merrill‐GorrelCampgroundoffersfrontageontwolakesandhas147campsiteson90acres.Theparkincludestwobeaches,twoplayareas,fourpicnicshelters,fourcamp‐n‐cabinsandtwoboatlaunches.
TubbsLake&HaymarshCampgrounds
TheseareprimitivecampgroundslocatedadjacenttotheStateGameAreaandproviderusticcamping,huntingandfishingopportunities.
DNRBoatLaunches
Therearefifteen(15)publicaccesssitesalongtheMuskegonRiverandinlandlakesprovidingboatingaccessandfishingopportunities.
WHITEPINETRAILSTATEPARKWhitePineTrailStateParkisthelongestrail‐to‐trailcorridorinMichigan.ComstockParkisthesouthernterminusinKentCountyandCadillacisthenorthernterminusinWexfordCounty.Thetrailextendsfor41milesbetweenBigRapidsandCadillacandtheBigRapidstoReedCityportionispaved.ThetrailtraversesafiveCountyarea(Kent,Montcalm,Mecosta,andWexford)andrangesinwidthfromthirty‐six(36)totwohundred(200)feetwidewithanaveragewidthofonehundred(100)feet.Thetrailhasfourteen(14)opendeckbridgeswiththelargest(White’sBridge)spanning319feetlongovertheMuskegonRiver,justonemilenorthoftheCityofBigRapids.WhitePineTrailoffersyearroundrecreationalopportunitieswithsnowmobileandcross‐countryskiinginthewintermonthsandbiking,hikingandin‐lineskatingtheremainderoftheyear.Thetrailisbarrier‐freeandthesurfaceiseitherasphaltornaturalballastandgraveldependingonthelocation.WASTEMANAGEMENTFACILITIESTheMecostaCountySolidWasteManagementPlanwasadoptedin2001andreliesentirelyontransportingtheCounty’swastetooutsidelandfills.The1980InterimLandUsePlanforMecostaCountyreferencesa40acrelandfilllocatednearRodneyalongM‐20whichhassinceceasedoperating.TheCountystillownstheformermunicipallandfillsite.Currently,solidwastegeneratedinMecostaCountyistransportedtoeitheradisposalsiteinHarrisoninClareCountyorinPiersoninMontcalmCounty.HazardousmaterialsaretransportedtoahazardousmaterialswastesitelocatedinCoopersvilleinKentCounty.Finally,RecycleMecostaprovidesarecyclingserviceforpaper,glass,styrofoam,metal,andplasticatitsfacilitylocatedinBigRapids.In2011theresidentsofMecostaCountyrecycled890tons.
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MecostaCountyMasterPlan
McKennaAssociates,Incorporated 29April2001 UpdatedNovember2014
UTILITYSERVICEPROVIDERSELECTRICConsumersEnergyprovideelectricalservicetoMecosta,Fork,Green,Deerfield,Colfax,Hinton,Aetna,Millbrook,Morton,Austin,Sheridan,Wheatland,andMartinyTownships.GreatLakesEnergyprovideselectricalservicestotheCityofBigRapids,BigRapidsTownship,Austin,ChippewaTownshipsandportionsofAetna,DeerfieldandMecostaTownships.ConsumersEnergyandTri‐CountyElectricprovidesservicesintheCityofBigRapids,andSheridan,Chippewa,Aetna,Morton,Millbrook,Austin,Fork,Martiny,Green,Colfax,Grant,Deerfield,Wheatland,andMecostaTownships.NATURALGASConsumersEnergyandDTEEnergy(formerlyMichiganConsolidationGasandDetroitEdison)allprovidenaturalgasservicetocommunitieswithinMecostaCountywithcoverageandservicetomostoftheCounty’sCitiesandvillages.Manyoftheruralresidentsrelyonindividualpropanetanks,woodstoves,boilers,orsomeotherformofalternativeheat.COMMUNICATIONSTELEPHONEFrontierCommunications(formerlyGTE&Verizon),SBC(formerlyAmeritch),BlanchardTelephoneandCenturyTelareamongthevariousprovidersoflocaltelephoneserviceinMecostaCounty.Withthederegulationoflongdistancetelephoneservice,manydifferentnationalcarriersserviceMecostaCountyforlongdistancetelephoneservice.WIRELESSCOMMUNICATIONTOWERSCurrentlythereare22wirelesstowerslocatedinMecostaCounty.Thesetowersprovidebothinternetandcellphonesupport.WiththegrowingrelianceoncellphonesandinternetitwillbeimportantforMecostaCountytocontinuetosupport,whereappropriate,thisvitalinfrastructureinthefuture.Thiswillhelptoencourageeconomicgrowthinourruralareas.TRANSPORTATIONROBEN‐HOODAIRPORTLocatedintheNorthwestcorneroftheCountyalongBusinessUS‐131and18MileRd.,Roben‐HoodAirportisaClassAcommercialairportownedandoperatedbytheCityofBigRapids.Theairporthas
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MecostaCountyMasterPlan
McKennaAssociates,Incorporated 30April2001 UpdatedNovember2014
tworunways.Theprimaryeast/westrunwayisa4,300footconcreterunway.Thoughtheairportcurrentlydoesnotofferpassengerservice,theairportdoesservicedailyflightsfromnationalfreightcompaniesaswellascorporate,charterandrecreationalflights(10).TheCityhaslongrangeplanstoaddapassengerterminalattheairportandtoextendtheeast/westrunwayto5,300feettoaccommodatelargeraircrafts.Facilitiesforcorporateandgeneralaviationhangerarealsoplanned.AdditionalprivateairstripsarelocatedinMortonandMecostaTownshipsandtheVillageofMecosta.PUBLICTRANSPORTATIONTwopubliclyownedbussystemsoperateintheCounty.TheMecostaOsceolaTransitAuthority(MOTA)hasoperatedsince1978andprovidesmodifiedfixed‐route,contract,anddemand‐responsecurb‐to‐curbpublictransportationthroughoutMecostaandOsceolaCounties.InFY2013,thesystemprovidedover66,000one‐waytripswithintheservicearea,withover3,400tripsprovidedforseniorcitizens,andalmost49,000tripsprovidedforindividualswithdisabilities.MOTAoperatesfrom5:00AMto6:00PMMondaythroughFridayutilizingafleetoften(10)lift‐equippedvehicles.TheCityofBigRapids’Dial‐A‐RidePublicTransitSystemprovides“demandresponse”curb‐to‐curbbusservicewithinthecityMondaythroughFriday6:30AMto6:30PM,andonSaturdaysfrom9:00AMto5:00PM.Dial‐A‐RidealsoofferscontractbusservicestogroupsororganizationsintheBigRapidscommunitythatmighthavespecialtransitneeds.Since1976,overtwomillionpassengershaveusedDial‐A‐Rideastheirmeansofpublictransportation.
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MecostaCountyMasterPlan
McKennaAssociates,Incorporated 31April2001 UpdatedNovember2014
PUBLICSAFETYSERVICESMECOSTA/OSCEOLACENTRALDISPATCH(EMERGENCY911)SYSTEMACentraldispatchsystemforMecostaandOsceolaCountiesislocatedonNorthlandDrivenorthoftheCityofBigRapidsintheunincorporatedVillageofParisandisoperatedbyafulltimedirectorandstaffprovidingcentraldispatchingofalllawenforcement,fire,andmedicalserviceswithinthetwocounties.MeceolaCentralDispatchemploys18fulltimeand1parttimepeople.Dispatchroutinelyanswersover35,000911emergencycallsperyear,andover150,000non‐emergencycallsperyear.MECOSTACOUNTYEMERGENCYMEDICALSERVICETheMecostaCountyEmergencyMedicalServiceoperatesfromtheMecostaCountyServicesbuildinglocatedonNorthlandDriveinBigRapidsTownship.MecostaEMSalsomaintainsambulancedispatchfacilitiesattwosatellitefacilities,oneonM‐66betweenRemusandtheVillageofBarrytonandthesecondon5MileRoadnearthecommunityofAltona.Thedepartmentmaintainsafleetofthreefulltimeandtwospareambulancevehicles,whichrespondedtoover4,416runsin2013.Thedepartmentemploys34employeesandadministerstheMedicalFirstResponderprogramcoveringsevenagenciesacrossMecostaCounty.AlsohousedinthisofficeistheMedicalExaminerfortheCountyandEmergencyManagement,whichischargedwithpreparingandrespondingtoemergencysituations.MECOSTACOUNTYFIREDEPARTMENTSBIGRAPIDSFIREDEPARTMENTTheBigRapidsFireDivisionismadeupof9fulltimefirefightersand15paid‐on‐callfirefighters.Thefulltimefirefightersareassignedtothree3personshifts.AllfulltimefirefightersaretrainedandcertifiedasMedicalFirstResponders.TheFireDivisioncoverstheentireCityofBigRapids,FerrisStateUniversity,GreenTownshipinMecostaCounty,andBartonandNorwichTownshipsinNewaygoCountyincludingpartsoftheManisteeNationalForestcoveringatotalofover100squaremiles.TOWNSHIPFIREDEPARTMENTS
BarrytonFireDepartment LocatedintheVillageofBarryton,theBarrytonFireDepartmentservestheVillage,ForkTwp.andthenorthernhalfofSheridanTwp.withtwoengines,onetender,andtwograssrigsmannedbyastaffofvolunteers.
BigRapidsTwp.FireDept. WithasinglestationlocatedsouthoftheCityofBigRapidsonNorthlandDrive,theBigRapidsFireDepartmentservestheresidentsofBigRapidsTownshipandportionsofMecostaandColfaxTownships.TheBigRapidsTownshipFireDepartmentismannedbyastaffofvolunteerswhoareresponsibleformaintainingthe
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MecostaCountyMasterPlan
McKennaAssociates,Incorporated 32April2001 UpdatedNovember2014
department’stwopumpers,onetender,rescueunitandgrassrig.Thedepartmentrespondstoovertwohundredcallsayear.
Chippewa/MartinyFireDept. LocatedintheunincorporatedVillageofChippewa,theChippewa/MartinyFireDepartmentservesChippewaandMartinyTownshipswithavolunteerstaffandsinglestation.
ColfaxFireDepartment WithitsstationlocatedattheintersectionofM‐20andMcKinleyRoads,theColfaxFireDepartmentservesbothColfaxandGrantTownships.
LakeviewFireDepartment TheLakeviewFireDepartmentisbasedintheCityofLakeviewwhichislocatedsouthofMecostaCountyinMontcalmCountybutprovidesfireservicestotheresidentsofHintonTwp.inMecostaCounty.
Mecosta/AustinFireDept. Withafacilityrecentlybuiltin1998,theMecosta‐AustinFireDepartmentservestheresidentsofMecostaandAustinTownshipswithavolunteerforce.
Millbrook/RollandFireDept. TheMillbrook/RollandFireDepartmenthasstationsinbothIsabellaandMecostaCounty.ThefiredepartmentdispatchesfromthecentraldispatchcenterofIsabellaCountyandservestheresidentsofMillbrookTownship.TheMillbrookFireStationislocatedintheunincorporatedVillageofMillbrookinMecostaCountyandisstaffedbyacontingentofvolunteerfirefighters.
MorleyFireDepartment TheMorleyFireDepartmentoperatesfromasinglestationlocatedintheVillageofMorleyandisoperatedbyastaffofvolunteerfirefighters.Thedepartmentmaintainsafleetoftwoengines,onetender,onelightrescuevehicleandtwograssrigs.TheMorleyFireDepartmentservestheVillage,AetnaTwp.andDeerfieldTwp.
MortonTwp.FireDept. Withasinglestationlocatedattheintersectionof100thAvenueandBuchananRoad,theMortonTownshipFireDepartmentservestheresidentsofMortonTownshipincludingthemajorityoftheCanadianLakesResortcommunity.
WheatlandTwp.FireDept. TheWheatlandTownshipFireDepartmentoperatesfromasinglestationlocatedinthecentralbusinessdistrictoftheunincorporatedVillageofRemus.ThisvolunteerorganizationservestheresidentsofWheatlandTownshipandtheSouthernhalfofSheridanTownship.
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MecostaCountyMasterPlan
McKennaAssociates,Incorporated 33April2001 UpdatedNovember2014
MECOSTACOUNTYLAWENFORCEMENTAGENCIESBIGRAPIDSPOLICEDEPARTMENTTheBigRapidsPoliceDepartmentisadivisionofthecity’sPublicSafetyDepartmentandemploysseventeen(17)policeofficersamongitsranks.Inadditiontolawenforcementactivities,thedepartmentoffersprogramssuchastheNeighborhoodOfficerProgram,StudentExplorerProgram,SchoolLiaisonProgram,andServiceOfficerProgram.TheofficesofthePoliceDepartmentarelocatedat435N.MichiganAvenueinBigRapids.MECOSTACOUNTYSHERIFF’SDEPARTMENTTheSheriff’sDepartmenthasthefollowingmissionstatement:“TheMecostaCountySheriff’sOfficeiscommittedtopreserving,promoting,andsecuringafeelingofsafetyandsecurityforallourcitizensthroughthedeliveryofthehighestqualityoflawenforcementservices.”TheSheriff’sOfficeprovidessuchservicesas:ACountyJail:TheCountyjailhousesupto97inmateswithastaffof4Sergeantsand16fulltimeCorrectionalOfficers.ForthepastseveralyearsthejailhasreceivedthehighestratingbytheStateofMichiganDept.ofCorrectionsonitsannualinspections.LawEnforcementDivision:Thisunitconsistsof20StatecertifiedLawEnforcementOfficerswhoaretrainedtorespond,investigate,andprepareforprosecutionofallcrimescommittedinMecostaCounty.4Sergeants,and16PatrolDeputieswithmostDeputiesspeciallytrainedinareassuchasCrashInvestigation,FireInvestigation,SchoolLiaison,CrimeSceneInvestigation,NeighborhoodWatchCoordination,CivilProcess,and2SergeantsassignedexclusivelytotheDetectiveDivision.MarineDivision:ThisDivisionisstaffedbyupto12‐14part‐timeDeputiesthatpatrol10majorlakesandtheMuskegonRiverwith3boatsand2personalwatercrafts.FundingforthisunitisprovidedbyaFederalGrantadministeredbytheMDNR.TheMarineDivisionalsohosts4BoaterSafetycoursesthroughoutthesummerintheMecostaCountyParks.CommunityCorrections:Programsofferedthroughthisprograminclude:residentialservices,jailworkcrews,communityserviceplacement,intensivedayreporting,Livescanfingerprinting,andcourtorderedtethermonitoring.CommunityCorrectionsisstaffedby1full‐timeand1part‐timeemployee.AnimalControl:1full‐timeAnimalControlDeputycoverstheentireCountyofMecosta.TheAnimalControlOfficerisresponsibletorespondtodogcomplaintsanddangerousmajoranimalcomplaints.Posse:Thegreatestresourceanycommunitycanhaveisitsvolunteers.ThePosseassistsboththeSheriff’sOfficeandcommunitywithsupportforspecialeventsandemergencyservices.
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MecostaCountyMasterPlan
McKennaAssociates,Incorporated 34April2001 UpdatedNovember2014
DiveandHovercraftTeams:TheDiveTeamconsistsofbothDeputiesandOfficersfromBigRapidsDepartmentofPublicSafety.Theyrespondtocallsforemergencyandrecoveryinthecountyandassistothercountieswhenrequested.TheHovercraftTeamiscomprisedofvolunteersfrommostoftheTownshipFireDepartmentsthatrespondtoemergenciessuchasmajorflooding,icecoveredandopenwateremergencies.FERRISSTATEUNIVERSITYPUBLICSAFETYDEPARTMENTFerrisState’sDepartmentofPublicSafetyemploysfourteen(14)policeofficers,certifiedbytheMichiganCommissiononLawEnforcementStandards.PublicSafetyisopen24hoursaday,365daysayear.PublicSafetyislocatedat800FerrisDrive,BigRapids,Michigan49307.FerrisStateUniversityalsoemploysapproximately75studentsincludingboothattendants,dispatchers,serviceofficers,footpatrol,trafficcontrol,andspecialeventssecurity.MICHIGANSTATEPOLICEDEPARTMENTTheMichiganStatePoliceoperateoutofadetachmentcenterinMortonTownship.TheCountyisalsoservedbytwopostsinverycloseproximity.TheReedCitypostislocatedashortdistancenorthoftheMecostaCounty/OsceolaCountylinenearUS‐131inReedCity.AsecondpostislocatedintheCityofLakeviewjustsouthofMecostaCountyinMontcalmCounty.AdditionalpostsarelocatedinMt/PleasanttotheeastinIsabellaCountyintheCityofNewaygotothewestinNewaygoCounty.
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MecostaCountyMasterPlan
McKennaAssociates,Incorporated 35April2001 UpdatedNovember2014
CIRCULATIONPLAN
PerhapsthemostsignificanteffortrelativetotransportationplanningsincethecompletionofthepreviousCountymasterplanhasbeentheconstructionandcompletionoftheUS‐131ExpresswaythroughMecostaCounty.Completedin1986throughtheentireCounty,theUS‐131ExpresswayprovidesadirectlinktoGrandRapidstothesouthwhichisthesecondlargestmetropolitanareaintheStateofMichiganandtheCityofCadillactothenorth.TheincreasedaccessibilityandimprovedtraveltieshavemadetraveleasierforresidentstoaccessadjacentmetropolitanareasandforvisitorstotraveltoMecostaCounty.Thissectionsummarizestheexistingtrafficconditionsanddata,identifiescurrentroadwayimprovementplansandoutlinestrafficrelatedguidelinestheCountyshouldconsiderthatwillhelpmaintainanefficientandsaferoadwaysysteminthefuture.ROADCLASSIFICATIONSYSTEMAspartoftheplanningprocess,itisimportanttoidentifythefunctionoftheroadwaysthatmakeuptheCounty’ssystem.Identificationofroadclassificationsassistsinthedeterminationofprovidingrecommendationsforappropriatelandusesandzoningcodestandardsalongthevariousroutes.Implementationofcapacityandaccessmanagementstandardshelppreservethepublicinvestmentandmaintainanefficientvehiculartransportationsystem.ThefunctionalclassificationsofroadwayswithinMecostaCountyarebrieflynotedbelow.FREEWAYSThefunctionofthistypeofroadwayistofacilitatethethroughmovementoftrafficonaregionalbasisbetweencommunitiesandothermajoractivitycenters.Expresswaysofthistypearedesignedtoprovidethehighestlevelofmobility,usuallytravelingatspeedsrangingfrom55‐70mph.Sincemobilitytothroughtrafficisitsprimaryfunction,accesstothistypeofroadwayislimited.FourinterchangesareprovidedintheCountyforaccesstoUS‐131whichrunsNorthandSouthalongthefarwesternsideofMecostaCounty.NootherexpresswaysorfreewaysareplannedforMecostaCounty.US‐131isunderthejurisdictionoftheMichiganDepartmentofTransportation(MDOT).STATETRUNKLINESThesemajorroutesarealsounderthejurisdictionofMDOTandareprimarilyforthemovementofregionaltrafficbetweencommunitiesbutalsoprovidelimiteddirectaccesstoadjacentproperties.M‐20andM‐66areattheat‐gradestatehighwaysthatprovidethethroughrouteroadsystemintheCounty.M‐20runsEastandWestthroughtheCountyandconnectstheCityofBigRapidswiththeunincorporatedcommunityofRemusrunningthroughthevillageofMecosta.M‐66runsNorthandSouththroughthefareasternquarteroftheCountythroughtheincorporatedVillageofBarrytonandtheunincorporatedcommunityofRemus.OldUS‐131runsNorthandSouthparalleltoHighwayUS‐131anddirectlyconnectstheVillagesofMorley,Stanwood,theCityofBigRapids,andParis.
