Mecosta County Master...2000. Table 1: Mecosta County Population Estimates 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010...

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.



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.



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.



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



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



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.



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.



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



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



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



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%



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).



ItshouldbenotedthataverageincomeforMecostaCountyisgreatlyinfluencedbythesalariesofeducationalprofessionalsemployedbyFerrisStateUniversityaswellastheeightpublicschooldistrictswhichserveresidentsofMecostaCounty.[2]ClaritasReport,2000[3]ClaritasReport,2000



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



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



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



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%



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%



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



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.



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.



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.



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



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.



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.



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.



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‐



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.



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



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.



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



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.



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.



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.



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.



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.



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.



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.



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



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



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.



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.



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.



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.



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.



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).



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.



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.



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.



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.



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



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,



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



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



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.



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.



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



onneighboringcommunities,includingMorleyandStanwood.TheUS131interchangelocatedinAetnaTownshipwillbetheclosestinterchangetothetrailarea.



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



directedtotheexistingindustrialparkinadjacentMortonTownshipandtothenorthintheCityofBigRapids.NonewindustrialdevelopmentiscontemplatedforAustinTownship.TRANSPORTATIONAustinTownshipiseasilyaccessiblefromtheUS‐131highway,whichislocatedapproximatelytwomileswestofthetownshipinadjacentMecostaTownship.TheMichiganDepartmentofTransportationhasstudiedthefeasibilityofrelocatingstatehighwayM‐20throughAustinTownshipalongtheBuchananand8MileRoadcorridors.Therelocationwouldcreateadirecteast‐westlinkthroughtheCountyandrunbetweenthecommunityofRemusandtheU.S.131highway.However,boththetownshipandtheadjacentcommunityofCanadianLakeshaveexpressedoppositiontotheprojectandwoulddiscouragetheStatefrompursuingtheproject.ThoughtheStatehaspurchasedsomeright‐of‐wayfortheproject,therearenoplanstopursuetherelocationatthistime.Relativetothetransportationimprovements,maintenanceandupgradingofthevariousCountyprimaryroadsinthetownshiparethegreatestpriority.



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.



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.



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.



TRANSPORTATIONAnumberofCountyprimaryroadsprovidegoodeast‐westaccessthroughtheTownship.TheseincludeNineteenMileRd.,TwentyMileRd.,Twenty‐TwoMileRd.,andTwenty‐ThreeMileRd.90thAvenueprovidestheprimarynorth‐southaccesswithintheTownshipasitbisectstheTownshipevenlyeastandwest.80thAvenueand100thAvenuealsoprovideaccessnorthandsouththroughvarioussectionsoftheTownship.Relativetotransportationimprovements,itistheTownship’sdesiretopromotethecontinuedmaintenanceandimprovementsoftheexistingCountyroadsystem.Additionalnewroadsandtheconversionofexistinggravelroadstopavementarenotencouraged,astheywouldpromotethefurtherdevelopmentoftheTownship.Maintaininggravelroadsprovidesforacontinuedruralatmosphereanddiscourageslarge‐scaleresidentialdevelopment.



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.



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.



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.



TRANSPORTATIONToencouragetheredevelopmentandgrowthoftheVillageofMorley,anemphasisshouldbeplacedonimprovingtheroadsandstreetsystemslocatedwithintheVillage.Inaddition,180thAvenueandJeffersonRoadshouldalsobeprioritiesastheyarethemajorthoroughfaresleadinginandoutofMorley.AsidefromexistingCountyroadmaintenance,noothersubstantialtransportationimprovementsarerecommendedatthistime.5Mileisalsoamajoreast/westtransportationcorridorforlocals.



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



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.



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



thetownshipandtheHaymarshStateGameAreainthesoutheastquarterofthetownshiprestrictdirecttrafficcorridorsfromdeveloping.



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



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



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.



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.



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.



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.



INDUSTRIALTheloneindustrialactivitycurrentlylocatedinthetownshipisasandandgraveloperationon75thAvenuesouthofTaftRoad.Theresidentialandrecreationalatmosphereofthetownshipdoesnotlenditselftothelocationofnumerousindustrialactivitiesorintensivelanduses.Thefuturelanduseplanrecommendsthezoningofadditionallandforthepotentialexpansionofthegraveloperationacrossfromthecurrentlocationonthewestsideof75thAvenue.Asidefromthisprovision,noadditionallandisrecommendedforindustriallanduseinthetownship.MIXEDUSEAREAAnareaonthesouthsideofTaftRoadbetween80thAvenueand75thAvenuehasbeendesignatedformixedusedevelopment.Theproximityofthelakes,potentialresidentialdevelopment,commercialgrowth,andrecreationalnatureoftheareapresentsanopportunitytothinkcreativelyconcerningthepotentialdevelopmentoftheseparcels.Thisareawouldalsoserveasatransitionareaasitbacksuptotheproposedexpansionofthegraveloperationinthetownship.Futuredevelopmentproposalsfortheseparcelsshouldincludeamixtureofbothresidentialandcommercialuseswithanemphasisoncreativelayoutandattractivedesign.



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.



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.



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.



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



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.



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.



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.



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



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.



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



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



Finally,aperiodiccommunityopinionsurveyshouldbeconsideredasanothermeansbywhichtheCountygovernmentcangaugechangingattitudesandpriorities.CONTINUOUSPLANNINGOneoftheprimaryrolesofthePlanningCommissionistoprovideplanningrecommendationstotheCountyBoardofCommissioners.ThisplanningfunctionisacontinuousprocesswhichdoesnotterminatewiththecompletionofthePlan.Communitiesareinaconstantstateofevolutionandplanningisanon‐goingprocessofidentification,adjustmentandresolutionofidentifiedconcerns,problems,andnewchallenges.Toappropriatelysustaintheplanningprocess,maintaininterestandmomentum,andgeneratethecommunity’sintendedpositiveoutcomesthePlanshouldbereviewedandupdatedperiodically.



CommunityPlanningConsultant

McKennaAssociates,IncorporatedCommunityPlanning–UrbanDesign235EastMainStreet,Suite105Northville,Michigan48167

PhillipC.McKenna,AICP,PCP……………………………………………………………………………………….PresidentKennethDettloff,AICP,PCP…….…………………………………………………………………..CommunityManagerKeithD.Baker,AICP…………………………………………………………………………………..………ProjectManagerJohnOtwell……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………GraphicsMarioOrtega………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..GISMaps

Mecosta County Master...2000. Table 1: Mecosta County Population Estimates 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010...

Documents

Transcript of Mecosta County Master...2000. Table 1: Mecosta County Population Estimates 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010...