If we are ever to curb the sprawl that threatens our region's rural, small-town character and economy, it will take strong leadership from many local officials.
Why? Michigan's Constitution is all about local control: Township, city, and village officials have the most power in deciding how we grow. Unfortunately, many county commissioners use that to avoid getting involved in development issues.
"We'd love to help with sprawl," they say, "but land use and zoning is township business."
Voters can't allow commissioners to duck helping their community make growth decisions. In fact, there are plenty of ways they can help preserve our region's beauty, make getting around cheaper and easier, build the economy and attract quality development.
The upcoming elections are especially crucial because the next commissioners will have the first opportunity to help implement the regional, citizen-led Grand Vision planning project.
So the Michigan Land Use Institute asked all commission candidates in Grand Traverse, Leelanau and Benzie Counties to address the important issues listed below. You can view their answers at www.mlui.org.
•Financing for sewer and water systems in villages.
While Grand Vision workshops revealed a strong preference for directing growth to cities and villages, that won't happen without adequate sewer and water mains. Townships and villages can't finance these pricey items alone; enlightened county leadership around innovative financing can help.
•Managing rising housing and transportation costs.
Counties can work with their local units to encourage building more affordable housing closer to working families' jobs. Streamlined affordable housing permitting, a trust fund for affordable housing developers and "inclusionary zoning" that makes parts of new developments affordable for working families: These are things that sophisticated county leadership can assist. Investing in better bus service is also an opportunity for county leadership.
•Assisting townships and villages with planning and zoning.
Benzie, Leelanau, and Grand Traverse counties have full-time planning staff; few townships do. County planners host educational workshops, but rarely work closely with townships to control the cost of developing master plans and zoning laws. Townships need help with these complicated, expensive, and even legally risky duties, but officials often bristle at offers of county assistance. County leaders must offer help without seemingly threatening township authority.
•Checking Grand Traverse's carbon footprint.
Last year Grand Traverse County commissioners boldly authorized a study of its global warming emissions, albeit to save money on fuel. The study's results are pointing the county toward leadership on climate change, which would be very refreshing in any county!
•Making The Grand Vision real.
All six of our region's counties helped fund The Grand Vision regional growth management study. After the public weighs in during this fall's "Grand Vision Decision," citizens should expect local officials to implement its final recommendations. County officials should lead the way.
We hope that citizens pursue these important growth issues with their commission candidates, and listen for sound answers. The Institute stands ready to help local officials as they look for solutions to accommodate growth.
About the author: Jim Lively is Northwest Michigan Program Director at the Michigan Land Use Institute. He has been a planner in the region since 1990, and is actively involved in the regional Grand Vision planning process.
About the forum: The forum is a periodic column of opinion written by Record-Eagle readers in their areas of interest or expertise. Submissions of 500 words or less may be made by e-mailing letters@record-eagle.com. Please include biographical information and a photo.
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