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MecostaCountyMasterPlan
McKennaAssociates,Incorporated 36April2001 UpdatedNovember2014
COUNTYPRIMARYROADS(CLASSAORB)Countyprimaryroadsarethosethatservelongertripswithinurbanareastolinkadjacentpopulationcentersandmajorarterials.Countyprimariesaredesignedtoaccommodatemoderatetolargetrafficvolumesdependentupontheiroveralldesignandconstruction.Speedsontheseroadwaysareusuallyinthe35‐55mphrange.Accesstoadjacentdevelopmentisusuallyprovidedalthoughsomeconstraintsregardingthedesignofaparticularroadmayaffecttheextentofavailableaccess.PrimaryroadsaredesignatedaseitherClassA(allweatherorseasonal)orClassB(seasonal)roads.ExamplesofCountyPrimaryroadsinclude23MileRd.,HooverRd.,21MileRoad,20MileRd.,16MileRd.,5MileRd.,PierceRd.andJeffersonRd.,whichallrunEastandWest.Inaddition,160thAve.,150thAve.,100thAve.,90thAve.,andsectionsof80thand70thAvenueswhichrunNorthandSoutharealsoCountyprimaryroads.TheMecostaCountyRoadCommissionmaintains277milesofCountyPrimaryroads.COUNTYLOCALROADSTheseroadscollectanddistributetraffictoandfromhigherclassificationroads.Trafficmobilityisimpededthroughtheallowanceofadditionalcurbcutsoraccesspointstoadjacentproperties.Thesepavedorgravelroadwaysaretypicallydesignedforspeedlimitsinthe35‐45mphrange.TheMecostaCountyRoadCommissionmaintainsapproximately879milesoflocalCountyroads.OTHERROADSTheCityofBigRapidsmaintainsasystemofapproximately42milesofroadwayswithinitsownclassificationsystem.Inaddition,streetsservingsubdivisiondevelopmentandprivateaccessroadwaysareclassifiedseparately.CountyCirculationMap‐Map#5onpage32,showsthecirculationandroadclassificationsforMecostaCounty.24‐hourtrafficvolumeshavebeensuperimposedonmajortransportationarteries.STATEHIGHWAYSTrafficvolumecountsareanumerictabulationbaseduponusageofaparticularsegmentofroadway.Trafficvolumecountsaretoolsusedtodetermineifroadsaremeetingorexceedingtheirdesignedcapacity.TheMecostaCountyRoadCommissionmaintainstrafficvolumecountsforprimaryCountyroads,andtheMichiganDepartmentofTransportation(MDOT)maintainsdataforstatehighwaysandinterstates.These24‐hourtrafficcounts,commonlyreferredtoasAverageDailyTrips(ADT),canhelpidentifywherethevolumesmaybeapproachingorexceedingthedesigncapacityoftheroad.Trafficcountsarenotconsistentlycollectedformajorandlocalstreetsunderamunicipality’sorCounty’sjurisdictionbutwhentakendoprovidea“snapshot”ofthecurrentcapacityandefficiencyoftheroadandtrendsinvehicletravel.
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MecostaCountyMasterPlan
McKennaAssociates,Incorporated 37April2001 UpdatedNovember2014
TRAFFICCOUNTSTATISTICSAccordingtoMDOT,theannualaverage24‐hourtrafficvolumeforUS‐131in1998rangesfrom18,800vehiclesperdaybetweentheMorley(JeffersonRd.)andStanwood(Old131)exitstoapproximately12,000vehiclesperdaythroughtherestoftheCounty.M‐20betweenBigRapidsandRemusaccommodatedbetween2,700and2,900vehiclesperdaywithlargervolumesofapproximately6,000vehiclesperdayexperiencedadjacenttotheRemusareaandfurthereasttowardMt.Pleasant.M‐66carriedapproximately2,500vehiclesperdaynorthofBarryton,between3,900and4,600vehiclesbetweenBarrytonandRemus,and3,300vehiclesperdaybetweenRemusandthesouthernCountyline.AlongCountyroads,primarynorthandsouthtravelroutesinclude230thAvenue,150thAvenue,120thAvenue,70thAvenue,andM‐66.Eachoftheseroadsexperiencesbetween1,000and2,500vehiclesperday.Travelingeastandwest,McKinleyRd.,andMillPondRd.eachaccommodateover2,500vehiclesperday.Finally,165thand160thAvenuetravelingnorthfrom16MileRd.hasbecomeaprimarytrafficcorridorandaccommodatesover2,500vehiclesperday.IDENTIFIEDCIRCULATIONPROBLEMSEast‐WestRoutes:WiththecompletionofHighwayUS‐131andthepre‐existingOld131inwesternMecostaCountyandM‐66ineasternMecostaCounty,itisrelativelyeasytotravelnorthandsouththroughtheCounty.However,itismoredifficulttotraveladirectrouteeastandwestthroughtheCounty.ThePlanningCommissionhasidentifiedthisconcernandhasapproachedboththeMecostaCountyRoadCommissionandMichiganDepartmentofTransportationinanattempttofacilitatebettereast‐westtravelacrosstheCounty.StateHighwayM‐20:AstheprimarycorridorbetweenBigRapids,Remus,andfurthereastintoMountPleasant,M‐20handlesahighvolumeofbothlocalandcommercialtraffic.M‐20fromBigRapidstoRemushasbeenresurfacedoverthepastfewyearsasTheMecostaCountyPlanningCommissionandthecommunityingeneralhadidentifiedthisstretchofroadwayaspossiblytheworstintheCountyandinneedofreplacement.Asreferencedearlierinthischapter,M‐20istheprimaryeast‐westarterialwithintheCounty.However,duetothenaturalcharacteristicsoftheCounty(locationoflakesandriversinparticular)andthelocationofvariousvillagesalongtheroute,M‐20takesameanderingcoursenorthwestthoughtheCountyfromRemustoBigRapids.TRANSPORTATIONIMPROVEMENTSMecostaCountyRoadCommission–TheCountyroadcommissionhasinstitutedandcontinuestouseanAssetManagementPlanfortherepairandmaintenanceoftheCountyRoadSystem.TheAssetManagementPlancanbeviewedontheRoadCommissionWebsiteatwww.mecostaroads.org.Theroadcommissionhasa5yearplanfortheutilizationofFederalFundingthroughtheFHWAandMDOTforcontinuedimprovementofthecounty’sfederalaidsystemforimprovedtravelingofroutesNorthandSouthandEastandWestthroughtheCounty.
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MecostaCountyMasterPlan
McKennaAssociates,Incorporated 38April2001 UpdatedNovember2014
CurrentplansareforthecontinuedworkingrelationshipwiththeTownshipsfortheirparticipationintheimprovementsofpreventivemaintenancemeasurestoresurfacingworkonCountyroadswithinthesixteentownships.MichiganDepartmentofTransportation–MDOThadinvestigatedthepossibilitiesofrelocatingM‐20throughtheCountyandhadacquiredvariousright‐of‐waysfortheproject,buttherearenoplanstopursuetherelocationandreconstructionofM‐20atthistime.However,MDOTdidrelocateaportionofWestM‐20whichrunsfromtheCityofBigRapidsdirectlywesttoCountyLinetothenewlocationrunningfortheCityofBigRapidsSouthonUS‐131Expresswaytothe8MileRoadInterchangethenwestacrosstheMuskegonRivertotheCountyLine.In2014MDOTwillbeutilizinganewtechnologyintheStateofMichiganforaSlideinBridgeReplacementonthe3MileRoadoverpassontheUS‐131Expressway.ThiswillbethefirstonebuiltwiththistechnologyintheStateofMichigan.TherearealsoresurfacingprojectsontheremainingportionsofUS‐131fromNorthtoSouthtocompleteamulti‐yearrepair/replace/resurfaceprogramontheExpresswayalongwithrepairstotheBigMuskegonRiverBridgeNorthof8MileRoadontheNorthandSouthBoundlanes.TheState’sBuildMichiganIIIprogramhadidentifiedtheconstructionofa“PassingReliefLane”onM‐66withinMecostaCounty.ThelocationofthepassinglanewaslocatedjustnorthoftheintersectionofArthurRoadinthevicinityoftheChippewaHillsHighSchoolandMiddleSchool.NoothermajorimprovementprojectsarecontemplatedforM‐66.Inaddition,M‐20isscheduledforanintersectionrepairatthe4waystopatClearLake.
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MecostaCountyMasterPlan
McKennaAssociates,Incorporated 39April2001 UpdatedNovember2014
EXISTINGLANDUSES
LANDUSECLASSIFICATIONSThefollowingsectionoutlinesinmoredetailthelocationofparticularlandusesandtheircharacteristicswithinMecostaCounty.Existinglandusesweredividedinto8differentcategoriesinordertoanalyzetheexistingpatternofdevelopment.ThisanalysiswillhelptodefinewhichcharacteristicstheCountywouldliketopreserveandenhance.AGRICULTURALForthepurposeofthislanduseanalysis,agriculturallandisdefinedasanylandthatisusedforraisingoffieldortreecropsorutilizedasaresourceinanimalhusbandry.Approximately123,005acresoftheCountyisdevotedtoagriculturalproduction.AgriculturallandusesrepresentthesinglelargestlandusewithintheCounty.Accordingtothe2012USDACensusofAgriculture,thereareapproximately779farmslocatedinMecostaCounty.Asnotedabove,thesefarmsoccupy123,005acresofland.Theaveragesizeforfarmingoperationsis158acres.Ofthe779farmswithintheCounty,123ofthemareoperatingdairyfarms.In2009,MecostaCounty’smarketvalueofAgriculturalproductionwas$72,652,000andwasranked1stintheStateinhogsandpigs,3rdinpotatoes,and4thindairyfarms.FORESTEDLAND/VACANTLANDApproximately44.7%ofMecostaCountyisforested.Thisequatesto163,391.46acresofforestedlandintheCounty.WhilesomeofthislandisincludedintheManisteeNationalForestandthePereMarquetteStateForest,muchofitisheldinprivateownership.AdetailedexplanationoftheCounty’sforestryresourceshasbeendescribedintheNaturalFeatureschapterofthisplan.Vacantlandisdefinedasanylandwithnovisiblestructuresoruses.Thisincludesthelandlocatedbehindsingle‐familyresidentsthatisnotvisiblybeingusedforanytypeofuse.RESIDENTIALThoughthevastmajorityoftheCountyisforestedoragriculturallyused,muchoftheremainderthathasdevelopedispredominatelyresidentialdwellings.ThehighestconcentrationofwhichislocatedinandaroundtheCityofBigRapids.Avarietyofsingleandmulti‐familydwellingscanbefoundintheCityofBigRapidsincludingcollegedormitoriesoperatedbyFerrisStateUniversityandotherapartmentcomplexesforstudents.Suburbanstylesingle‐familyresidentialdevelopmenthastakenplaceintownshipsaroundtheBigRapidsurbanarea.TheseincludeGreenTownship,BigRapidsTownship,andtoalesserextentColfaxandGrantTownships.Denselydevelopedsmalllotsingle‐familydevelopmenthastakenplacearoundthemajorityofthemajorlakeandriversystemsintheCounty.ChippewaLakeinChippewaTownship,theMuskegonRiverinBigRapids,GreenandGrantTownships,theHardyPondareainMecostaTownship,andtheCanadianLakesdevelopmentinAustinandMortonTownshipsare
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MecostaCountyMasterPlan
McKennaAssociates,Incorporated 40April2001 UpdatedNovember2014
examplesoflakeandriverfrontdevelopment.Thehousingvariesfromyeararoundhousestocottagesandweekendgetaways.AdditionalclustersofresidentialdevelopmenthavetakenplaceintheVillagesofBarryton,Morley,Stanwood,andMecosta.SmallresidentialdevelopmenthasexistedinthehistoricalsettlementsofParisinGreenTownship,MillbrookinMillbrookTownship,AltonaandSylvesterinHintonTownship,RemusinWheatlandTownshipandChippewainChippewaTownship.TheremainderoftheCountyischaracterizedbystripresidentialdevelopmentalongtheprimaryandsecondaryroadfrontagesthroughouttheCountyandruralresidentialandfarmsteadlocatedinalloftheCounty’ssixteentownships.CANADIANLAKESRESORTCOMMUNITYCanadianLakesisaplannedresortcommunitylocatedincentralMecostaCountyinMortonandAustinTownshipsthatencompassesapproximately7,000acres.Thereareapproximately2,000housingunitslocatedwithintheareaidentifiedasCanadianLakes.CanadianLakesisaprivatelydevelopedresidentialandresortcommunitywithitsownpropertyownerscorporationthatmanagesthepropertyandadevelopmentcompanywhichmarketsparcelsforhousingandrecreationaldevelopment.Asmallcommercialcorridorhasalsodevelopedwithsupportingretailandservicebusinessprovidingfortheareasresidents.AdditionalinformationandfurtherdetailmaybeobtainedfromamasterplancompletedbytheCanadianLakesPropertyOwner’sAssociation,whichwascompletedin2000.COMMERCIALCommercialactivitytakesplacethroughouttheCountybutisprimarilycenteredaroundthelargerpopulationcentersoftheCityofBigRapids,BigRapidsTownshipandtheVillagesofMecosta,Stanwood,Morley,BarrytonandtheunincorporatedareaknownasRemus.Eachofthesecommunitieshasacentralbusinessdistrictwithassociatedretail,professional,andservicebusinesses.InadditiontothevariousdowntownCentralBusinessDistrict(CBD)commercialareas,thecompletionofUS‐131hasspurredcommercialgrowthalongM‐20(BusinessUS‐131)betweenBigRapidsandthehighwayinterchange.Thisareahasseengrowthsincetheinterchangeopened,attractingnationalretailers,restaurants,andhotelestablishments.Therehasalsobeenaninfillofgasstations,convenientstores,andsmallerretailestablishments.Withpublicinfrastructureimprovementthisareahasseenthemostgrowth,withnewimprovementstoincludeanAldiandassistedlivingcomplex.Inaddition,scatteredcommercialactivityhastakenplacealongthemajortransportationrouteswithintheCountyadjacenttoM‐66,M‐20andOld131.Secondly,commercialactivitysupportingtheCounty’srecreationindustrycanbefoundinandaroundthepopularlakeandresortcommunitiesandcampgrounds.Finally,itisimportanttonotethatthreeofthefourhighwayinterchangesadjacenttoUS‐131havelittleornocommercialdevelopmentcurrently.Careshouldbetakenintheplanningofthese
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MecostaCountyMasterPlan
McKennaAssociates,Incorporated 41April2001 UpdatedNovember2014
areasaspopulationgrowthanddevelopmentpressuresmaketheseareasmoredesirableforfuturecommercialdevelopment.INDUSTRIALManufacturingcomprisesasmallpartoftheMecostaCountyeconomy,withapproximatelyfourteen(14%)percentoftheworkforceengagedinmanufacturing.ThemajorityofthelanddevotedtoindustrialactivityiscenteredinandaroundtheCityofBigRapidsincludinganewparkplannedbytheCityofBigRapidsandBigRapidsTownshiplocatedadjacenttoRoben‐HoodAirport.Inaddition,smallerindustrialfacilitiesarelocatedinRemus,Morley,andParis.RECREATIONALMecostaCountyParkSystem‐Asoutlinedelsewhereinthisplan,theMecostaCountyParkCommission,underthesupervisionoftheCountyBoardofCommissioners,operatesasystemoffiveCountyparkslocatedthroughouttheCounty.TheseincludeTubbsLakeStateForestCampground,ParisCountyPark,MerrillLakeCountyPark,SchoolSectionLakePark,andBrowerCountyPark.AmoredetaileddescriptionofeachoftheseparksislocatedintheCommunityFacilitieschapterofthisplan.CityofBigRapids‐TheCityofBigRapidsmaintains16parksofferingawiderangeofactivitiesincludingapublicswimmingpool,athleticfields,playgrounds,picnicareasandrestroomfacilities.TownshipParks‐TherearethreetownshipoperatedparkslocatedinMecostaCounty.HighbanksParkinBigRapidsTownshipprovidespicnicking,playground,restrooms,ashelter,athleticfieldandtrails.TheparkalsoprovidesaccesstotheMuskegonRiverandispopularwithcanoes,kayaks,andtubing.WheatlandParklocatedinWheatlandTownshipprovidespicnicking,playgrounds,shelter,courtgamesandtrails.Finally,ChippewaParkisintheVillageofChippewaLakeinChippewaTownshipandofferspicnicking,shelter,playgrounds,anathleticfield,andtrails.VillageParks‐EachofthefourvillagesinMecostaCountyoperateatleastoneparkfortheirresidents.LatimerandClydeParkarelocatedinMorleyandofferpicnickingandBoatlaunchfacilities.BromleyParkintheVillageofMecostaofferspicnicking,playgrounds,ashelter,restroomsandcourtgames.BuffaloParkintheVillageofStanwoodofferspicnicking,restrooms,andanathleticfield.Finally,BarrytonParkintheVillageofBarrytonofferspicnicking,fishing,playgrounds,shelter,boatlaunchsite,andcourtgames.Inaddition,AltonaPark,aprivatelymaintainedbutpublicparkislocatedinHintonTownshipandofferspicnickingandfishingopportunities.GolfCourses‐TherearesevengolfcourseslocatedinMecostaCountywithaneighthonecurrentlyunderconstruction.ThreeoftheexistingsevencoursesareopentothepublicandthenewcoursewilladdthefourthpubliccourseintheCounty.Thenameandlocationofeachofthegolfcoursesisasfollows:KatkeGolfCourse,locatedinBigRapids,isopentothepublicandisownedandoperatedbyFerrisStateUniversity.KatkeisrecognizedasthelocationofthefirstProfessionalGolfManagementprogramintheUnitedStates.
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MecostaCountyMasterPlan
McKennaAssociates,Incorporated 42April2001 UpdatedNovember2014
FalconHeadGolfCourseislocatedsouthofBigRapidsonOld131,andisopentothepublic.St.IvesGolfCourseislocatedneartheCanadianLakeResortCommunityandisopentothepublic.St.IveshasbeenrecognizedasoneofthetoptenpublicgolfcoursesintheCountry.Royal,Pines,andHighlandsgolfcoursesareprivatefacilitiesrequiringmembershipandarelocatedintheCanadianLakesregionoftheCounty.TheMecostaCountyCluboperatesasemi‐privategolfcourseeastofBigRapidslocatedonClearLake.TheTullymoreGolfCourseisapubliccoursebuiltbytheCanadianLakesDevelopmentCorporation,andislocatedsouthoftheCanadianLakesresortarea.PrivateCampGrounds‐Nolessthanfifteen(15)privatelyoperatedcampgroundsareinbusinessinMecostaCounty.Allofthecampgroundsarelocatedadjacenttoorincloseproximitytoaninlandlakeorriver.Eachofthecampgroundsprovidespicnicking,swimming,fishing,andrestroomfacilities.Manyofthecampgroundsprovideplaygrounds,natureareas,trails,andboatlaunchfacilities.AmoredetaileddescriptionofeachoftheprivatelyoperatedcampgroundsandthefacilitiesthattheyprovidemaybefoundintheMecostaCountyParksandRecreationPlan,whichisupdatedregularly.CanadianLakesDevelopmentRecreationalFacilitiesTheCanadianLakesDevelopmentprovides54holesofgolfasidentifiedabove,twoswimmingpools(1indoorand1outdoor),outdoortennis/pickleballcourts,threebasketballcourts,ninebeaches,threepicnicpavilions,300privatecampsites,aswellasfishing,biking,andnaturetrailwalkingopportunities.Thedevelopment’scommonareasandparksaredesignedtoaccommodatebaseball,football,soccer,andotherfieldsports.
