TRAVERSE CITY -- Growth in cities and villages, less sprawl, expanded bus service, affordable housing and more sidewalks and bike trails.
That future growth scenario gained the most support from more than 12,000 people in six area counties who completed scorecards for the Grand Vision. Survey results were released on Friday for the $1.6 million land-use and transportation study for Grand Traverse, Leelanau, Antrim, Benzie, Kalkaska and Wexford counties.
"It preserves the land use around us, because then we're less likely to have sprawling-type developments," said Matt McCauley, of the Northwest Michigan Council of Governments. "It provides that small-town character that is often stated in many master plans, that you can go into Suttons Bay, Elk Rapids or Kingsley, and they all have their own unique characteristics that people enjoy and want to see continue."
The wide-ranging study kicked off in fall 2007 and continued this year with workshops where more than 2,500 citizens provided input and ideas for transportation and growth. Feedback from the sessions led to four future development options laid out in the score card.
Less popular scenarios called for development of residential clusters in rural areas, or followed the current trends of low-density rural areas and minimal growth in cities and villages. Both of those options included widened roads for commuters, but little improvements to public transit or multi-use trails.
In the runner-up alternative, job and housing development is centered in Traverse City and Cadillac, with more investment in bus service, walkways and bike paths.
The preferred scenario keeps a small urban footprint with growth in villages and cities and preservation of open rural space.
"It is clear that people do not want the future to simply be a continuation of the patterns seen today which could result in additional sprawl, loss of rural lifestyle and potential decay of the towns and villages," the report stated.
Project consultants will use the scorecard results as a basis for a more-detailed regional vision to be released in February. The final report should come out in April, with the overall study and implementation plan slated for September 2009.
"The results were pretty clear cut," project manager Doug Christensen said. "We think it's a pretty strong indication that we're headed in the right direction with this vision."
Grand Vision scorecard
Scenario A: Future growth along current trend of low-density rural areas and minimal development of cities and villages. Transportation improvements focused on widened roads with some multi-use trails. Score: 944 votes, or about 9 percent.
Scenario B: Development of rural residential clusters and minimal growth in cities and villages. Transportation improvements focused on new or widened roads with some pedestrian and bike paths. Score: 1,220 votes, or about 10 percent.
Scenario C: Growth centered in cities and villages, especially in Traverse City and Cadillac. Open rural land will be largely preserved. Expanded regional bus service, sidewalks and bike paths in villages and cities but limited new or widened roads. Score: 5,946 votes, or about 51 percent.
Scenario D: A more urban plan that keeps job and housing development focused in the two hubs of Traverse City and Cadillac. Open rural land will be largely preserved. Expanded urban bus service, sidewalks and bike paths in the two main cities, but limited new or widened roads. Score: 3,569 votes, or about 30 percent.
Source: The Grand Vision scorecard report prepared by Fregonese Associates.
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