MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION, MIDLAND MASTER PLAN, SPECIAL MEETING, PROJECT KICK OFF
WHICH TOOK PLACE ON THURSDAY, FEBRUARY
2, 2006, 7:00 P.M.,
COUNCIL CHAMBERS, CITY HALL, MIDLAND, MICHIGAN
1. Roll Call
PRESENT: Eyre, Gaynor,
Jocks (arrived 7:07),
Kozakiewicz, Mead, Senesac and Svenson (arrived 7:01)
ABSENT: Rapanos
OTHERS PRESENT: Jon Lynch, Assistant City Manager; Daryl
Poprave, City Planner; Cheri Standfest, Community Development Specialist and 9
others.
2. Overview of Work Plan and
Schedule
LSL
presented their kick-off for the City of Midland’s Master
Plan. Tom Dabareiner presented the
agenda and an overview of the work plan and schedule for the update of the City
of Midland’s Master
Plan. They plan to heavily involve
public involvement in this process right from the beginning. They have already started some of the
demographic work for this project. Brad
Strader will be here most of the time, however, he is not here this
evening. Scott Weeks will manage the
non-motorized transportation portion of the plan. He will also be involved with the public
input portion of the plan. Sarah
O’Donnell is the environmental expert with LSL Planning. Scott and Sarah are out of their Grand
Rapids office. Dow
Howell and Gilmore will be the local architectural team and Kezziah-Watkins
will take the lead in the public involvement process.
A Master
Plan is a document that provides a comprehensive long-range guide to manage
growth, development and redevelopment in a community for a period of about 20
years. It includes analysis,
recommendations and proposals for the community’s population, economy, housing,
transportation, community facilities, environmental resources and land use. A master plan focuses on the physical layout
of various land uses and the compatibility of activities anticipated on the
land. It provides a sound basis for any
subsequent regulations, policies, and programs intended to help achieve the
goals laid out in the plan.
A Master
Plan is not a zoning ordinance. It is
not adopted by ordinance. It is not a
promise of change or a guarantee to prevent change. It is not a place for final design. It is not an economic development, parks
& recreation, facilities or transportation plan. The focus is City-wide not
property-specific. Something
good for one property is not necessarily good for the neighborhood and the
City. It is highly constrained by
federal and state laws, as well as numerous court cases that limit what
property owners may do with their land and what government can regulate.
Work Plan
and Schedule
Mr.
Dabareiner showed the City of Midland
Master Plan Schedule draft. The project stretches into July, 2007 and
there are numerous meetings along the way.
They are now into the second month of this process. They will utilize performance measures so the
community can monitor their progress once the consultant is done.
Final
Document
The final
document will have a usable executive summary, it will include a traditional
plan and a data-rich CD-ROM, so the plan can be
accessed electronically. This kick-off
meeting will be followed very shortly by stake-holder interviews and community
involvement. “Meetings in a box” will
also be happening throughout the community in March. At that point, decisions will be made about
traffic corridors and intersections that need to be studied. The next special meeting for the Planning
Commission will be on May 4,
2006. At that time the Planning
Commission will receive input from the meetings in a box, on existing
conditions, and the Commission will be asked to sign off on the “existing
conditions” for Midland
today.
On June 1, 2006, the Planning
Commission will have another meeting.
They will discuss traffic patterns in the city at this time. In July, we will have an update from the
“meeting in a box” surveys, topic discussions, and they will focus on the
future at that time. In August, they
will begin talking about future trends and pressures.
Beginning
in January, 2007, they will begin discussing implementation of the plan. In February, 2007, they will begin looking at
draft performance measures, that will be used
internally. There will be another public
information meeting where the public will have a chance to review all the
information, prior to the final plan being drafted. On March 1, 2007, they will have a joint meeting
of the Planning
Commission and City Council to review the final document. Surrounding townships and agencies have
already received notification letters telling them about this process. This is required by state law. They are looking for a public hearing and
City Council adoption in June, 2007.
3.
Upcoming
Survey and “Meeting in a Box” Public Involvement Techniques
Need for Recruitment of
Meeting Hosts
Public outreach
will include a survey that goes out in the city’s newsletter to every
household. It will be available on-line
as well. This information will be
compiled and presented to the Planning
Commission in May. A “Meeting in a Box”
is a way to reach people who typically do not attend public meetings. It is a way to get them involved in the
process. In the box will be
instructions, questions to be asked, a box of popcorn, and these surveys are
tabulated for the data to be used in the plan.
This method has been very successful in other communities. This reaches those people who are less likely
to complete surveys or attend public meetings.
The issues raised by these meetings will be discussed in greater detail
at later topic workshops. It is
suggested that Planning
Commissioners or staff not host these meetings, but may participate as any
citizen.
One of
their assignments is to recruit a potential host(s). These would be people who could host 10-12
people in their home for about an hour an a half. There will also be a project related area on
the city’s website. If an individual is
interested in hosting a “meeting in a box”, they can also sign up on the city’s
website.
4. Introduction to Existing Conditions and Demographics
Demographics
include age distribution, the average of residents by block groups, household
size, household income, poverty rates, housing value and commute time.
5. Planning Areas of Interest – Commissioners
to Consultant
Assignments – “Meeting in a Box” host
assignments – Due February 10. Each Planning
Commissioner should come up with at least one individual who would be willing
to host a “Meeting in a Box”. Name,
address and telephone number should be provided.
Areas of Interest Assignment – Due
February 14th – The Planning
Commission should mark up their maps according to where they think LSL should
especially look for a particular issue.
It could be a neighborhood that needs some attention,
it could be some particular change. This
will help LSL focus on specific areas in the community.
6. Next Meeting – May 4,
2006
At this time, they will
discuss existing conditions and survey the “Meeting in a Box” results.
Faye Wood,
3501 Bay City Road, asked
whether LSL was looking at working with MDOT or just with the local road
commissions. Tom stated these would all
be involved. They will look at how the
state, county and local roads interact, but they will especially look at three
corridors for closer evaluation.
7. Adjournment
Adjournment at 8:35 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Jon Lynch
Assistant City Manager
MINUTES ARE NOT FINAL UNTIL APPROVED BY THE PLANNING COMMISSION