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MecostaCountyMasterPlan
McKennaAssociates,Incorporated 43April2001 UpdatedNovember2014
GOALS&OBJECTIVES
InestablishingaLandUsePlan,oneoftheprimarycomponentsistheformulationofacommunity’sgoalsandobjectives.Establishinggoalsdeterminesthedestinationtowardwhichthecommunity’splanningeffortsaredirected.Objectivesaremorespecificactionorientedactivitiesthatareintendedtoleadthefulfillmentofthestatedgoals.BotharenecessarycomponentsoftheplanningprocessastheyprovidetheframeworkwithinwhichtheplanisdevelopedandthebasisfordeterminingfuturecoursesofactiontowardthephysicaldevelopmentoftheCounty.ThischapteroftheCounty’sMasterPlanstatesgeneraldevelopmentgoalsandobjectivesforthefuturephysicaldevelopmentofthecommunity.Thegoalsandobjectivesidentifiedhereinareintendedtoreflectthelanduseprioritiesofthecommunity,givedirectiontolanddevelopersregardingtheCounty’sphysicalenvironment,andestablishastatedpolicytoassisttheplanningcommission,countystaffandotherboardsandcommitteesinassessingtheimpactoftheirplanningdecisions.Therearesomeintentionaloverlapinthestatedgoalsandobjectives.ThisallowsthePlanningCommissiontoutilizethegoalsandobjectivesofaparticularcategorywithoutreferringtotheentiresectionandreiteratestheimportanceoftheidentifiedpolicy.Inaddition,occasionallytheobjectivesmayappeartobeinconflict.Forexample,economicdevelopmentgoalsmayconflictwithenvironmentalprotectiongoals.Therefore,intheseinstances,itisthePlanningCommissionwhowillneedtobalancetheimportanceoftheconflictingobjectives.Thefollowinggoalsandobjectiveshaveseveralpurposes:ToguidethePlanningCommissionwhenconsideringrezoningrequests.ThePlanningCommissionshouldreferencetheplan’sgoalsandobjectivestoensurecompliancewiththepoliciesandintentofthemasterplan.ToguidethePlanningCommissionwhenconsideringandreviewingtownshipmasterplansandzoningordinances.ThePlanningCommissionshouldcomparethegoalsandobjectivesofthetownshipplanswiththoseoftheCountyplantoassurecoordinationandcompatibilityoridentifydifferencesfordiscussion.ToassisttownshipsincoordinatingtheirgoalswiththeoverallgoalsoftheCountyasexpressedinthisplan.Finally,acommunity’sgoalandobjectivesarenotstagnant.TheyshouldbereviewedperiodicallybythePlanningCommissiontoensurethattheintentandpurposeofthegoalsremaincurrent.
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MecostaCountyMasterPlan
McKennaAssociates,Incorporated 44April2001 UpdatedNovember2014
LANDUSEGoal: Topromoteefficientandbalancedlandusepatternswhichare
consistentwiththeruralandagriculturalcharacteroftheCounty,thecarryingcapacityoftheland,andthefiscalcapabilityofpublicinfrastructureandservices.
Objectives:
Encourageamixtureofdevelopmentprojectsincludingsingleandmultiplefamilydwellings,neighborhoodscalecommercialuses,officeandlightindustrialfacilitiesincommunitieswithavailablepublicinfrastructureandservices.
Promotetheviabilityandsustainabilityofthevariousestablishedcityandvillagecentralbusiness
districtsbydiscouragingnewcommercialdistrictsoutsideofestablishedcommunities,eliminate“spotzoning”actions,anddiscouragetheconversionofAGandAFpropertytocommercialuses.
Encourageclustered,ratherthanlinear,areasofcommercialdevelopmenttominimizecongestion,
unsightlyandundesirabledevelopmentinparticularalongM‐20,M‐66,andOldUS‐131.
Promoteindustrialdevelopment(whichprovidesemploymentopportunitiesandisasourceoftaxrevenue)toareaswithadequateutilityservicesandroadaccess.Whereimprovementsareneeded,developersshouldberesponsibleforthecost.
Thedesignandscaleofcommercialandindustrialsitesshouldcontributetocommunityaesthetics
throughlandscapingandotherappropriatesiteplanning.
Developsolidwastemanagementpracticestoreducerelianceonlandfilldisposal.
Supportexistingagriculturallandusesandfamilyfarmsthroughinnovativeandprotectivezoningpractices,openspacepreservation,andtransferofdevelopmentrightalternatives.
PromoteBestManagementPracticesforlarge“commercial”agriculturaloperationssuchas
concentratedanimalfeedingoperationsandlargefarmingoperationstoprotecttheenvironmentandpreventnuisancessuchasodor,noiseorblight.
Promoteanddirecthousingdevelopmentawayfromprimeagricultural,scenic,orunsuitable
farmingandnaturalareas.
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MecostaCountyMasterPlan
McKennaAssociates,Incorporated 45April2001 UpdatedNovember2014
ECONOMICDEVELOPMENTGoal: Promoteresidential,commercial,andindustrialdevelopmentandemploymentcreationfor
theresidentsofMecostaCountywhilemaintainingsensitivityandqualityoflife.Objectives:
SupportthegrowthofresortcommunitydevelopmentthroughappropriatelandusecontrolsanddeliveryofCountyservices.
Agriculturalproductionandspinoffemploymentshouldberecognizedasaneconomicasset.
EconomicdevelopmentactivitiesshouldincludeaddressingtheretentionandexpansionoftheCounty’sagriculturalresources.
CompanyattractionandexpansioneffortsshouldfocusondiversifyingtheCounty’slocal
economy.
CompanyattractionandexpansioneffortsshouldencouragelocatingintheareaoutsideofBigRapidswhereinfrastructureandtransportationaccessisavailable.
TrafficsafetyandtransportationefficiencyissuesalongM‐20needtobeaddressedtoaid
economicdevelopmentefforts.
Trainingandeducationalsupportshouldbeprovidedtotrainorretainworkersforemploymentopportunities.
SupportthedevelopmentoftheBigRapidsMunicipalIndustrialParkadjacenttoRoben‐Hood
AirportasaCountywideeconomicdevelopmentgenerator.
Discourageunplanned,scattered,spotorstripcommercialorindustrialdevelopment(asproposedinthe1980Countyplan)
Supportandencouragetherevitalization,rehabilitation,anddevelopmentoftheBigRapids
DowntownBusinessDistrict.
RequirecarefullyplanneddevelopmentfortheCounty’sfourfreeway(US‐131)interchanges.
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MecostaCountyMasterPlan
McKennaAssociates,Incorporated 46April2001 UpdatedNovember2014
COMMUNITYFACILITIESANDSERVICES:Goal: Maintainahighqualityoflifethroughthedeliveryofqualityandcosteffectivepublic
facilities,Countyservices,parks,recreation,socialservicesandprogrammingforallpopulationgroups.
Objectives:
SupporttherecommendationsoftheMecostaCountyParksCommissionasoutlinedintheMecostaCountyComprehensiveRecreationPlanandencouragetheupdatingoftheplaneveryfiveyears.
CoordinateMecostaCountyRoadCommissionandMichiganDepartmentofTransportationroad
constructionandmaintenanceprioritieswithlocalandcountylandusepolicies.
Locatefire,police,andotheremergencyservicestoefficientlyservicethegreatestnumberofCountyresidents,particularlyintheareasfurthestawayfromtheBigRapidsurbanarea.
Coordinatelocationanddeliveryofpublicservices(i.e.:seniorcitizenservices,communityparks,
medicalfacilities,andotherservices)inexistingruralpopulationcentersandtheBigRapidsurbanareatoincreasetheefficiencyandeffectivenessofservicedelivery.
Promoteincreasedawarenessandavailabilityofpublicandprivatecommunityresourcesand
assistance.
Requirenewdevelopmenttopayforpublicinfrastructureimprovementsforpublicfacilitiesdirectlyaffectedbythenewdevelopment.
Monitorroadmaintenanceandtrafficefficiencythroughperiodictrafficstudiesandinventories.
DevelopaCountywideCapitalImprovementsProgramwiththeintenttocoordinateexpenditures
betweenCountydepartments,Townships,MDOT(transportationfunding)andtheDNR(recreationfunding).
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MecostaCountyMasterPlan
McKennaAssociates,Incorporated 47April2001 UpdatedNovember2014
HOUSINGGoal: ProvideavarietyofsuitablehousingalternativesfortheCounty’sresidents,which
promotesstabilitywithinexistingneighborhoods,provideseffectiveguidancetonewresidentialdevelopment,andpreservesMecostaCounty’sruralcharacter.
Objectives:
PromoteapatternofdevelopmentthatwillnotobscuretheruralcharacteroftheCounty.
Encouragedevelopmentofawidevarietyofhousingstyles,types,andpriceranges.
MaintainandexpandtheCounty’shousingrehabilitationprogramforlowandmoderateincomehomeownersintheCounty.
Accommodateinnovativehousing,suchascluster/openspacehousing,neo‐traditional
communitiesandplannedunitdevelopmentsthroughlocalzoningordinances.
Promoteaffordablehousingalternativesbyallowingcreativesitedesign,privateroads,andthroughthereductionofinfrastructurecosts.
Recognizephysicallimitationsofthelandandenvironmentwhenplanningnewresidential
developmenttoavoidunsuitabledevelopmentlocations.
Ensurethatthefullpublicandprivatecostsofdevelopmentarebornebythosedirectlybenefitingfromthedevelopment.
AllowfutureresidentialdevelopmentwithinthoseareasofMecostaCountywhereresidential
developmenthasalreadybeenestablishedandwheresoilconditionsareadaptabletoon‐sitesepticandwatersystems.
Recognizemanufacturedhousingasanaffordableandviablehousingalternativeandprovide
suitablelocationswithinMecostaCountyforthedevelopmentofmanufacturedhomeparks.
EncouragealternativehousingdevelopmentforelderlyMecostaCountyresidentsincluding,nursinghomes,seniorapartments,retirementcommunitiesandexploringoptionsfor“grannyflats”orattachedapartments.
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MecostaCountyMasterPlan
McKennaAssociates,Incorporated 48April2001 UpdatedNovember2014
LAKEAREASGoal: EncouragetheefficientuseandenjoymentoftheCounty’snumerouslakesand
waterwaysthroughpromotingenvironmentalprotection,encouragingappropriatesupportivecommercialdevelopment,regulatingresidentialconstruction,andmaintainingthelakes,rivers,andstreams,asanattractivepublicnaturalresource.
Objectives:
Encouragesanitarysewerdevelopmentstoprotectsurfacewaterqualityofresidentialandrecreationalwaterfrontareas.
Promoteallowancesformarinerelatedcommercialdevelopmentandusesincloseproximityto
lakecommunities(marinesales&services,restaurants,conveniencestores,boatstoragefacilities,etc.).
Protectlake“viewsheds”throughappropriatebuildingsetbacksadjacenttowaterfrontproperty.
Discourageoverdevelopmentoflakesandwaterfrontthroughappropriatezoningprotections
suchasresidentialsetbacks,lotcoveragerations,andminimumlotarearequirements.
PromoteappropriatestormwatermanagementpracticesfornewdevelopmentandexistingdrainagesystemstomitigatepotentialsurfacewaterrunoffandpollutionintotheCounty’slakesandstreams.
Developlakeareaprovisionswithinthezoningordinancetofacilitateappropriateandorderly
developmentincludingregulationspertainingtoaccessorystructures,lotcoveragefornewhomesandcommercialactivitiesaroundlakes.
Promotetheexpansionofpublicparks,fishingandboatingsitestopromoteuse,increase
accessibilityandtoalleviatepotentialoveruseoftheCounty’scurrentpublicrecreationalandnaturalsites.
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MecostaCountyMasterPlan
McKennaAssociates,Incorporated 49April2001 UpdatedNovember2014
TRANSPORTATIONGoal: Provideanefficient,safe,wellmaintainedandcosteffectiveCountywidetransportation
system.Objectives:
ContinuetomaintainandimprovetheCounty’sexistingroadsystem.
Prioritizeimprovementstoexistingroadwaysbasedontrafficvolumes,safety,developmentpressure,andavailabilityoffunds.
PromoteandcoordinatethereconstructionandresurfacingofM‐20fromRemuswesttoBig
RapidswiththeMichiganDepartmentofTransportation(MDOT).
EncouragetheCountyRoadCommissiontocontinueroadwayimprovementsthatfacilitatemoredirectEast‐WesttravelthroughtheCounty.
EncouragethecontinuedmaintenanceandexpansionoftheBigRapidsRoben‐HoodMunicipal
AirporttomaintainairrelatedtransportationserviceswithinMecostaCounty.
PromotetheuseandexpansionoftheCounty’son‐callbusservice.
Promotesignregulationalongmajortransportationcorridorstoreducevisualclutter,ensuresafety,andprotecttheCounty’sruralagriculturalcharacter.
Carefullyregulateaccessmanagement(driveways,intersections)alongarterialandprimaryroads
tominimizeconflictsandincreaseefficiencyandsafety.
Promotereasonableprivateroadrequirementstoinsureaminimumlevelofconstructionandmaintenancestandardsforefficientaccessandsafety.
EncouragecoordinationoftheCounty’splanning,roadcommission,andeconomicdevelopment
agenciestoavoidpotentialduplicationofeffortsandtoprovideappropriatetimeforfuturetransportationsystemimprovements.
Periodicallyupdatetrafficcountdataandannuallyupdateroadconditioninventories.
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MecostaCountyMasterPlan
McKennaAssociates,Incorporated 50April2001 UpdatedNovember2014
FUTURELANDUSE
TheFutureLandUsePlanisintendedtoguidedecisionsregardingthefuturedevelopmentpatternofMecostaCounty.TheCounty’splancoversallthecommunitiesandtownshipswiththeexceptionoftheCityofBigRapids,BigRapidsTownship,MecostaTownship,andMortonTownship.Inaddition,theCanadianLakesDepartmentlocatedinAustinandMortonTownshipsofMecostaCountyhasdevelopeditsownregionalmasterlanduseplanforitsresidentialandrecreationalfacilities.ThefuturelandusemapisintendedtoillustratethegeneraldevelopmentpatternenvisionedforMecostaCounty.Thelanduseplancorrespondstothegoalsandobjectiveslistedinthisplan.TheplanrecognizesthatgrowthanddevelopmentareoccurringinandaroundtheCityofBigRapids,intheCanadianLakesarea,andalongthesouthernbordertownshipsnearUS‐131wheredevelopmentpressuresmovingnorthfromsuburbanGrandRapidsarebeingnoticed.However,theplanproposesretainingtheagriculturalcharacteroftheCountywhileprovidingviabledevelopmentalternativesinappropriatelocationswithintheCounty.ItistheruralatmosphereandnaturalfeaturesoftheCountywhichhasattractedmanyofthecurrentresidentstotheCounty.Primefarmlandandagriculturaluses,inparticular,shouldbepreservedandprotected.Approximatelyseventy‐twomillion($72,650,000)dollarsinincomeisgeneratedannuallyfromagricultureintheCounty.Theplanalsoencouragestownshipstoconsiderthepreservationofimportantnaturalfeaturesinwritingordinancesandwhenapprovingdevelopment.WiththeexceptionofGreenandBigRapidsTownshipswhichbordertheCityofBigRapidsintheNorthwestcorneroftheCounty,fewchangestotheexistingdevelopmentpatternsareexpectedinthenorthernsectionoftheCounty.Theplanproposesmostofthecountyremaininginagriculturaluse.Furthermore,residentialdevelopmentpermittedinagriculturalareasshouldbedirectedawayfromprimeagriculturallands.Thedivision(splitting)oflargetractsofagriculturalparcelsshouldbecarefullycontrolledandotherwisediscouraged.Inaddition,theCountyshouldexercisecautioninallowingsmalllotswithdirectaccesstomajorroadwayssuchasM‐20,M‐66,andOldUS‐131.Specifically,residentialdevelopmentalongthesecorridorsshouldhavedeepersetbacksand/oraccessfrominternalsidestreets.AccessmanagementtechniquesandtoolsshouldbeincorporatedintheMecostaCountyzoningordinancetominimizethelocationandnumberofnewdriveways,andnewlydedicatedpublicroadsinlargerdevelopmentsinwhichtoaccesstheirdevelopmentsinordertominimizeandcontroltrafficandreducethenumberofproposeddrivewaysandintersectionsalongexistingroadways.Fromaresidentialperspective,theprimarylocationsfornewandcontinuedresidentialdevelopmentwillincludetheCanadianLakesResortarea,alongthevariouslakesandwaterways,andingrowingTownshipssuchasMecosta,BigRapids,GreenandMortonTownships.Inaddition,newresidentialdevelopmentshouldbedirectedtowardtheexistingpopulationcentersofBigRapidsandthevariousvillageslocatedintheCountywhereinfrastructurealreadyexistsandthedeliveryofpublicservicesismorereadilyavailableandmoreefficientlyprovided.
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MecostaCountyMasterPlan
McKennaAssociates,Incorporated 51April2001 UpdatedNovember2014
Theplanfurtherdirectscommercialdevelopmentalongmajorthoroughfaresintoclusters.PropertyadjacenttoM‐66,M‐20,andOldUS‐131shouldbezonedinsuchawayastoclustercommercialactivityatmajorintersections,inoradjacenttoUS‐131highwayinterchanges.Finally,theplansuggeststhattheprimarylocationforindustrialdevelopmentshouldandwilloccurinandadjacenttotheCityofBigRapidsduetotheavailabilityofutilities,thepresenceoftheUniversity,andconcentrationofroughlyathird(33%)oftheCounty’spopulation.However,additionalindustrialdevelopmentshouldbeencouragedinaplannedmannerinlocationsservicedbyutilitiesandtodiversifytheeconomicdevelopmentoftheCountyinsuchcommunitiesasRemus,Morley,Stanwood,Mecosta,andBarryton.AGRICULTURAL/FORESTOneoftheprimarygoalsoftheCountyistomaintaintheruralandresortcharacteroftheCountyandtopreserveandprotectexistingfarmingandagriculturallanduses.Asaresult,theprimarylanduseclassificationforMecostaCountyisthatofAgriculturalandAgriculturalForesteddesignation.Agriculturallandusesincludefarming(productionofcrops,livestock,andrelatedgoods),orchards,nurseries,farmsteads,publicandprivateforestedlandsandotheractivitiesdirectlyrelatedtoagriculturaloperations.AgriculturallandusesarefundamentaltotheCounty’seffortstopreservetheruralcharacterofMecostaCountyastheruralcharacterprovidesthepurposeformanyoftheresidentsforchoosingMecostaCountyinwhichtolive.Approximately277,177.4acresor80.54%oftheCountyisclassifiedforagriculturalactivitiesandlanduses.AgriculturallandusesareplannedforthemajorityoftheeasternandsouthernsectionsoftheCounty.Inaddition,theareawestoftheUS‐131highway,physicallyseparatedbythehighwayfromtherestoftheCountyisalsodesignatedforagriculturaluses.ThenorthwestcorneroftheCountyincludingtheCityofBigRapids,BigRapidsTownship,FerrisStateUniversity,andGreenTownshiparetheonlylocationswhereagriculturalusesarenotpredominant.Thedesireddensitywithinagriculturallydesignateddistrictsisplannedforonedwellingunitperevery40acresofland.Thisdensityisnecessarytoensurethatparcelsarelargeenoughtocontainanagriculturalusewhichcanbeself‐sustainingandeconomicallyviable.Typically,itisverydifficulttooperateaneconomicallyviableagriculturaluseonparcelsoflessthan40acresinsize.Whileitmaybedesirableandsometimesnecessaryforfinancialpurposestocreateindividuallotsforresidences,itisimportantforthepreservationoftheruralcharacteroftheCountytonotexceedtheoverallplanneddensityinthiscategory.Anothercharacteristicandsometimescontroversialissuewithintheagriculturallydesignatedareasisthelackofurbaninfrastructure.Pavedroadscanleadtohigherspeedsandincreasedtrafficvolumes,detractingfromtheruralcharacterofthearea.Gravelroadsreducespeedsandminimizetotalvehicletripstoprimarilyresidentsoftheimmediatearea.RoadimprovementsshouldbecoordinatedwiththeCountyRoadCommissionandnotconductedinagriculturalareaswheretheyarenotnecessaryunless
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MecostaCountyMasterPlan
McKennaAssociates,Incorporated 52April2001 UpdatedNovember2014
theexistingroadsystemceasestoprovideadequateaccessforemergencyvehiclesandaccesstoresidentsofexistingfarms,homes,andotheragriculturaluses.Theextensionofutilities,particularlywaterandsewerservicesincreasesthedevelopmentpotentialforhigherdensitieswithinagriculturalareas.Withoutneedinglargerareasforsepticsystems,andwithadesiretoobtainthehighestavailableyieldofdevelopablelotsonasite,developersattempttocreatehigherdensitydevelopmentinareaswhichhavetraditionallybeenofalowerdensity,residentialoragriculturallanduse.Therefore,waterandsewerlinesshouldnotbeextendedintoplannedagriculturalareasunlesstheyarenecessarytoprotectthehealth,safetyandwelfareofexistingCountyresidents.LOWDENSITYRESIDENTIALThisistheprimarysingle‐familyresidentialclassificationoftheCounty.Approximately43,739.13acresor12.68%oftheCountyhasbeenplannedforthisuse.Thisclassificationisintendedfordetachedsingle‐familydwellingswitharangeindensityofbetweenoneandfourunitsperacre.Higherdensityareasshouldbeclosertoexistingsettlementsandshouldrequirepublicinfrastructure.AscanbeseenfromtheFutureLandUsePlanMap,thisclassificationofusecanbefoundthroughouttheCounty.Ruralresidentialdevelopmentshouldisalsoincludedasatypeoflowdensityresidentialdevelopment.Thiszoningdistrictistypicallycharacterizedbysingle‐familyhomesandtheiraccessorystructureswhicharegenerallyfoundinruralareas.Characteristicsincludelargerhomesizes,multipleaccessorystructures,andminimumlotsizesofoneacreinsizeorlarger.TheplanneddensitywillactasatransitionalareabetweentheruralagriculturalareasoftheCountyandthesuburbanresidentialdevelopmentofthelowandmedium‐densityresidentiallanduseareas.Urbaninfrastructureispreferredbutnotrequiredinruralresidentialareas.Adequateutilityservicestoparcelsoftheplannedsizemaybeprovidedonsitewithappropriateplanningandfacilitymaintenance.TheabundantwaterandrecreationalresourcesofMecostaCountyhasresultedintheextensivedevelopmentofresidentialandcommercialusesadjacenttothemanylakes,rivers,streams,andnaturalareaslocatedwithintheCounty.Therefore,theCountyhasestablishedaLake/ResortResidentialzoningdistrictthatestablishesappropriatelandusecontrolsanddevelopmentregulationonthoseareasdirectlyadjacentandincloseproximitytotheseimportantnaturalresources.Thiszoningdistrictisappropriateinbothlowdensityandmediumdensitylandusecategoriesdependentonthetypeofdevelopmentanddegreeofinfrastructureavailable.TheintentofthiszoningdistrictistoprovidefortheuseandenjoymentofthemanynaturalresourcesoftheCounty,provideforhousingopportunitiesadjacenttothesenaturalresources,andtoprovideforrelatedandappropriatesupportingcommercialactivitiesinthisdistrict.Approximately6,374.04acresor1.85%oftheCountyhasbeenclassifiedasLake/ResortResidential.Landusescharacteristicwithinthisdistrictaresinglefamilyresidential,marinas,campgrounds,hotelsandmotels,smallretailstores,
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MecostaCountyMasterPlan
McKennaAssociates,Incorporated 53April2001 UpdatedNovember2014
baitshopsandsimilarresortorientedcommercialactivities,andmulti‐familyresidentialdevelopmentsofvariousstyles.Theextensionofpublicinfrastructure,ifnotalreadypresent,shouldbeencouragedtoprotectthehealthandviabilityoftheadjacentnaturalresource.Thoughpublicinfrastructureprovidesforamoredensedevelopmentpattern,italsoprovidestheappropriatedisposalofsewage,thusprotectingthewaterresource.Inaddition,therelianceonwells,oftenshallowadjacenttobodiesofwater,negativelyaffectsthenearbywaterbody.TheextensionofpublicwaterfacilitiesaroundlakesandriversprovidessafedrinkingwaterwhilemaintainingtheareasclassifiedasLake/ResortResidentialincludingthoselandsadjacenttotheMuskegonandLittleMuskegonRiver,ChippewaLake,andthemanyotherlakesandriverslocatedthroughouttheCounty.MEDIUMDENSITYRESIDENTIALThisclassificationhasbeenestablishedforthesitingofdenselydevelopedsingle‐familyresidences,suchasclusteredhousingorsmallerhomes,apartmentdevelopments,townhomes,andmanufacturedhomeparkdevelopments.MediumdensityresidentialisplannedfortheareasadjacenttotheCityofBigRapids,GreenandBigRapidsTownshipandinthoseareassuitableforhigherdensityresidentialdevelopmentinandaroundBarryton,Morley,andRemus.MediumdensityresidentialisalsofoundaroundthelakesandriverareaofMecostaCountywhichhasalreadybeendeveloped(seedescriptionaboveunderlowdensityresidential).Approximately10,963.51acres,or3.18%oftheCountyhasbeenrecommendedformediumdensitylanduses.Mediumdensityresidentialdevelopmentsareplannedforadensityintherangeofbetweenthree(3)andten(10)dwellingunitsperacre.Thistypeoflanduseismoreintensivethanthelowdensityintermsofdensity,vehicletripsperdayandinfrastructuredemands.Theyarelocatedincloseproximitytolanduseswithsimilarlandusescharacteristicssuchasneighborhoodcommercialareas,andarebufferedfromagriculturalandruralresidentiallandusesbythelow‐densityresidentialareas.ManufacturedhomeparkdevelopmentsarerecognizedbytheMecostaCountyPlanningCommissionasalegitimateandaffordablehousingalternativeforresidentsoftheCounty.However,thedensityanddesignofmanufacturedhomeparksnecessitatethatthislandusebesitedinappropriatelocations.Therefore,manufactureddevelopmentsareconsideredamediumdensityresidentiallanduse.Specificlocationsformanufacturedhomeparkshavebeenrecommendedintheindividualtownshipdescriptivenarratives.However,ingeneral,itisrecommendedthatmanufacturedhomeparkdevelopmentsbelocatedincloseproximitytoexistingurbanandruralpopulationcenters,haveeitherpublicorprivatesanitaryandwatersystems,andbeaccessibletopavedCountyprimaryroadsystems.Theavailabilityandproximityofpublicservicessuchaspoliceandfireprotection,refuseremoval,snowremoval,andspecialservicesarefurtherdeterminingfactorsinappropriatelylocatingnewmanufacturedhomedevelopments.Municipalinfrastructureisrequiredtosupporttheplanneddensityinmostofthislandusecategory.Althoughitispossibletoservedevelopmentsofthissizeandplanneddensitywithacommunityseptic
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MecostaCountyMasterPlan
McKennaAssociates,Incorporated 54April2001 UpdatedNovember2014
field,itistheintentoftheCountynottopromotetheuseoftheseintensivelandusesuntiltheplannedareasareadequatelyservicedbyasuitablepublicsanitarysewersystem.Theusesofcommunitysepticfieldshavethepotentialtodetrimentallyaffectthenaturalfeaturesandthepublichealthsafetyandwelfareofthecommunityifnotmeticulouslymaintained.URBANCITIESTheCityofBigRapidsisthesoleincorporatedcityinMecostaCounty.BigRapidsservesastheeconomic,governmentalandculturalcenteroftheCounty.AstheCountyseat,manyoftheCountyfacilitiesincludingtheSheriff’sDepartmentandCourthousearelocatedinBigRapids.Inaddition,theHealthDepartment,MSUExtensionOffice,BuildingandZoningandEMSarelocatedinBigRapidsTownshipjustsouthoftheCityofBigRapids.ThecityandsurroundingBigRapidsTownshipalsoserveastheprimarycommercialcenterfortheCountywithastrongdowntowncentralbusinessdistrictaswellasadditionalcommercialdevelopmentalongM‐20justEastofUS‐131.FerrisStateUniversity(enrollmentofapproximately8,500)islocatedinBigRapidsandservesastheculturalanchoroftheCountyprovidingeducational,recreational,sports,andentertainmentactivitiestothecommunity.TheCityofBigRapidshasrecentlydevelopedaComprehensivePlan,whichoutlinesitsintentionsrelativetocommunitydevelopmentoverthenexttenyears.Inaddition,BigRapidsTownshiphasdevelopedamasterplanandadministersitsownzoningordinance.ThisCountyplan,whileacknowledgingandcoordinatingwiththecommunity’sexistingplans,doesnotprovidespecificrecommendationsfortheseareasoftheCounty.Finally,approximately1,351.75acresorlandareaarecurrentlyoccupiedbyurban(cityorvillages)inMecostaCounty.TRADITIONALVILLAGESThefourincorporatedvillages(Mecosta,Barryton,Morley,andStanwood)intheCountyareincludedinthiscategoryaswellastheunincorporatedareasofChippewaLake,Paris,andRemus.Othersmallvillage‐likecommercialclustersinAltona,Rodney,andSylvesterarenotincluded.Thesevillagestypicallyincludeasmalldowntownclusterofbusinesses,churches,andmunicipalbuildingssurroundedbyhomesonsmalltomoderatesizedlots.Manyofthevillageshavetheirownfacilitiesandservicessuchasafirestation,waterandorsanitarysewer.Somevillagesalsoincludeadditionalpublicfacilitiesincludingparksandcemeteriesaswellassmallscaleindustrialactivities.Avarietyofusesshouldbeencouragedineachoftheselocationstopromoteeconomicvitalityaswellastomaintainanoverallsenseofindividualidentityandplace.Thecountyshouldfocusgrowthopportunitiesaroundthealreadyexistingcenters.COMMERCIALThiscategoryisintendedtoallowavarietyofretail,office,andserviceusesintheCounty.Intendedusesincludeautomobilerelatedbusinesses,generalretail,grocery,professionaloffices,banks,andrestaurants.Ingeneral,commercialdistrictsareintendedtocomplementtheexistingdowntownorcentralbusinessdistricts(CBD)ofthevariouscommunitiesintheCounty.ThecommercialdistrictsareintendedforuseswhichrequiremorelandthanisavailableinCBD’sandthosewhicharemore
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MecostaCountyMasterPlan
McKennaAssociates,Incorporated 55April2001 UpdatedNovember2014
dependentupontherelativelyhightrafficvolumesalongroadfrontagessuchasM‐20andM‐66.CommercialzoningdistrictshavebeenclusteredadjacenttoUS‐131interchanges,existingcitiesandvillages,andatmajorintersectionsalongprimarytravelcorridors.Thecurrentpracticeofzoningindividualparcelsforcommercialpurposesshouldbediscontinuedasitmayrepresent“spot”zoning(whichislegal)anddoesnotpromotegoodlanduseorcorridorplanning.ThoughprimaryCountyroadsandstatehighwaysareappropriatelocationsandtogetherincoherentcommercialdistrictstopreventcommercialusesfromlocatinganywherealongthecorridor.Unplannedandlinear(sprawl)commercialdevelopmentalongprimaryCountycorridorsshouldbediscouragedandprohibited.Finally,whenevercommercialusesareproposed,theCountyshouldrequireappropriatebuffersfromlessintensiveusessuchasresidentialandagriculturalactivities.Buffersmayincludewidersetbacks,walls,fences,landscapingandberms.3,088.06acresoflandaredesignatedcommercial.INDUSTRIALApproximately1,570acresofarea,orlessthanonepercent(1.0%)ofMecostaCounty,areplannedforindustriallanduses.Industriallandusesinvolvethemanufactureofproductsfrompartsorrawmaterials.Storagemaybeneededontheoutsideofthebuildingforthematerialsorfinishedproducts.Warehousingandstorageofmaterialsisalsoatypicalusefoundinthisdistrict.IndustrialusesareplannedinthoseareasoftheCountyservedbypublicwaterandsewersystemsincludinganareaadjacenttoRoben‐HoodAirportinGreenandBigRapidsTownships.TheCityofBigRapidsMasterPlanestablishesindustrialgrowthasanidentifiedgoalwithintheircommunity.RECREATIONALRecreationalopportunitiesaboundinMecostaCountyaspreviouslynotedintheexistinglandusesectionofthisplan.TheMecostaCountyRecreationPlanidentifiesover500acresoflandthatarecurrentlymanagedbytheMecostaCountyParkCommission.Asidentifiedbytheplan,thisisasufficientamountofpassiveandactiverecreationalareaforthecurrentandplannedpopulationofMecostaCounty.Therefore,theplanemphasizestheimprovementandredevelopmentofexistingfacilitiesoverthepurchaseanddevelopmentofnewparkareaswithoneexception.AnewCountyparkwithasizesufficienttoservenotonlyMecostaCountybuttheregionaswellisdesiredforlandsadjacenttotheMuskegonRiver.Additionalwaterfrontaccess,particularlytotheMuskegonRiver,wasidentifiedasagoaloftherecreationplan.TheMecostaCountyMasterLandUsePlansupportsthegoalsandobjectivesoutlinedintheMecostaCountyRecreationPlanasdevelopedbytheMecostaCountyParksCommission.Thislanduseplantherefore,doesnotfurtherdetailtherecreationalcomponentsoftheCountyastheyhavebeenpreviouslyinventoriedbytherecreationplan.Furthermore,futurelanduseanddevelopmentactivityspecifictotheCountyparksystemhasbeenidentifiedintherecreationplananddetailedbyspecificparkactionplans.
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MecostaCountyMasterPlan
McKennaAssociates,Incorporated 56April2001 UpdatedNovember2014
TOWNSHIPDESCRIPTIONSANDACTIONPLANS
AETNATOWNSHIPOVERVIEWAetnaTownshipisaruraltownshiplocatedinthefarsouthwestcornerofMecostaCounty.ThetownshiphassmallconcentrationsofresidentialdevelopmentprimarilyoccurringadjacenttoBradyLake,theLittleMuskegonRiver,andtheVillageofMorley.MuchofthetownshipisforestedwithasubstantialareaofthetownshiplocatedintheManisteeNationalForest.Sincetheadoptionofthepreviouslanduseplanin1980,theU.S.131highwayhasbeencompletedandbisectsthetownshipjustwestof200thAvenue.ThefirstinterchangeinMecostaCountyforthosetravelingnorthonU.S.131islocatedinAetnaTownshipatJeffersonRoad.JeffersonRoadprovidestheprimaryeast‐westroutethroughthetownshipandprovidestheVillageofMorleywithdirectaccesstothehighwaylocatedapproximatelytwomilestothewest.TheVillageofMorleyislocatedinthefarsoutheastcornerofthetownshipandstraddlesbothAetnaandDeerfieldTownships.RESIDENTIALDuetoitslocationandabundantnaturalresources,AetnaTownshipisadesirablelocationforresidentialdevelopment.ExistingresidentialareashavegrownuparoundBradyLake,LittleMuskegonRiver,andinandaroundtheVillageofMorley.Inaddition,pocketsofresidentialdevelopmenthaveoccurred:
alongJeffersonRoadwestofthehighway, attheintersectionof230thAvenueand3MileRoad, betweenJeffersonRoadand2MileRoadwestof230thAvenue, attheintersectionof190thAvenueand3MileRoad theareabetweenJeffersonRoadandWashingtonRoadfrom190thAvenuewesttothehighway. neartheintersectionof4MileRoadand230thAvenue
Thetownshipencouragesadditionallowdensitydevelopmentinareaswherelargerparcelsofpropertyhavebeensplit.Thiswillhelptofocusgrowthforthecommunitywhilealsoprotectingtheexistingagriculturalareas.NewresidentialdevelopmentandgrowthisrecommendedforthoseparcelsdirectlynorthandsouthoftheVillageofMorleyandalsoextendingwestonJeffersonRoad.Thesouthwestcorneroftheintersectionof180thAvenue(NorthlandDrive)and5MileRd.isalsorecommendedforlow‐densityhousingdevelopmentorneighborhoodcommercialuses.Anymultiplefamilyresidentialdevelopments(apartmentsorcondos)proposedforthetownshipshouldbeencouragedtolocateinoradjacenttotheVillageofMorley.Theproximityofschoolfacilities,employmentcenters,commercialactivities,andpublicinfrastructuremaketheVillagethedesirablelocationforhigherdensityresidentialdevelopment.
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MecostaCountyMasterPlan
McKennaAssociates,Incorporated 57April2001 UpdatedNovember2014
COMMERCIALExistingcommercialactivitytakesplaceintheVillageofMorleyandatnolessthansix(6)parcelsscatteredthroughoutthetownshipthathavebeen“spot”zonedforcommercialpurposes.Inthefuture,thezoningofindividualparcelsforcommercialpurposesscatteredthroughoutthetownshipshouldbehighlydiscouraged.NewcommercialactivityshouldbelimitedinAetnaTownshiptoareasexpressedasinterestforgrowth.ThetownshiphasexpressedinterestincommercialgrowtharoundtheUS131interchangeandtheareasouthof5MileRoadonNorthlandDrive.SomethoughtshouldbegiventocommercialneedwiththebuildingoftheHardyPondTrial.AnyfurthernewcommercialactivityshouldbedirectedinoradjacenttotheVillageofMorley.DoingsowillencouragetheredevelopmentoftheVillagecommercialdistrictandprovidefortheconcentrationandcentralizationofcommercialactivity.INDUSTRIALIndustrialactivityisconfinedtothosecompaniesoperatingfromandlocatedintheVillageofMorley.AnynewindustrialdevelopmentinthisareashouldbeplannedinoradjacenttotheVillageofMorleyornorthandwestoftheUS131interchangewherelargerpropertiescanaccommodatetheneedsoflargerfacilities.TRANSPORTATIONToencouragetheredevelopmentandgrowthoftheVillageofMorley,anemphasisshouldbeplacedonimprovingtheroadsandstreetsystemslocatedthroughoutthetownshipwithprioritiesbeing4MileRoad,230thAvenue,200thAvenue,JeffersonRoad,andOldUS131asthesearethemainthoroughfareswithinthetownship.Thetownshipshouldalsoconsidermaking1MileRoadfrom220thto230thalocallymaintainedroadastherehasbeengrowthintheareanorthof1MiletoJeffersonontheeastsideof230th.Additionaldirectionalsignageshouldbeplacedattheinterchangetodirecttraffictocommercialestablishments.AsidefromexistingCountyroadmaintenance,noothersubstantialtransportationimprovementsarerecommendedatthistime.HARDYPONDTRAILA30milehikingandmountainbikingtrailiscurrentlyunderdesignanddevelopmentaroundHardyPondinNewaygoCountyandMecostaCounty.AccordingtoanMSUExtensionEconomicImpactAnalysis,itisexpectedthatthetrailwillhave104,893visits,54,087ofwhichshouldbefromnonlocalvisits.AspartofthetrailislocatedinMecostaCounty,itisexpectedtohaveapositiveeconomicimpact
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MecostaCountyMasterPlan
McKennaAssociates,Incorporated 58April2001 UpdatedNovember2014
onneighboringcommunities,includingMorleyandStanwood.TheUS131interchangelocatedinAetnaTownshipwillbetheclosestinterchangetothetrailarea.
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MecostaCountyMasterPlan
McKennaAssociates,Incorporated 59April2001 UpdatedNovember2014
AUSTINTOWNSHIPOVERVIEWPrimarilyundeveloped,AustinTwp.isexperiencingextremesinlandusefromthegasfieldsandrelatedfacilitiesinthenorth‐centralsectiondevelopmentassociatedwiththeCanadianLakesresortdevelopmentontheeastsideoftheTownship.Substantiallywooded,thetownshipishometoportionsoftheChippewaRiverStateForest.AustinTownshipislocatedapproximatelyfive(5)milessoutheastoftheCityofBigRapidsinthesouthwesternquarteroftheCounty.AGRICULTURALTheprimarylanduseconsiderationinAustinTownshipisfarming.PrimeagriculturallandexistsinthesouthernandcentralsectionsoftheTownship.ItistheTownship’sdesiretoencouragetheexpansionofexistingagriculturalactivitiesandpreservetheruralatmosphereoftheTownship.RESIDENTIALThemajorityofthecurrentresidentialdevelopmentistakingplaceinthefareasternsectionsoftheTownshipadjacenttoorinaffiliationwiththeCanadianLakesresortcommunity.AdditionalscatteredresidentialactivityhastakenplacealongmajorCountyroadsincludingPierceRoad,BuchananRoad,and8MileRoad.FutureresidentialdevelopmentinAustinTownshipisproposedforthefareasternsectionofthetownshipadjacenttoandincloseproximityoftheCanadianLakesdevelopment.ResidentialdevelopmentshouldalsobeencouragedaroundtheVillageofStanwood.COMMERCIALExistingspottedcommercialactivityiscurrentlytakingplacesouthoftheVillageofStanwoodalongOldU.S.131.Inaddition,acommercialcenterhasdevelopedalongBuchananRd.justeastofAustinTwp.inneighboringMortonTwp.inconjunctionwiththeCanadianLakesresortdevelopment.Newcommercialactivityshouldbelimitedtothoseareascurrentlydevelopingascommercialcorridors.FuturecommercialdevelopmentshouldbedirectedtowardexistinginfrastructureintheVillageofStanwoodtothewestandwithintheCanadianLakesdevelopmenttotheeast.EachofwhichwouldbeinverycloseproximitytotheresidentsofAustinTownship.INDUSTRIALTheloneindustrialareainthetownshipisdevotedtoMichiganGasStorageandisthelocationoftheirnaturalgasstoragefields.Thesefieldsarelocatedinthenorth‐centralsectionofthetownshipadjacentto150thAvenue.AssociatedwiththegasfieldsistheAustinGasFieldmonitoringfacility,whichisoneoftheprimaryindustrialfacilitieslocatedinMecostaCounty.Newindustrialdevelopmentshouldbe
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MecostaCountyMasterPlan
McKennaAssociates,Incorporated 60April2001 UpdatedNovember2014
directedtotheexistingindustrialparkinadjacentMortonTownshipandtothenorthintheCityofBigRapids.NonewindustrialdevelopmentiscontemplatedforAustinTownship.TRANSPORTATIONAustinTownshipiseasilyaccessiblefromtheUS‐131highway,whichislocatedapproximatelytwomileswestofthetownshipinadjacentMecostaTownship.TheMichiganDepartmentofTransportationhasstudiedthefeasibilityofrelocatingstatehighwayM‐20throughAustinTownshipalongtheBuchananand8MileRoadcorridors.Therelocationwouldcreateadirecteast‐westlinkthroughtheCountyandrunbetweenthecommunityofRemusandtheU.S.131highway.However,boththetownshipandtheadjacentcommunityofCanadianLakeshaveexpressedoppositiontotheprojectandwoulddiscouragetheStatefrompursuingtheproject.ThoughtheStatehaspurchasedsomeright‐of‐wayfortheproject,therearenoplanstopursuetherelocationatthistime.Relativetothetransportationimprovements,maintenanceandupgradingofthevariousCountyprimaryroadsinthetownshiparethegreatestpriority.
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MecostaCountyMasterPlan
McKennaAssociates,Incorporated 61April2001 UpdatedNovember2014
BIGRAPIDSTOWNSHIPOVERVIEWBigRapidsTownshipislocatedinthenorthwestquadrantofMecostaCounty,anditsurroundstheCityofBigRapids,whichhaslimitedareasofexpansion.Thisresultsingrowthpressureforcommercial,residentialandindustrialuseswithintheTownship.ThedominantnaturalfeatureintheTownshipistheMuskegonRiver,whichflowsthroughtheeasternthirdoftheTownship.Anotableman‐madefeatureisthelocationoftheU.S.131Expressway,whichrunsnorthandsouththroughthewesternthirdoftheTownshipandprovidesanexcellenttransportationaccessforthecommunity’scommercialandindustrialinterests.ThecompletionofU.S.131inthe1980’seffectivelydividedtheTownshipbetweentheruralandagriculturalatmosphereoftheTownshipwestofthehighway,andthemoreurbanandsuburbandevelopmentadjacenttothecityeastofthehighway.AsidefromtheinfluenceoftheCityofBigRapidsonTownshipgrowth,thepresenceofFerrisStateUniversityintheCityofBigRapidsalsoplaysalargeroleinthedevelopmentoccurringinthetownship.Inaddition,theMecostaCountyFairgroundsandRoben‐HoodMunicipalAirportarelocatedinnorth‐centralBigRapidsTownship.ResidentialandrecreationalopportunitiesareenhancedwithHighBanksParkwhichtakesadvantageofandislocatedontheMuskegonRiverontheeastsideoftheTownship.AGRICULTURALAsrecentlyas1980,overhalfofthetownshipwasdevotedtoagriculturallanduses.However,thisisquicklychangingaspressureforexpandedresidentialandcommercialdevelopmentisnowbeingexperiencedelsewhereintheTownship.Whileasignificantamountoflandiscurrentlyzonedforagriculturaluse,theTownship’sFutureLandUseMap(1996)suggeststhatonlythoselandswestoftheU.S.131expresswayandinthesouth‐centralsectionsoftheTownshipwillbepreservedforagriculturaluse.RESIDENTIALExistingresidentialdevelopmenthasoccurredprimarilysouthandeastoftheCityofBigRapids.PressureforexpandedresidentialandcommercialdevelopmentisnotbeingexperiencedelsewhereintheTownship.Morerecently,westofthehighway,additionaldevelopmenthastakenplacesouthoftheCityalong205thAvenueandnorthoftheCityoneithersideofMadisonAvenue.Secludedsubdivisionshavebeendevelopedon15MileRoadeastof230th,on14MileRoadwestof190thAvenue,andontheeastsideoftheriversouthofArthurRoadinSection36.SubstantialnewresidentialdevelopmentisanticipatedandaccommodatedintheTownship’sMasterPlan.NewresidentialgrowthisanticipatedintheentirenortheastquarteroftheTownshipaswellasthemajorityofthesoutheastquarteroftheTownshipintheproximityoftheMuskegonRiver.Sections16and21areproposedforfutureresidentialgrowthasaresections9and10.
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MecostaCountyMasterPlan
McKennaAssociates,Incorporated 62April2001 UpdatedNovember2014
COMMERCIALExistingcommercialactivityhasdevelopedalongNorthlandDrivebothnorthandsouthoftheCityofBigRapidsaswellalong16MileRoaddirectlyeastoftheCity.Recently,PerryAvenue(M‐20)hasdevelopedintoaregionalshoppingdistrictwiththelocationofnationalretailestablishments,homeimprovementstores,restaurants,andtwostripdevelopmentsamongotherindividualcommercialparcels.Newcommercialdevelopmentisrestrictedtotheseexistingcommercialcorridorswherevacantparcelsandspacearestillavailable.AdditionallandplannedforcommercialdevelopmentexistsonbothsidesoftheU.S.131andPerryStreet(M‐20)interchange.AdditionalcommercialdevelopmentpotentialexistsintheexistingNorthlandDrivecorridorsouthoftheCity.Finally,limitedcommercialdevelopmentisexpectedeastoftheCityon16MileRd.andnorthoftheCityofBigRapidsonNorthlandDrive.INDUSTRIALExistingindustrialactivitywithinBigRapidsTownshipisrelatedtoanumberofgraveloperationsscatteredthroughouttheTownship,aconcretemanufacturingoperation,ajunkyardnorth‐eastoftheCityofBigRapids,andRoben‐HoodMunicipalAirport.NewindustrialdevelopmentisplannedforanareadirectlywestoftheRoben‐Hoodairport.ThisareaalsocorrespondstoanindustrialareaplanneddirectlynorthinadjacentGreenCharterTownship.TheCity’sutilitysystemisaccessiblefromthislocationandprovidesacentralizedindustrialparkforBigRapidsTownship,TheCityofBigRapids,andGreenTownship.Theproximityofthisareatothemunicipalairport,U.S.131expressway,andFerrisStateUniversityarealsobeneficialtothelocationofindustrialuses.ThisindustrialareaincorporatingthesethreejurisdictionswillserveasthepredominateindustrialdevelopmentareainMecostaCounty.TRANSPORTATIONWithitscompletionintheearly1980’s,theU.S.131expresswayprovidestheprimarymeansofdirectnorthandsouthtravelthroughtheTownship.AccessbetweentheeasternpartoftheTownshipandtheremainderoftheTownshipisdependentontheMapleStreetandBaldwinStreetbridgeswhichposeaneedforatleastoneadditionalrivercrossingsouthofthecity.AsasecondarymeansoftravelingthroughtheTownshipfromeasttowest,12MileRoad,13MileRoad,WoodwardAvenue,and17MileRoadallcrosstheU.S.131ExpresswayeffectivelyconnectingthetwosidesoftheTownship.CommercialdevelopmentcurrentlyunderwayintheareabetweenthewesternCitylimitsandtheU.S.131Expresswayhaveopenedthedoortothepossibilityofasecondnorth‐southroutingwestoftheCitylimits.
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MecostaCountyMasterPlan
McKennaAssociates,Incorporated 63April2001 UpdatedNovember2014
CHIPPEWATOWNSHIPOVERVIEWChippewaTownship’sdominantnaturalfeatureisChippewaLakelocatedinthesouthwestquadrantoftheTownship.Theareaoutsideofthelakeareaisprimarilyrural.AllofthecommercialactivityandthemajorityoftheresidentialdevelopmenthaveoccurredadjacenttoorincloseproximityofChippewaLakeandtheassociatedunincorporatedVillageofChippewaLake.TheremainderoftheTownshipisinagriculturalusewithsomewoodedlandsincentralChippewaTownshipandintheChippewaandMartinyLakeareas.GrowthshouldcontinuetobeencouragedaroundChippewaLakebecauseoftheavailabilityofapublicsewersystem.RESIDENTIALResidentialdevelopmenthasprimarilytakenplaceadjacenttonaturalfeaturessuchasChippewaLakeandtheotherlakesandstreamswithintheTownship.SmalllothighdensityresidentialdevelopmentispredominantalongtheshoresofChippewaLakewithlargerruralresidentiallotshavingdevelopedalongTwenty‐threeMileRd.,100thAvenue,andTwenty‐oneMileRoadamongothers.Noadditionallandornewareasareproposedforfutureresidentialdevelopmentthanisalreadyprovidedforthroughcurrentzoningregulations.OnerecommendationproposedonthefuturelandusemapfortheTownshiphasidentifiedtheareanorthofTwentyMileRoadcurrentlydesignatedforRR‐2,ruralresidentialdevelopment,toLRlakeandresortclassification(thesedesignationsarefromthe1983ZoningOrdinance/Map).ThiswouldincreasethedensityofhomespermittedjusteastofChippewaLakeandwouldfurtherprovidealimitednumberofnonresidentiallandusestodevelopinsupportofthenearbylakepopulation.COMMERCIALThereiscurrentlyonecommercialdistrictinChippewaTownship.ThisdistrictislocateddirectlysouthofChippewaLakeoneithersideof105thAvenue.Thiscommercecenterservesthelocallakepopulationandthesettlement(unincorporatedvillage)ofChippewaLake.Forfuturelanduseconsiderations,noadditionalareaswithintheTownshipareplannedforcommercialactivity.ItistheintentoftheTownshiptosupportandencouragereinvestmentbyrequiringcommercialdevelopmenttooccurintheexistingestablishedcommercialdistrict.INDUSTRIALThereiscurrentlynoindustriallyzonedlandorindustriallanduseslocatedinChippewaTownship.Oneareahasbeendesignatedonthefuturelandusemapforfutureindustrialactivity.TheTownshiphasprovidedfornewindustrialdevelopmenttoincreaseitstaxbaseandprovideforlocalemploymentopportunitiesbyconsideringaparceloflandeastof105thAvenueandnorthofNineteenMileRoadforindustrialdevelopment.ThisistheonlyareawithinChippewaTownshipthatshouldbeconsideredforindustriallanduses.
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MecostaCountyMasterPlan
McKennaAssociates,Incorporated 64April2001 UpdatedNovember2014
TRANSPORTATIONAnumberofCountyprimaryroadsprovidegoodeast‐westaccessthroughtheTownship.TheseincludeNineteenMileRd.,TwentyMileRd.,Twenty‐TwoMileRd.,andTwenty‐ThreeMileRd.90thAvenueprovidestheprimarynorth‐southaccesswithintheTownshipasitbisectstheTownshipevenlyeastandwest.80thAvenueand100thAvenuealsoprovideaccessnorthandsouththroughvarioussectionsoftheTownship.Relativetotransportationimprovements,itistheTownship’sdesiretopromotethecontinuedmaintenanceandimprovementsoftheexistingCountyroadsystem.Additionalnewroadsandtheconversionofexistinggravelroadstopavementarenotencouraged,astheywouldpromotethefurtherdevelopmentoftheTownship.Maintaininggravelroadsprovidesforacontinuedruralatmosphereanddiscourageslarge‐scaleresidentialdevelopment.
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MecostaCountyMasterPlan
McKennaAssociates,Incorporated 65April2001 UpdatedNovember2014
COLFAXTOWNSHIPOVERVIEWAsnotedinthe1980LandUsePlanandevidenttoday,ColfaxTownshipiscontinuingtodevelopintoasuburbanizedtownship.LocateddirectlyeastoftheCityofBigRapidsandBigRapidsTownship,ColfaxTownshipisontheeasternedgeoftheBigRapidsurbanizedareaandinthenorth‐centralsectionofMecostaCounty.Theeasternhalfofthetownshipisprimarilyundevelopedandgenerallydesignatedforagriculturalpurposes.Asanareaofgrowth,itisimportanttoreiteratetheCounty’sdesiretoprotectprimeagriculturallands.DuetoitslocationintheCounty,ColfaxTownshipisexperiencingdevelopmentalpressuresfromneighboringBigRapidsTownshipandtheCityofBigRapids.However,effortsmustbemadetodiscouragetheconversionofprimeagriculturallandstoresidentialusesbycarefullyevaluatingrezoningrequestsanddevelopmentproposals.RESIDENTIALAgreatdealofresidentialdevelopmentistakingplaceinthetownship.Theproximityofthreelakes,numerouspondsandstreams,andopenlandhavemadeColfaxtownshipadesirablelocationforthosewishingtoworkinurbanBigRapidsandliveinamoreruralresidentialatmosphere.ResidentialactivityistakingplacealongMcKinleyRoadwestofM‐20,alongM‐20(15MileRd.),175thAvenue,and16MileRoad.OldersmalllotdevelopmentislocatedintheVillageofRodney.Newsmalllotdevelopmentistakingplacearoundthethreeprimarylakes(ClearLk.,HillsviewLk.,andTownlineLk.)locatedwithinthetownship.Newresidentialdevelopmentshouldbedirectedtothoseareasadjacenttoalreadydevelopedresidentialdistricts.Inparticular,southof15mileRd.andwestof165thAvenue,adjacenttoMcKinleyAvenueandadjacenttothe16MileRd.and175thAvenueintersection.Newandexistingroadpatternsshouldrelatetoeachother.Greaterdensitiesofhousingdevelopmentwouldmakepublicutilityavailabilitymoreeconomicallyfeasible.Therezoningoflandforresidentialpurposesshouldbediscouragedintheeasternhalfofthetownship.Infact,itisrecommendedthattheareacurrentlyzonedRR‐1(ZoningDistrictwithinthe1983ZoningOrdinance)attheintersectionof130thAvenueand16MileRd.berezonedtoAFAgriculture/Forestrytoprotecttheseparcelsfromdevelopment.Inaddition,developmentinthenorthwestcornerofthetownshipnorthof16MileRd.shouldbediscouragedinareasnotalreadyzonedforruralresidentialdevelopment.Inaddition,thecloseproximitytotheCityofBigRapids,availabilityofpublicutilitiesandinfrastructure,availablelandalongmajorthoroughfares,andthelocationofadjacentresidentialactivitywouldmakeColfaxTownshipareasonablelocationforamanufacturedhomeparkdevelopment.SuchadevelopmentshouldberestrictedtothewesternsectionsoftheTownship,adjacenttohigherdensityresidentialareasinColfaxandneighboringBigRapidsTownship.
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MecostaCountyMasterPlan
McKennaAssociates,Incorporated 66April2001 UpdatedNovember2014
COMMERCIALTheonlyexistingcommercialactivitytakingplaceinColfaxTownshipislocatedinRodney.ColfaxTownshipislocatedincloseproximitytothecommercialareasoftheCityofBigRapidsandBigRapidsTownship.NewcommercialactivityshouldbeencouragedforDowntownBigRapidsandthePerryStreetcommercialdistrictinBigRapidsTownship.TheTownshipshoulddiscouragetheencroachmentofcommercialactivityextendingeastfromBigRapidsTownshipalong16MileRd.Finally,thoughitcurrentlyisnotaproblemintheColfaxTownship,scatteredcommercialactivityalongM‐20orothermajorCountyroadsshouldbediscouragedifnotstrictlyprohibitedthroughstrictzoningprovisionsandbyavoidingthetendencytorezoneparcelsforindividualcommercialuseoutsideofanestablishedcommercialarea.SmallneighborhoodcommercialusesshouldalsobeencouragedinRodney.INDUSTRIALTherearecurrentlynoindustrialfacilitieslocatedwithinColfaxTownship.Furthermore,withthetownship’scloseproximitytoindustrialareasintheCityofBigRapids(3mileswest),BigRapidsTownship(adjacenttothewest),andGreenTownship,thenecessityforlocatinganindustrialfacilityinthisareaisminimal.Therefore,itisrecommendedthatnewindustrialfacilitiesbedirectedtowardthoseexistingareaspreviouslyreferencedandawayfromtheprimarilyresidentialandagriculturalnatureofColfaxTownship.TRANSPORTATIONStateHighwayM‐20runseast‐westthroughthetownshipfromthesettlementofRodneyontheeastsideoftheTownship.M‐20runsalongMcKinleyand15MileRoads.16MileRoadistheonlyalternateeast‐westroutethroughtheTownship.120thAvenueprovidestheonlynorth‐southrouteinoradjacenttothetownshipasitseparatedColfaxTownshipfromMartinyTownshiptotheeast.Thoughnootherroadprovidesuninterruptedtravelnorthandsouththroughthetownship,anumberofprimaryCountyroadsincluding160thAvenue,140thAvenue,and130thAvenueprovidesignificantvehicularaccesstomostareasofthetownship.
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MecostaCountyMasterPlan
McKennaAssociates,Incorporated 67April2001 UpdatedNovember2014
DEERFIELDTOWNSHIPOVERVIEWDeerfieldTownshipisanagriculturaltownshiplocatedinthesouthwesternquarterofMecostaCounty.DeerfieldTownshipsharesitssouthernborderwithMontcalmCounty.Asidefromagriculturallandusesandtheoccasionalwoodlot,theonlynaturalfeaturesinthetownshiparetheLittleMuskegonRiver,whichtraversesthetownshipfromeasttowest,andtheMorleyPondwhichisanimpoundmentoftheLittleMuskegonRiver.TheVillageofMorleyislocatedinthesouthwesterncornerofthetownshipandservesastheprimaryresidential,business,andemploymentcenterinthearea.Ingeneral,therecommendationofthefuturelanduseplanforDeerfieldTownshipistopromotetheredevelopmentandgrowthoftheVillageofMorleyandtoprotecttheprimarilyruraltownshipforagriculturallandusesandfarmingactivities.Inaddition,largerundevelopedparcelscurrentlylocatedintheTownshipthatarezonedRR‐2(ZoningDistrictwithinthe1983ZoningOrdinance)arerecommendedforrezoningtoAFAgriculturaltofacilitatetheprotectionandpreservationoffarmlandandopenspace.RESIDENTIALTheVillageofMorleyhastheonlyconcentratedhousingdevelopmentinthetownship.AdditionalresidentialdevelopmenthastakenplacealongtheLittleMuskegonRiverandstretchedalongthetownship’sprimaryroadsincludingMonroeRoad,170thAvenue,3MileRoad,and4MileRoad.NewresidentialdevelopmentshouldberestrictedtotheeastsideoftheVillageofMorleyandonlargeparcelswithinthetownshiptoprotectandencouragecontinuedagriculturallanduses.AmanufacturedhomedevelopmentwouldbesuitablefortheeastornorthsideoftheVillageofMorley.COMMERCIALExistingcommercialactivityislocatedalmostexclusivelyintheVillageofMorley.Thelackofapopulationconcentrationandtheprimarilyagriculturalnatureofthetownshipwilllimitthenecessityofanyfurthercommercialdevelopmentinthetownship.FuturecommercialdevelopmentshouldbelocatedintheVillageofMorleytoencouragetheredevelopmentoftheVillageandestablishaconcentratedcommercialdistricttoservenotonlyDeerfieldTownship,butalsoAetnaTownshipandnorthernMontcalmCounty.Scatteredcommercialactivityonindividualparcelswhichare“spot”zonedforcommercialuseshouldbediscouraged.INDUSTRIALIndustrialactivityisconfinedtothosecompaniesoperatingfromandlocatedintheVillageofMorley.NofurtherindustrialactivityorproposedrezoningoflandforindustrialuseisrecommendedforDeerfieldTownshipintheMecostaCountyMasterPlan.AnynewindustrialdevelopmentinthisareashouldbeplannedinoradjacenttotheVillageofMorley.
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MecostaCountyMasterPlan
McKennaAssociates,Incorporated 68April2001 UpdatedNovember2014
TRANSPORTATIONToencouragetheredevelopmentandgrowthoftheVillageofMorley,anemphasisshouldbeplacedonimprovingtheroadsandstreetsystemslocatedwithintheVillage.Inaddition,180thAvenueandJeffersonRoadshouldalsobeprioritiesastheyarethemajorthoroughfaresleadinginandoutofMorley.AsidefromexistingCountyroadmaintenance,noothersubstantialtransportationimprovementsarerecommendedatthistime.5Mileisalsoamajoreast/westtransportationcorridorforlocals.
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MecostaCountyMasterPlan
McKennaAssociates,Incorporated 69April2001 UpdatedNovember2014
FORKTOWNSHIPOVERVIEWSimilartotheadjacenttownshipsofChippewa,Sheridan,andMartiny,ForkTownshipisprimarilyruralandagriculturalwithscatteredresidentialandresort/recreationaldevelopment.Thereisonesettlement,theVillageofBarryton,locatedinthesouth‐centralsectionoftheTownship.TheVillageislocatedontheChippewaRiver,whichmeandersthroughtheTownshipfromthenorthwestcornersouthintoIsabellaCounty.TheVillageofBarrytonenforcesitsownzoningordinanceandmaintainsazoningmapregulatinglanduseswithintheVillage.TheVillageservesasthecommercial,employment,andactivitycenterforForkandsurroundingTownships.TheVillageofBarrytonhasauniquemainstreetforadowntown,withparkfacilities,anelementaryschoolandpublicwatersystem.Alltheseadvantagesmakeitanattractivelocationforgrowth.Asnotedinthe1980LandUsePlan,ForkTownshipisprimarilyagriculturalwithoverhalfthetownship’slandinagriculturaluse,however,onlyasmallpercentageisinactualcropproduction.WoodlotsarescatteredthroughoutthetownshipwithconcentratedwoodedareasbeinglocatedadjacenttoChippewaRiveranditstributaries.RESIDENTIALThecurrentzoningofForkTownshiphassubstantialareasdevotedtoruralresidentialuse.ThisiscounterproductivetotheintentoftheCounty’seffortstopreserveagriculturalactivities,farmlandandopenspaces.Inaddition,thereisnobasisfromapopulationorgrowthperspectivetosuggestthatthismuchlandshouldbedevotedtoresidentialuseandtakenoutofagriculturalproductionorremainasopenspace.Therefore,substantialareasoflandzonedforruralresidentialusearerecommendedforrezoningtooneoftheCounty’sagriculturaldesignations.Theseareasshouldremainaslargeparcelsdevotedtoagriculturalproductionorallowedtoremainasundevelopedopenspace.Single‐familyhomespermittedinthisareashouldbescatteredonlargetractsthatdonotinterferewiththeabilitytofarmadjoininglands.However,oneareadesignatedforfutureresidentialdevelopmentisaroundMerrillLake.ExistingdenseresidentialdevelopmentandaCountyParklocatedoffofM‐66makethisareaadesirablelocationforfutureresidentialgrowth.WiththeexceptionofthisareaaroundMerrillLake,nodevelopment,residentialorotherwise,shouldbeplannedorencouragednorthofHooverRoad.Thisactionwilldirectlyservetopreservethenorthernthirdofthetownship.Finally,theproximityoftheVillageofBarrytonandavailablelargeparcelsincloseproximitytotheVillagewouldprovideforanappropriatelocationforamanufacturedhomedevelopment.Thetownship
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MecostaCountyMasterPlan
McKennaAssociates,Incorporated 70April2001 UpdatedNovember2014
andvillageshouldworktogethertodesignateasuitablelocationforamanufacturedhomepark.ThedevelopmentshouldbeaccessibletoM‐66orsuitablecollectorroadtoprovideaccesstothesite.COMMERCIALCommercialdevelopmenthastakenplacebothnorthandsouthoftheVillagelimitsalongM‐66.Inaddition,acommercialcenterofactivityhasdevelopedattheintersectionofHooverRoadandM‐66.CommercialuseshavedevelopedattheintersectionofM‐66andEvergreenRoadaswell.ThescattereddevelopmentofcommercialbusinessalongM‐66northofHooverRoadandsouthof19MileRd.shouldbediscouragedifnotstrictlyprohibited.NewcommercialdevelopmentshouldbeencouragedtolocateintheexistingVillagecommercialdistrict.AsecondarylocationfornewcommercialdevelopmentisrecommendedattheintersectionofHooverRoadandM‐66.Alreadyzonedforthispurpose,thisareacouldbestrengthenedasacommercialnode.Itscentralproximityinthetownshipprovidesforanalternatelocationforthoseusesnototherwisesuitableforthevillagebusinessdistrict.Finally,theTownshiphasidentifiedtheareaalongM‐66from20MileRd.northtoHooverRoadasapotentialcommercialcorridor.Noadditionalcommercialgrowthisanticipatedorproposedoutsideofthesedesignatedareas.INDUSTRIALThereisnolanddevotedtoorzonedforindustrialactivityinthetownship.AsexistinggravelminingoperationsandLPgasstoragefacilityarelocatednorthof22MileRd.alongM‐66.AnynewindustrialactivityshouldbelocatedinoradjacenttoexistingdevelopedareasoftheVillageofBarrytontotakeadvantageoftheinfrastructureavailable.TRANSPORTATIONM‐66(30thAvenue)providestheprimarytransportationroutenorthandsouththroughthetownship.10thAvenueand80thAvenuealsoserveasnorth/southtransportationroutes.18MileRd.,19MileRd.,20MileRd.,andHooverRd.alltraversetheentirewidthofthetownshipandprovidetheprimaryeast‐westaccessforarearesidents.
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MecostaCountyMasterPlan
McKennaAssociates,Incorporated 71April2001 UpdatedNovember2014
GRANTTOWNSHIPOVERVIEWGrantTownshipislocatedalongthenortherntieroftownshipsinMecostaCountyinthenorthwestquadrantadjacenttoGreenTownshiponthewest,ChippewaTownshipontheeastandHerseyTownshipinOsceolaCountytothenorth.OveronequarterofthegrosslandareainGrantTownshipisownedbytheStateofMichigananddedicatedaspartoftheHaymarshLakeStateGameAreawhichistheresultofamajorfloodingprojectinthesoutheastsectionofthetownship.Hunting,camping,andfishingarepermittedrecreationalactivitiesinthegamearea.RESIDENTIALTherearenoformalsettlementslocatedinthetownship.Inaddition,verylittlelandhasbeenzonedforsubdivisiondevelopment.ExistingresidentialareasarelocatedadjacenttotheMuskegonRiverinthenorthwestcornerofthetownshipandintheextremesouthwestcornerofthetownship.NewresidentialdevelopmentisanticipatedinthesouthwesterncorneroftheTownshipaspopulationshiftsoutwardfromtheBigRapidsandBigRapidsTownshipurbanarea.However,themajorityofthetownshipshouldbeprotectedfromextensiveresidentialdevelopment.TheHaymarshRecreationArea,MuskegonRiver,primeagriculturalland,anduniquetopographyprovideopportunitiestomaintainaruralandrecreationalfocusofthetownship.COMMERCIALTherearecurrentlynopropertiesinthetownshipzonedforcommercialuse.Commercialuseshaveexistedattheintersectionof22MileRdand150thAvenueinthepast.However,commercialdevelopmentatthislocationshouldbediscouraged.Thetownship’scloseproximitytoBigRapids,GreenTownship,andBigRapidsTownshipsuggestthatcommercialdevelopmentisnotnecessaryforthisarea.CommercialdevelopmentshouldnotbedirectedtotheexistingcommercialareasofBigRapidsandBigRapidsTownshiportheresortandrecreationalcommercialareaslocatednearChippewaLakeinChippewaTownshipandrecreationalareasinMartinyTownship.INDUSTRIALThereiscurrentlynoindustrialactivitytakingplaceorlandzonedforindustrialuseinGrantTownship.ItisrecommendedthatnewindustrialdevelopmentbedirectedtowardexistingindustrialparksinGreenTownship,BigRapidsTownship,andtheCityofBigRapids.TRANSPORTATIONThereareafewmajortransportationrouteslocatedinGrantTownship.160thAvenueistheonlyCountyprimaryroadthattraversesthetownshipnorthandsouth.Inaddition21MileRd.providestheonlyeast‐westcorridorthroughthetownship.ThelocationoftheMuskegonRiverinthenorthwestcornerof
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MecostaCountyMasterPlan
McKennaAssociates,Incorporated 72April2001 UpdatedNovember2014
thetownshipandtheHaymarshStateGameAreainthesoutheastquarterofthetownshiprestrictdirecttrafficcorridorsfromdeveloping.
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MecostaCountyMasterPlan
McKennaAssociates,Incorporated 73April2001 UpdatedNovember2014
GREENCHARTERTOWNSHIPOVERVIEWGreenTownshipislocatedintheextremenorthwestcornerofMecostaCountyandislocatednorthofBigRapidsTownshipandtheCityofBigRapids.TheTownshipisexperiencingdevelopmentpressuresasitservesasanattractivelocationforthoseworkingintheBigRapidsarea.Thearea’sgoodsoilconditionsmaketheTownshipanattractiveandsuitablelocationforbothagriculturalproductionanddevelopment.FarmingisthepredominatelanduseintheTownshipasapproximately60%ofthelandareaintheTownshipisinagriculturalproduction(1980CountyMasterPlan/1999TownshipMasterPlan).Inaddition,approximately22%oftheTownshipiswoodedaccordingtothe1999GreenTownshipMasterPlan.AGRICULTURALAsnotedabove,thepredominatelanduseinGreenTownshipisinagriculturalorfarmingactivity.TheTownship,asnotedintheMasterPlanandconfirmedbyacommunitysurvey,hasidentifiedthepreservationofprimeagriculturallandsandtheambientruralatmosphereandopenspaceassociatedwithruralareasastheprimarygoaloftheplan.Asrecommendedinthe1999MasterPlan,“GreenCharterTownshipshouldfocusitsstrongesteffortstoconservelandwherecontinuedagriculturalismostlikely.”Thefuturelanduseplanrecommendsthatexistingareasdesignatedforagriculturalusebepreservedandprotectedfromtheencroachmentofanyproposeddevelopment.AsfurthernotedintheTownship’sMasterPlan“agriculturalareasareintendedforactiveagriculture,lowdensitysinglefamilydwellingsandspecializedruralareasthatwouldrequirelargeland.Openspaceareas,woodlandsandscenicviewsareatobepreservedasimportantfeaturesofthisarea.”Publicutilityextensionandlandsubdivisions’shouldbeavoidedinagriculturaldistricts.RESIDENTIALExistingresidentialdevelopmentisconcentratedinthecommunityofPariseastandwestofNorthlandDriveanddirectlynorthofBigRapidsTownshipbetweenNorthlandDriveand200thAvenue.AdditionaldevelopmenthastakenplaceadjacenttotheMuskegonRiverasittraversesthroughtheTownship.TheGreenTownshipMasterPlananalyzestheneedforvariousresidentiallandusesandbasesitsassumptionsonaprojectedpopulationofapproximately3,500personsbytheyear2010.AsaresulttheTownshiphasprovidedsuitablelocationsforavarietyofresidentiallanduses.LowdensityresidentialisplannedfortheareasadjacenttotheMuskegonRiver.HigherdensityresidentialisprojectedforcurrentlyvacantparcelseastandwestofNorthlandDrivebetween18MileRoadand19MileRoad.Theseareaswillserveastransitionaldevelopmentbetweenthecommercialactivitiesofthesites.Asproposed,theareaswouldbesuitableforhigherdensitysinglefamilysubdivisions,manufacturedhome
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MecostaCountyMasterPlan
McKennaAssociates,Incorporated 74April2001 UpdatedNovember2014
parks,andmultiplefamilydwellings.ThisareaissuitableforhigherdensityduetoitscloseproximitytotheCityofBigRapidsandavailabilityofpublicsewerservice.AsecondhigherdensityresidentialareaisplannedforthecommunityofParisitself.TheareabetweenNorthlandDriveandtheMuskegonRiveraswellastheareadirectlywestofthecommercialstripalongNorthlandDriveareplannedforhigherdensityresidentialdevelopment.RuralresidentialdevelopmentisincorporatedintheagriculturalclassificationsintheTownshipMasterPlan.TheTownshiphasattemptedtogroupallotheruseswithintheTownshipinordertoprotectandpromotearuralresidentialandagriculturalatmospherewithinthecommunity.TheGreenTownshipMasterPlanwasadoptedin1999andprovidesfurtherdetailintoresidentialrecommendations.COMMERCIALExistingcommercialdevelopmenthasdevelopedalongNorthlandDrivefrom18MileRoadthroughthecommunityofParisnorthto23MileRoad.Approximately55acresoflandarecurrentlyusedforcommercialpurposesalongthiscorridoraccordingtotheTownship’sMasterPlan.Newcommercialdevelopmentisproposedintwolocations.TheprimarycommercialcorridorshouldremainalongNorthlandDrive.ThisareahasremainingvacantlandsuitableforcommercialgrowthandshouldbetargetedforthelocalandneighborhoodcommercialneedsoftheTownship’sresidentialpopulation.Secondly,thoughcurrentlyundeveloped,theareaadjacenttotheinterchangeofU.S.131and19MileRoadhasbeenrecommendedfordevelopmentintoahighwayservicecommercialarea.Thisarea,frombothsidesoftheinterchangeeastto210thAvenue(NorthlandDr.)isproposedforhigherintensitycommercialusescateringspecificallytothehighwaytravelerandthosebusinessesdrawingcustomersfromaregionalservicearea.Finally,asinothertownshipswithinMecostaCounty,theuseorrezoningoflandoutsideofthesedesignatedareasforcommercialactivitiesshouldbestrictlydiscouraged.Scatteredcommercialdevelopmentand“spot”zoningofindividualparcelsforcommercialuseisdetrimentaltothehealthanddevelopmentoftheTownshipandthedesignatedcommercialcorridors.Thosepersonsseekingtooperateacommercialbusinessshouldlocateindesignatedorplannedcommercialareas.INDUSTRIALAccordingtotheTownshipMasterPlan,thetownshipcurrentlyhasapproximately40acresoflanddevotedtoindustrialuseswithbusinessscatteredthroughouttheTownship.Existingindustrialdevelopmentislocatedalong18MileRoadinsection31oftheTownshipandalong19MileandCoolidgeRoadinSection27oftheTownship.Theseareasarenotaccessibletopublicutilitiesandfurtherdevelopmentforindustrialpurposesintheseareasishighlydiscouraged.TheTownshiphasidentifiednewlightindustrialdevelopmentasaprimarygoalwithintheMasterPlanandhasrecommendedthatanynewdevelopmenttakeplacealong18MileRoadbetween220thAvenue
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MecostaCountyMasterPlan
McKennaAssociates,Incorporated 75April2001 UpdatedNovember2014
andNorthlandDrive.ThislocationprovidesconvenientaccesstoRoben‐HoodMunicipalAirport,theCityofBigRapids,andaccessibilitytopublicsewerservice.Inaddition,thisareaisincloseproximitytotheU.S.131expresswayandcoincideswiththeBigRapidsTownshipplanforindustrialdevelopmentdirectlysouthoftheparcelsinGreenTownship.TRANSPORTATIONTheU.S.131freewaytraversesnorth/souththroughthewesternthirdofthetownshipandprovidestheprimaryaccessforresidentstravelingthroughtheTownshiptothepopulationcentersofBigRapidstothesouthandCadillactothenorth.Localnorth‐southtrafficisaccommodatedby230thAvenuewestofU.S.131and220thAvenue,NorthlandDrive,190thAvenueeastofU.S.131.East‐westtrafficisrestrictedbytheMuskegonRiverwhichrunsnorthandsouththroughthecenterandeasternthirdoftheTownship.Primaryeast‐westtravelroutesinclude18MileRoad,19MileRoad,22MileRoadtoHawkins,and23MileRoad.HooverRoadinParisalsoprovidesaccessacrosstheMuskegonRivertotheeasternportionofthecounty.TheTownshiphasestablishedagoalwithinitsMasterPlantoworkcloselywiththeMecostaCountyRoadCommissiontocontinueimprovementstoexistingroadways.Nonewmajorroadwaysarecurrentlyplannedoranticipatedinthefuture.TheTownshipisinterestedinstudyingexistingtravelpatternstotargetimprovementstothecurrentroadsystemtoaddressmaintenanceandcirculationproblems.
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MecostaCountyMasterPlan
McKennaAssociates,Incorporated 76April2001 UpdatedNovember2014
HINTONTOWNSHIPOVERVIEWThemajorityofthetownshipisintheagriculturalproduction.ThisisthepredominantlandusethroughoutthetownshipandincludessomeofthemostproductiveagriculturallandintheCounty.Therefore,itistheintentandrecommendationofthisplanthattheagriculturaluseslocatedintheCountybeprotectedthroughminimallandusechanges.AGRICULTURALInadditiontotheabovestatement,thetownshipisinterestedinpreservingnon‐tillablelandsforrecreationalandopenspaceactivities.Therefore,thefuturelanduseplanrecommendsthesubstantialrezoningofdesignatedlargeparcelsfromAGPrimeAgriculturaltoAFAgriculturalForestrytoprovideadditionalalternativesforpotentiallandusesandencouragehuntingandotherrecreationalactivitiesonlandnotsuitableforfarming.RESIDENTIALTherearetworesidentialsettlementsinthetownship.AltonaandSylvesterarelocatedalongFiveMileRd.approximately2.5milesapart.LowdensityresidentialdevelopmentisrecommendedadjacenttocurrentlysettledareasaroundAltonaandalongthenorthsideofSylvester.Inaddition,theresidentialareaalong95thAvenuebetweenEisenhowerroadandOneMileroadisplannedforadditionallowdensityresidentialdevelopment.ThisareawouldservethosepersonscommutingtotheLakeview(MontcalmCo.)area.Newresidentialdevelopmentisproposedalong100thAvenuebetweenThreeMileroadandFourMileRoad.ThiswouldincludelowdensitysinglefamilyresidentialdevelopmentascurrentlyallowedintheR‐1Districtzoningclassification.ThoseparcelscurrentlyzonedR‐1along100thAvenueshouldremainasidentifiedforsmalllotresidentialuse.ThelocationofamanufacturedhomeparkdevelopmentinHintonTownshipisnotrecommended.Thelackofappropriateroadaccess,proximitytootherresidentialareas,preservationoffarmland,lackofcommercialandpublicservicesaredeterminingfactorsinrecommendingagainstthelocationofmanufacturedhomedevelopmentinHintonTownship.COMMERCIALTwosmallcommercialcenterscurrentlyexistinthetownship.OneeachisthesettlementsofAltonaandSylvester.Infact,SylvesterisfamousforapopularicecreamparlorfrequentedbytheresidentsofMecostaCounty.
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MecostaCountyMasterPlan
McKennaAssociates,Incorporated 77April2001 UpdatedNovember2014
TwocommerciallyzonedparcelsexistwithintheTownship.Thefirstislocatedon110thAvenuesouthofJeffersonRoad.ThislocationiscurrentlyunusedandwouldbeanopportunityfortheTownshipandCountytoworktoeliminatethestructuresandzonecorrectly.Thesecondparcelislocatedon70thAvenuesouthof6MileRoadwhereausedcarlotandautobodyrepairfacilityoperated.Therezoningoftheseparcelsequatesto“spot”zoningandshouldgenerallybediscouraged.ItisrecommendedthatanyfuturecommercialdevelopmentbelocatedintheexistingcommercialdistrictsofAltonaandSylvester.Thiswouldnotonlystrengthentheviabilityofthesecommercialareas,butwouldalsolocateanynewcommercialdevelopmentincloserproximitytoexistingresidentialandcustomerbasesnotonlyinthetwotownshipsettlementsbutalsotheCanadianLakesdevelopmentinadjacentMortonTownship.NonewcommercialdistrictsarerecommendedorproposedforHintonTownshipatthistime.INDUSTRIALTherearecurrentlytwosemi‐industrialuseslocatedinHintonTownship.ThefirstbeingtheColeTirerecyclingfacilityandthesecondbeingapeetmossprocessingfacility.TherearecurrentlynomanufacturefacilitieslocatedwithintheTownship.Asnotedabove,HintonTownshipisapredominatelyagriculturallybasedeconomyandworkforce.ThoseresidentsoftheTownshipwhoarenotinvolvedinagriculturalemploymentareincloseproximitytoindustrialemployersinRemus,MortonTwp.andtheCityofLakeviewinMontcalmCounty.TherearenomajortransportationroutesthroughtheTownshipotherthantheCountyroadsystem.However,residentshaveexpressedconcernsthatFiveMileRoadisutilizedbycommercialtrucktrafficasacorridorbetweenMt.PleasantandUS‐131.
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MecostaCountyMasterPlan
McKennaAssociates,Incorporated 78April2001 UpdatedNovember2014
MARTINYTOWNSHIPOVERVIEWMartinyTownshipisdevelopingintoamajorresortcommunitywithitsnumerouslakesandrecreationalareas.MartinyTownshipislocatedinthenorthcentralsectionofMecostaCountyanddoesnotincludeanyorganizedsettlementsorvillages.However,substantialresidentialdevelopmenthastakenplacearoundthelakesandanumberofpubliccampgroundsarelocatedwithinthetownship.ThenortheastcornerofthetownshipispredominatelyownedbytheStateofMichiganasitwasoriginallydevelopedastheMartinyLakesFloodingProject.RESIDENTIALPreviousresidentialdevelopmenthastakenplacealongtheshoresofthevariouslakesinthetownshiponsmalllotsinthoseareaswithsuitablesoilconditions.Thoseareasundevelopedadjacenttothelakesinthisareahavepoorsoils,arewetlands,orhaveotherproblemswhichmakethemunsuitablefordevelopment.Lowerdensityhousingdevelopmenthasbeenscatteredthroughoutthetownshipandalsolocatedincloseproximitytothelakeandrecreationalareasofthetownship.Newlowdensityresidentialdevelopmentisrecommendedforareassouth,westandeastofHorseheadLake.Theseincludeparcelslocatedeastof95thAvenuenorthofArthurRd.,andwestof75thAvenuefromTaftRoadsouthtoArthurRoad.Additionalresidentialdevelopmentisproposedforwestof60thAvenuefrom14Milerd.southtoone‐halfmilesouthof13MileRoad.ThisareacorrespondstoasimilarlyplannedareainwestSheridanTownship.Finally,theresidentiallyzonedareaon120thAvenuestretchingfrom13MileRd.to16MileRd.shouldberezonedagriculturaluse.ThisareadoesnotcorrespondtoaresidentialareainColfaxTownshipandonlyfacilitatesthescatteringofresidentialusesalong120thAvenueasopposedtoprovidingplannedresidentialareasincloserproximitytoeachother.COMMERCIALScatteredcommercialdevelopmenthastakenplacearoundthetownshiptoservethelocalandrecreationalpopulationslivingaroundandutilizingthevariouslakesandrecreationalcampgroundsinthearea.TheprimarycommercialareaforMartinyTownshipiscurrentlylocatedattheintersectionof75thAvenueandTaftRoad.Newcommercialdevelopmentshouldbeconcentratedadjacenttotheexistingcommercialareanotedabove.TaftRoadbetween80thAvenueand75thAvenueisacentralizedlocationforthelakeandresortcommunitiesandprovidesadditionalcommercialdevelopmentopportunities.
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MecostaCountyMasterPlan
McKennaAssociates,Incorporated 79April2001 UpdatedNovember2014
INDUSTRIALTheloneindustrialactivitycurrentlylocatedinthetownshipisasandandgraveloperationon75thAvenuesouthofTaftRoad.Theresidentialandrecreationalatmosphereofthetownshipdoesnotlenditselftothelocationofnumerousindustrialactivitiesorintensivelanduses.Thefuturelanduseplanrecommendsthezoningofadditionallandforthepotentialexpansionofthegraveloperationacrossfromthecurrentlocationonthewestsideof75thAvenue.Asidefromthisprovision,noadditionallandisrecommendedforindustriallanduseinthetownship.MIXEDUSEAREAAnareaonthesouthsideofTaftRoadbetween80thAvenueand75thAvenuehasbeendesignatedformixedusedevelopment.Theproximityofthelakes,potentialresidentialdevelopment,commercialgrowth,andrecreationalnatureoftheareapresentsanopportunitytothinkcreativelyconcerningthepotentialdevelopmentoftheseparcels.Thisareawouldalsoserveasatransitionareaasitbacksuptotheproposedexpansionofthegraveloperationinthetownship.Futuredevelopmentproposalsfortheseparcelsshouldincludeamixtureofbothresidentialandcommercialuseswithanemphasisoncreativelayoutandattractivedesign.
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MecostaCountyMasterPlan
McKennaAssociates,Incorporated 80April2001 UpdatedNovember2014
MECOSTATOWNSHIPOVERVIEWMecostaTownshipislocatedinthesouthwestquadrantofMecostaCountyandisoneofthemorediversifiedtownshipsintheCounty.MecostaTownshipisthelocationoftheRogersDam,anelectricalgenerationfacilityforConsumersEnergy.ThevillageofStanwoodislocatedinthesoutheastcorneroftheTownship.MecostaTownshipbenefitsfromthelocationofaninterchangeat8MileRd.andUS‐131.AGRICULTURALTheresidentsofMecostaTownshiphaveexpressedaninterestinmaintainingtheruralatmosphereandagriculturallandusesoftheTownshipandhaverecommendedthatlargetractsoflandwhicharecurrentlyzonedforlowdensityresidentialuse(RR‐2,underthe1983ZoningOrdinance)berezonedtoanagriculturallanduseclassification.Astheyareundevelopedandinagriculturalproduction,therezoningoftheseparcelswouldreturnthezoningdistrictdesignationtocoincidewiththecurrentagriculturallandusesandprotecttheparcelsfromsubstantialdevelopmentintothefuture.Theareasproposedtobereturnedtoagriculturaldesignationincludethosesouthwestandsoutheastofthe8MileRoad/US‐131Interchange,parcelslocatedsouthwestoftheVillageofStanwoodcurrentlyusedforagriculturalpurposes,largetractsontheeastsideof205thAvenuewestofRogersHeights,andparcelslocatedonthewestsideof180thAvenueoneithersideof11MileRd.Theseareparcelscurrentlyfarmed,manybythelocalAmishpopulation,thatareproposedforprotectionfrompotentialresidentialdevelopment.RESIDENTIALSubstantialareaswithintheTownshiphavebeendevotedtoorplannedforruralandresortresidentialdevelopment.SmallparcelresidentialareasexistadjacenttoRogersPondandalongthebanksoftheMuskegonRiver.AdditionalresidentialdevelopmentisscatteredalongCountyroadsthroughouttheTownship.Morerecentresidentialdevelopmentistakingplacealong11Milerd.eastofNorthlandDr.(220thAve.)NewresidentialdevelopmentisrecommendedforthoseareasoftheTownshipcurrentlyzonedRR‐2(underthe1983ZoningOrdinance)westoftheVillageofStanwood,northwestandsouthwestofthe8MileRd./US‐131Interchange,andeastoftheMuskegonRiverbetween11MileRd.southtoNorthlandDrive.Asahousingalternative,manufacturedhomedevelopmentsrequirecarefulconsiderationwhenreviewingsuitableandreasonablelocationsfortheirplacementanddevelopment.InMecostaTownship,theplanningcommissionisrecommendinganareawestoftheVillageofStanwoodandeastoftheUS‐131Interchangealone8MileRd.InadditiontheareawestofNorthlandDriveandRogersHeights,eastoftheUS‐131between10MileRd.and11MileRd.isrecommendedforthepossiblelocationofamanufacturedhomepark.
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MecostaCountyMasterPlan
McKennaAssociates,Incorporated 81April2001 UpdatedNovember2014
Finally,theareawestoftheUS‐131highwayinMecostaTownshipisproposedforpredominantlyruralresidentialandagriculturaluses.Thislandiswoodedandrollingwithanumberofrecreationalandresidentialuses.ConsumersEnergyCompanyhasmajorholdingsinthisareaandwillremainprimarilyundeveloped.ThezoningoflandwestofUS131inMecostaTownshipshouldberestrictedtoruralresidentialandagriculturalclassificationstolimitdevelopmentandpreservefarmlandandnaturalareas.COMMERCIALAnexistingcommercialdistricthasdevelopedalongNorthlandDrive(OldUS‐31)toservetheRogersHeightsarea.Inaddition,commercialareashavedevelopedadjacenttothe8MileRoad/US‐131InterchangeaswellasbothnorthandsouthoftheVillageofStanwoodalongNorthlandDrive.Newcommercialdevelopmentisrecommendedtolocateincloseproximitytothe8Mileroad/US‐131Interchange.Thiscommercialareashouldbedevotedtoservicingthehighwaytravelerandbelimitedinsizeandpermitteduses.Stripcommercialdevelopmentisnotrecommendedalong8MileRoadeastofUS‐131.CommercialareasarerecommendedtobeclusteredintheVillageofStanwood,adjacenttothehighwayinterchange,andclusteredalongNorthlandDriveatthe11MildRd.intersectioninRogersHeights.Theindividualrezoningofparcelsforcommercialusesinareasnotdesignatedforcommercialdevelopedshouldbediscouragedifnotprohibitedentirely.INDUSTRIALTherearenoparcelscurrentlyzonedforindustrialusewithinthetownship.Industrialactivity,ifproposed,shouldbelocatedasclosetotheVillageofStanwoodaspossible.(Asnotedelsewhereinthisplan,industrialdevelopmentonaCountywidebasisisrecommendedororganizedindustrialparksandpopulationcenterswherepublicinfrastructureandutilitiesaregenerallyavailable.)TheCityofBigRapids,BigRapidsTownship,GreenTownship,MortonandWheatlandTownshipsarerecommendedlocationsforindustrialgrowthanddevelopmentinMecostaCounty.Theremainingtownships,villages,andpopulationcenterswillserveasresidentialandcommercialcentersfortheircommunities.
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MecostaCountyMasterPlan
McKennaAssociates,Incorporated 82April2001 UpdatedNovember2014
MILLBROOKTOWNSHIPThedescriptionfromthe1980MecostaCountyLandUsePlancouldverywellbeusedforthe2000MecostaCountyMasterPlan.MillbrookTownshiphasnotchangedsubstantiallyfromthatoftwentyyearsago.TheVillageofMillbrookintheextremenortheastcornerofthetownshipisstilltheprimaryresidentialsettlementwithasecondaryresidentialareareferredtoasWestMillbrookalong10thAvenue.MillbrookTownshipislocatedinthesoutheastcornerofMecostaCountyasisintheheartoftheCounty’sprimeagriculturalproductionarea.Theexistingpatternofagriculturalandruralresidentiallanduseswithinthetownshipwillcontinuetobeencouragedandwillbethepredominantlandusesinthefuture.ItistheintentofthisplantoprotecttheexistingagriculturalandfarmingactivitieslocatedinMillbrookTownshipandtodiscouragedevelopmentanddirectsuburbanresidential,commercialandindustrialactivityawayfromMillbrookTownship.RESIDENTIALVerylittleresidentialdevelopmenthastakenplaceinthetownshipduringthepasttwentyyears.Asnotedabove,existingresidentialactivityiscenteredintheVillageofMillbrookandWestMillbrook.Newresidentialdevelopmentisrecommendedfortheareaeastof10thAvenuebetweenWestMillbrookandtheVillageofMillbrook.ScatteredresidentialdevelopmentwillcontinuetotakeplacethroughoutthetownshiponindividualparcelsthatmeettherequiredzoningandLandDivisionActrequirements.COMMERCIALCommercialdevelopmenthasbeenlimitedtoindividualparcelsrezonedforcommercialpurposesalongmajorthoroughfareswithinthetownship.FourcommercialpropertiesexistalongM‐66(30thAvenue).Individualcommercialactivityistakingplaceon5MileRoadwestof10thAvenue,onJacksonroadeastof10thAvenue(taxidermyandfurdressing)andasmallcommercialcenterintheVillageofMillbrook.ItisrecommendedthatanyadditionalcommercialdevelopmentintheTownshipbelocatedattheintersectionofM‐66andMonroeRd.orwithintheexistingvillagecommercialdistrict.Inaddition,asecondcommercialdistrictisrecommendedforJacksonRoadfrom10thAvenueeasttoBlanchard(Countyline).Intermittentor“spot”zoningofparcelsforcommercialpurposesashastakenplacealongM‐66andelsewhereinthetownshipshouldbediscouragedifnotstrictlyprohibited.INDUSTRIALTherearecurrentlynoparcelslocatedwithinMillbrookTownshipthatarezonedforindustrialuse.WithpopulationcentersnorthofMillbrookinWheatlandTownship(Remusarea)andsouthofthetownshipinMontcalmCounty(Lakeviewarea),noadditionalindustrialdevelopmentisproposedforMillbrookTownship.
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MecostaCountyMasterPlan
McKennaAssociates,Incorporated 83April2001 UpdatedNovember2014
MORTONTOWNSHIPOVERVIEWMortonTownshipislocatedinthesoutheastquarterofMecostaCountyandisoneofthefastestgrowingtownshipsintheCounty.MortonTownshipishometothreeresortandrecreationalareastargetingretireesandrecreationalenthusiastsalike.TheseincludetheCanadianLakesdevelopment,SchoolSectionLakearea,andtheTri‐Lakes(Blue,Mecosta&RoundLakes)area.ThesenaturalandrecreationalareasincludingtheassociatedresidentialdevelopmentineachoftheseareasdominatethewesternhalfoftheTownship.TheVillageofMecostaislocatedinsections11and12(northeastcorner)ofMortonTownshipwherestatehighwayM‐20crossestheeastbranchoftheLittleMuskegonRiver.MortonTownshiphasbeenpro‐activeinlanduseplanning.TheTownshiphaspreviouslydevelopedaMasterLandUsePlanandadministersitsownzoningordinanceseparatefromthatofMecostaCounty’s.MortonTownshipshouldcontinuethispro‐activeapproachtoplanningbycoordinatingtheireffortswiththoseoftheMecostaCountyPlanningCommissionandthesurroundingpropertyownersassociation.AGRICULTUREThoughnotnearlyaspredominateasinothertownships,agriculturalactivityoccupiesapproximatelyone‐thirdofthelandareawithinthetownshipandthemajorityofthisactivityislocatedinthesoutheasternquarterofthetownship.MortonTownshiphasidentifiedasaprimarygoalthepreservationofthislandandhasdesignatedthesoutheastcorneroftheTownshipforstrictlyagricultural(farming)landuses.Thisareaisboundedby9MileRoadonthenorth,90thAvenueonthewest,6MileRoadonthesouth,and60thAvenueontheeast.Asprimeagriculturalland,thisareaisproposedforlittleornodevelopmentincludingribbonorspotresidentialdevelopmentalongmajorCountyroads.RESIDENTIALResidentiallanduseshavedevelopedintwoprimarylocations.ThefirstiseastandsouthofthebusinessdistrictoftheVillageofMecosta.ThesecondaretheresortareasandsubdivisionsadjoiningthevariouslakeswithinthewesternhalfofMortonTownship.Infact,theCanadianLakesdevelopmentaccountsforoverhalfoftheresidentiallydevelopedlotsinMortonTownship.NewresidentialdevelopmentisproposedtocontinuewithintheCanadianLakesdevelopmentaswellasintheotherlakeandresortcommunitiesoftheTownship.NearlytheentirewesternhalfoftheTownshipisproposedforresidentialandrecreationaluse.Inaddition,residentialdevelopmentislimitednorthandsouthoftheVillageofMecostaasaresultofthelocationofStateownedlandandnumerouswetlandsinthearea.COMMERCIALExistingcommercialactivityiscenteredintheVillageofMecosta.Anadditionalcommercialdistricthasdevelopedatthenorthwestcorneroftheintersectionof9MileRoadand70thAvenuejustnorthofthe
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MecostaCountyMasterPlan
McKennaAssociates,Incorporated 84April2001 UpdatedNovember2014
Townshipindustrialpark.AretailareahasalsodevelopedonBuchananroadasapartoftheCanadianLakesdevelopment.Existingandfuturecommercialactivityiscenteredaroundfive(5)locations:(1)theVillageofMecosta,(2)thenorthwestcorneroftheintersectionof9MileRoadand70thAve,justnorthoftheTownshipindustrial/commercialpark,(3)theareasurroundingtheintersectionof90thAvenueand11Mile,(4)thecommercialcenterattheintersectionofBuchananRoadand100thAvenue,and(5)thefuturedevelopmentofaneighborhoodcommercialcenteralongPierceRoad(includedintheTullymorePUD)..Scatteredor“spot”commercialactivityisdiscouragedalongmajorCountyroadsandlocatedonlyinthepreviouslymentioneddistricts.INDUSTRIALThereiscurrentlyoneindustrialparklocatedwithinMortonTownship.Thisareaislocatedon9MileroaddirectlywestofhighwayM‐20.Thislocationprovidessuitabletransportationaccesstothestatehighwayandisarrangedinaparklikesetting.TheMortonTownshipMasterPlanreferencestheimportanceofindustrialdevelopmenttothecommunity’staxbaseandprovidesthisareaforfutureindustrialdevelopmentasexistingsitesarestillavailable.TheTownshiprecognizestheneedforadditionalcommerciallocationsintheareaandhasdesignatedsomeofthelotsintheparkforcommercialdevelopment.TRANSPORTATIONStateHighwayM‐20traversesthroughthenorthernthirdoftheTownshipincludingtheVillageofMecostawhereithasdevelopedastheVillagemainstreet.M‐20servesastheprimaryeast‐westcorridorthroughtheTownship.However,BuchananRoadand7MileRoadtoPierceRoadalsoserveaseast‐westtransportationcorridorsthroughthecentralandsouthernsectionsoftheTownship.70thAvenueistheonlyroadwhichrunstheentirelengthnorthandsouththroughtheTownship.ItistherecommendationoftheMortonTownshipEconomicDevelopmentCommitteethatfutureplanningshouldfocusoncreatinga“ClassA”roadconnectingM‐20to9Mileroadtotheintersectionof100thAvenueandBuchananroadprovidingandcreatinganEast/West“ClassA”RoadcorridorthroughMortonTownship.Forfuturetransportationplanning,MortonTownshipsupportstherepairandresurfacingoftheexistingM‐20highwaycorridorasopposedtotherelocationofthehighwayfurthersouthalongBuchananroadaspreviouslyproposed.Inaddition,theMecostaCountyRoadCommissionisencouragedtocontinueitseffortsrelativetothemaintenanceandresurfacingofCountyprimaryroadslocatedintheTownship.PARKS&RECREATIONSeeMortonTownshipParkandRecreationOrdinance.
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MecostaCountyMasterPlan
McKennaAssociates,Incorporated 85April2001 UpdatedNovember2014
SHERIDANTOWNSHIPOVERVIEWSheridanTownshipispredominatelyruralandagriculturaltownship.ItsproximitytotheMartinyLakesresortareainMartinyTownshipandtheMartinyLakesFloodingProjectproviderecreationalanduniquehousingopportunitiestothetownshipresidents.Approximatelyhalfofthetownshipisdevotedtoagriculturallanduse.Inaddition,substantialforestedareasarescatteredthroughoutthetownship.TheStateofMichiganhassubstantialholdingsinthenorthwestcornerofthetownshipinconjunctionwiththeMartinyLakesFloodingProject.SheridanTownshiporiginallydevelopedaLandUsePlanin1979.RESIDENTIALExistingresidentialdevelopmentiscurrentlylocatedintwodistinctareasofSheridanTownship.ThefirstislocatedonprivatelyheldparcelslocatedwithintheMartinyLakesFloodingProjectandDiamondLakeinthefarnorthwesternsectionofthetownship.ThisareaistypifiedbysmalllotdevelopmentalongthelakeandriverresourcesthatarenototherwiseownedbytheStateofMichigan.ThesecondexperiencingresidentialactivityisthatareainandaroundtheintersectionofArthurRd.andM‐66.ThisareaincludestheChippewaHillsHighSchool,propertyownedbytheMecostaCountyroadCommissionandsurroundingareazonedforruralresidentialuse.NeworincreasedresidentialdevelopmentisproposedfortheareainthesouthwesternsectionoftheTownshipbetween60thand55thAvenuebothnorthandsouthof13MileRd.ThisareaisadjacenttoanareainMartinyTownshipproposedforfutureresidentialdevelopment.Ingeneral,residentialdevelopmentshouldbeconcentratedthroughopenspaceplanningandsmalllotdevelopmentalongmajortransportationcorridors.AnexistingmanufacturedhomeparkdevelopmentislocatedintheTownshipapproximatelyamilenorthofChippewaHillsHighSchool.Inaddition,thepropertylocateddirectlynorthofthehighschoolpropertywouldbesuitableforamanufacturedhomeparkorhigherdensityresidentialdevelopment.Thislandisphysicallysuitablefordevelopment,adjacenttoamajorthoroughfare,bufferedbyagriculturalandgovernmentallanduses,andwithinreasonablecommutingdistancetothepopulationcentersofBigRapidsandMt.Pleasant.However,thereisnopublicsewerorwateravailable,whichlimitsthedensityavailable.COMMERCIALEstablishedcommercialcentersexisttwomilesnorthofthetownshipintheVillageofBarryton(ForkTwp.)andthreemilessouthofthetownshipinthecommunityofRemus(WheatlandTwp.).Scatteredcommercialusesexistinthetownshipattheintersectionof18MileRd.andM‐66,attheintersectionofTaftRd.andM‐66,attheintersectionofArthurRoadandM‐66,andintheMartinyLakesresortareaonMadisonandHardingRoads.
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MecostaCountyMasterPlan
McKennaAssociates,Incorporated 86April2001 UpdatedNovember2014
Thecommerciallyzonedareaextendingsouthform18MileRd.andM‐66intersectionshouldbediscouragedfromdevelopingandeventuallyrezonedtolessintensiveuses.ThecommerciallyzoneddistrictonthenorthsideofTaftRd.attheintersectionwithM‐66shouldbeexpandedtoincludethesouthwestandsoutheastcornersoftheintersection.Thisarea,twoandone‐halfmilessouthofthe18MileRd./M‐66intersection,providesamorecentralizedlocationforcommercialgrowthwithinSheridanTownshipInaddition,itprovidesseparationbetweenthecommercialactivityintheVillageofBarrytoninForkTownship,andthatwhichisplannedinSheridanTownship.TheestablishmentofpredeterminedcommercialnotesisintendedtodiscouragescatteredstripcommercialdevelopmentlocatedalongM‐66.ThefactthatM‐66isaStateHighwayshouldnotsuggestthatcommercialactivitywouldbeallowedalongitsentirelength.Newcommercialdevelopmentshouldbelocatedinclustersatmajorintersectionswithinthetownship.TheprimarycommercialintersectionshouldbethatattheintersectionofTaftRd.andM‐66.Furthermore,theindividualrezoningofparcelsforcommercialpurposeselsewhereinthetownshipshouldbediscouragedinallofbutthemostuniquecircumstances.INDUSTRIALThereiscurrentlyoneareadesignatedorzonedforindustriallanduseinSheridanTownship,attheintersectionof16MileandM‐66.Closestemploymentcenters,otherthanthis,arethosebusinessesandindustrieslocatedintheVillageofBarrytonandinRemus.FuturelandusesforindustrialpurposeshouldbelocatedatthissameintersectionwithinSheridanTownship.TRANSPORTATIONM‐66(30thAvenue)istheprimarynorth‐southaccessroutethroughthetownshipbisectingthetownshipevenlyintoeastandwesthalves.12Mileroadalongthesouthtownshipborderand18MileRd.alongthenorthtownshipborderaretheprimaryeast‐westroutes.TaftRoadandArthurroadalsoserveasprimaryeast‐westcorridorswithinthetownship.
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MecostaCountyMasterPlan
McKennaAssociates,Incorporated 87April2001 UpdatedNovember2014
WHEATLANDTOWNSHIPOVERVIEWWheatlandTownship,animportantagriculturaltownshipinMecostaCounty,hasthemajorityofitslanddevotedtoagriculturalactivities.Pasturelands,cropproduction,andlivestockoperationsdominatethetownship’slandarea.LocatedinthesoutheastquarteroftheCounty,WheatlandisoneoftheprimaryagriculturalareaswithintheCounty,andbecauseofitsimportance,deliberateeffortsshouldbemadetopreserveandretaintheexistingagriculturallandswithinthetownship.AnunincorporatedareaknownasRemusislocatedattheintersectionofM‐66andM‐20incentralWheatlandTownship.RemusisthelargestconcentrationofpopulationandcommunityineasternMecostaCounty.Italsohasasewersystem,whichwillbeanassetinfuturegrowthandexpansions.RemushasacommercialdistrictlocatedalongSheridanAvenue(M‐20)primarilywestofM‐66.Remusishometovariousretailandservicebusinesses,banks,servicestations,andrestaurants.WheatlandTownshiphallislocatedinRemusasisarecreationcomplex.INFRASTRUCTURE/PUBLICSERVICESThoughsanitarysewerserviceexistswithintheunincorporatedareaofRemus,apublicwatersystemdoesnot.Thecommunityisinvestigatingthepotentialfeasibilityandcostsassociatedwithcreatingapublicwaterdistributionsystem.Withtheconcentrationofresidencesandbusinessesinthearea,apublicwatersystemwouldgreatlybenefitthecommunityandwouldpositiontheareaforfuturegrowthanddevelopment.Inadditiontoutilityservices,thecommunity’stransportationsystemrequiresimprovements.TheStateHighway,M‐66,intersectingM‐20inRemus,requiresphysicalupgrades.Curb,gutter,sidewalk,roadsurface,andstreetscapeimprovementsshouldbepursuedforthefirsthalfmileofM‐66fromtheintersectioninRemusoutwardineachdirection.M‐20,theeast‐westhighwaythroughRemushasbeenupdated.Inaddition,theremainderofM‐20westofRemusisrecommendedforwideningandrepaving.TheexistingroadwayisinpoorconditionandtheroadandshoulderwidthisnotinaccordancewithcurrentStatehighwayconstructionstandardsfortwolanehighways.Finally,thelackofmedicalservicesontheeastsideoftheCountyhasbeenidentifiedasaprimaryconcern.DiscussionshaveresultedinMecostaCountyGeneralHospitallocatingamedicalclinicfacilityinMortonTownshipwithintheCanadianLakesresortdevelopment.ThefacilityshouldassistthehospitalinservingtheeasternresidentsoftheCountylivinginRemus,CanadianLakes,andtheoutlyingTownships.AGRICULTURALTheTownshiprecommendedarezoningofanumberoflargeparcelsinthenortheastcorneroftheTownshipfromAFAgriculturalForestrytoAGPrimeAgriculturaltofurtherprotecttheselargeparcels
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MecostaCountyMasterPlan
McKennaAssociates,Incorporated 88April2001 UpdatedNovember2014
andpreservethemforfarmingandagriculturaluses.Theseparcelsarelocatedwestof10thAvenueandnorthandsouthofElevenMileRd.RESIDENTIALExistingresidentialdevelopmentislocatedprimarilyintheRemusareawithadditionallowdensityresidentialdevelopmentlocatedinthenorthwestcornerofthetownshipadjacenttoalake.Ruralresidentialdevelopmentandfarmsteadsarelocatedthroughoutthetownship.Fornewresidentialdevelopment,itisrecommendedthattheareainthenorthwestcornerofthetownshipbeencouragedtoexpandforlowdensityresidentialuse.ThisareaisborderedbyElevenMileRd.onthesouthandTwelveMileRd.onthenorthand60thAvenueonthewestand50thAvenue(M‐66)andalong40thAvenuenorthandsouthofSevenMileRd.Finally,lowdensityresidentialisalsoproposedatthesouthwestcornersoftheintersectionof10MileRoadand50thAvenueand10Mileroadand60thAvenue.MediumorhigherdensityresidentialdevelopmentisproposedforthenorthsideofNineMileRd.eastofthecommercialdistrictandinthesouthwestsideofRemuswestof30thAvenueandsouthofNineMileRd.COMMERCIALAsreferencedthroughoutthisplan,ruraltownships(particularlythosewithstatehighways)aresubjecttospottedlocationsofcommercialdevelopment.Thesporadicrezoningofindividualparcelsforcommercialpurposesshouldbediscouraged.Asnotedinthe1980LandUsePlan,“thistypeofdevelopmentdoesnotencouragethebestuseofourlandresources,norisiteconomicallyefficient.”CommercialdevelopmentinWheatlandTownshipshouldbeconcentratedalongM‐20andM‐66inandadjacenttotheRemusarea.Thiswillnotonlypreventpossiblelanduseconflicts,butstrengthentheeconomicviabilityoftheRemuscommercialbusinessdistrict.INDUSTRIALTherearetwoexistingindustrialareaswithinWheatlandTownship.ThefirstislocatedontheeastsideofM‐66northofRemusadjacenttothewastewatertreatmentplant.ThesecondislocatedalongtheeasternCountylineon8MileRd.eastof10thAvenue.WheatlandTownshiphasbeenidentifiedwithinthisplanasapotentiallocationforfurtherindustrialdevelopment.Neworexpandedindustrialactivityisrecommendedadjacenttoexistingindustriallyzonedland.TheseareasincludenorthofRemusbetween20thAvenueand30thAvenueandnorthandsouthof8MileRdeastof10thAvenueadjacenttotheMecostaCountyline.
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MecostaCountyMasterPlan
McKennaAssociates,Incorporated 89April2001 UpdatedNovember2014
ImplementationActionPlan
IMPLEMENTATIONSTRATEGIESImplementationstrategiesareakeycomponentofanycommunitymasterplan.TheydeterminehowthePlan’sguidelinesandrecommendationsbecomereality.Toimplementthegoalsandobjectivesprovidedinthisplan,itwillbenecessaryfortheplanningcommissiontobeflexibleandpro‐active.AseventsalterconditionswithintheCountyortheneedsoftheresidentschange,variousadjustmentsoradditionswillneedtobemadetotheplan.Furthermore,allofthepossibleimplementationtoolsavailabletothecommissionshouldbestudiedanddiscussedbeforeapprovinganychanges.Therefore,whilegenerallyhelpful,suggestionsfortheimplementationofgoalsandpoliciesoftheCountyaretobeconsideredandusedwherepossible,butaresubjecttofurtherchange.Everyeffortshouldbetakentokeeptheplancurrent.ZONINGORDINANCEINTEGRATIONWITHMASTERPLANTheCountyZoningOrdinanceisaprincipaltoolfortheimplementationoftheplan.SubstantialrevisionsarerecommendedtomakethecurrentzoningordinancereflecttherecommendationsofthisPlanandvisionofthecommunity.Azoningordinancerevisionisundercontractfollowingtheadoptionofthisplan.Zoningisthedivisionofacommunityintodistrictsforthepurposeofregulatingtheuseoflandandbuildings,theirheightandbulk,theproportionoflotthatmaybecoveredbythem,andthedensityofdevelopment.Zoningisenactedunderthepolicepowerofthestateforthepurposeofpromotingthehealth,safety,andgeneralwelfareandhaslongbeensupportedconstitutionallybytheU.S.SupremeCourt.Thezoningordinanceneedstoincorporateappropriatezoningtoolssuchasplannedunitdevelopment,siteplanreview,Countydesignstandards,sitecondominium,cellulartowerandlandscapingrequirementsiftheconceptsoftheMasterLandUsePlanaretobeimplemented.ThezoningmapshouldnecessarilyreflecttheruralcharacteroftheCountywiththeLandUsePlanmapusedasaguideindecisionsinvolvingzoningchanges.Dependingontherateofdevelopmentandchangeandrequestsforchangetothezoningmap,anannualappraisalofthezoningmapsshouldbeanticipated.Itisgenerallyacceptedpracticetoprovidezoningonabasisofafiveyearlanduseprojection,whereasthePlanisten(10)tofifteen(15)yearprojection.COORDINATIONWITHEXISTINGPLANSMasterplanscurrentlyexistinthecommunitiesofGreenTownship,BigRapidsTownship,MortonTownship,MecostaTownshipandtheCityofBigRapids.Inaddition,theCanadianLakesresidentialcommunityhascompleteditsownmasterlanduseplanfortheresidentialandresortdevelopment.EachofthesedocumentswerereviewedforconsistencywiththeoverallgoalsoftheMecostacountyMaster
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MecostaCountyMasterPlan
McKennaAssociates,Incorporated 90April2001 UpdatedNovember2014
Plan.Finally,theCountyplanwaspresentedandreviewedbytheWestMichiganRegionalPlanningCommissionforcommentsandconsistencywithregionalplanningobjectives.DEVELOPMENTCONTROLSANDSTANDARDSThemostinfluentialtechniquetoimplementthefuturelanduseplanistheregulationsestablishedbytheCountytocontrolandguidedevelopmentandlanduse.Theseregulationsincludethezoningordinance(asdiscussedabove),subdivisioncontrolordinance,condominiumordinance,landdivisionordinanceandordinancesforthepreservationofnaturalfeatures.However,thecreationofnewordinancesisnotsufficient.Theordinancesmustcontainspecificproceduresandtechniquesthatarecreatedtoachievetheobjectives,andeventuallygoals,ofthefuturelanduseplan.Whetheracommunitypromoteshomeoccupationsorexcludesthem,whetheritencouragescreativedevelopmentorrequiresdeveloperstoadheretorigidregulations,arejustsomeexamplesofhowthecommunitycanuseordinancetoregulatelandusesinthecommunity.PUBLICUNDERSTANDANDSUPPORTThenecessityofcitizenparticipationandunderstandingoftheplanningprocessandthePlancannotbeover‐emphasized.Acarefullyorganizedpubliceducationprogramisneededtoorganizeandidentifypublicsupportinanycommunitydevelopmentplan.Thelackofcitizenunderstandingandsupportcanseriouslylimitimplementationoftheplan’srecommendationsandproposals.Publicmisunderstandingofacommunity’slongrangeplananddesiredobjectivescanresultinthefailuretosupportneededpublicimprovements,proposedzoningamendments,necessarybondissues,andtheelectionofresponsibleorprogressiveofficialstoleadthecommunity.Inordertoorganizepublicsupportmosteffectively,theCountymustemphasizethereasonsforplanning,theprocessesinvolved,andencouragecitizenparticipationintheadoptionoftheplanandthecontinuingplanningprocess.Publicawarenessandeducationcanbeachievedthroughanumberofdifferentmeansincludingpublicpresentationsatcommissionandboardmeetings,articleswritteninthelocalnewspaperordistributedinanewsletter,andwiththeadventoftheInternet,throughthedevelopmentofaCountywebsite.ThewillingnessbyresidentstoparticipateonCountyboardsandcommissions,attendinformationalmeetings,orvolunteerwithvariouscivicorganizationsisevidenceofapopulation’scommunityinvolvement.Thefollowinglistoutlinesadditionalprogramsthatcanbeundertakentoinformthepublicaboutimportantlandusegoalsandregulatoryimplementationtechniques:
Acondensedfuturelanduseplanhighlightingthegoalsandobjectivesoftheplan Informationalbrochuresonvarioustopicsimportanttoruralcommunities Schoolprogramsconcerninglanduseissues InformationalsessionsheldbytheCountyBoardandPlanningCommission
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MecostaCountyMasterPlan
McKennaAssociates,Incorporated 91April2001 UpdatedNovember2014
Finally,aperiodiccommunityopinionsurveyshouldbeconsideredasanothermeansbywhichtheCountygovernmentcangaugechangingattitudesandpriorities.CONTINUOUSPLANNINGOneoftheprimaryrolesofthePlanningCommissionistoprovideplanningrecommendationstotheCountyBoardofCommissioners.ThisplanningfunctionisacontinuousprocesswhichdoesnotterminatewiththecompletionofthePlan.Communitiesareinaconstantstateofevolutionandplanningisanon‐goingprocessofidentification,adjustmentandresolutionofidentifiedconcerns,problems,andnewchallenges.Toappropriatelysustaintheplanningprocess,maintaininterestandmomentum,andgeneratethecommunity’sintendedpositiveoutcomesthePlanshouldbereviewedandupdatedperiodically.
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MecostaCountyMasterPlan
McKennaAssociates,Incorporated 92April2001 UpdatedNovember2014
CommunityPlanningConsultant
McKennaAssociates,IncorporatedCommunityPlanning–UrbanDesign235EastMainStreet,Suite105Northville,Michigan48167
PhillipC.McKenna,AICP,PCP……………………………………………………………………………………….PresidentKennethDettloff,AICP,PCP…….…………………………………………………………………..CommunityManagerKeithD.Baker,AICP…………………………………………………………………………………..………ProjectManagerJohnOtwell……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………GraphicsMarioOrtega………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..GISMaps