Clinton County Comprehensive Plan
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Clinton County Comprehensive Plan 2016 UPDATE 2016 Clinton County Comprehensive Plan Update ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Clinton County Staff Ryan Wood, County Administrator Alan Hoard, Building/Zoning Administrator Peter Preston, Community Planner Wendy Ward, Community Development Secretary Board of Commissioners Robert Showers, Chairperson David Pohl, Vice Chairperson Anne Hill Bruce DeLong Kenneth Mitchell Adam Stacey Kam Washburn Planning Commission Shannon Schlegel, Chairperson Mark Simon, Vice Chairperson Patti Jandernoa, Secretary Adam Stacey, Board of Commissioners Representative Roni Christmas Robert Kudwa Patti Jo Schafer i 2016 Clinton County Comprehensive Plan Update TABLE OF CONTENTS Acknowledgements ........................................................................................................................... i Table of Contents ............................................................................................................................. ii Resolutions of Adoption ................................................................................................................. iii Chapter 1- Introduction ................................................................................................................... 1 Chapter 2- Background Studies........................................................................................................ 4 Chapter 3- Vision, Goals, and Objectives ....................................................................................... 14 Chapter 4- Future Land Use Map ................................................................................................... 25 Chapter 5- Community & Agency Plans ......................................................................................... 41 Chapter 6- Sub-Area Plans ............................................................................................................. 44 Chapter 7- Zoning Plan ................................................................................................................... 46 Chapter 8- Implementation Plan ................................................................................................... 50 Appendix ........................................................................................................................................ 51 Figures Figure 1: County Jurisdictional Map................................................................................................. 3 Figure 2: Population ......................................................................................................................... 5 Figure 3: Percent Change in Population........................................................................................... 6 Figure 4: % Change in Population 2000-2010 for Each Township ................................................... 6 Figure 5: Age Groups in Clinton County ........................................................................................... 6 Figure 6: Household Size .................................................................................................................. 7 Figure 7: % Change in Households in Clinton County ...................................................................... 7 Figure 8: Clinton County Jobs by Industry Sector ............................................................................ 8 ii 2016 Clinton County Comprehensive Plan Update iii 2016 Clinton County Comprehensive Plan Update iv 2016 Clinton County Comprehensive Plan Update v 2016 Clinton County Comprehensive Plan 2 2016 Clinton County Comprehensive Plan CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION Clinton County is located in the geographic center of Michigan and was organized in 1839. The County has a strong industrial and manufacturing base and holds a top 10 ranking in the State for agriculture in categories that include dairy, soybeans and cattle. Historically the County is famous for its mint production due to the rich black soil, and celebrates its mint farming heritage annually at the “Mint Festival”. The southern portion of the County includes, or partially, includes the cities of DeWitt, Grand Ledge and East Lansing, along with Bath Charter Clinton Township, Watertown Charter Township and County DeWitt Charter Township, which is home to the Capital Region International Airport. The City of St. Johns (centrally located in the County) was made the county seat in 1857 and was This document represents the current incorporated as a city in 1904. Other Comprehensive Plan in effect for Clinton communities in the County include the villages County. The Comprehensive Plan represents of Elsie in the northeast portion of the county, the collective desires of County residents, Fowler and Westphalia to the west, Maple business, and local leaders regarding Rapids and Hubbardston in the northwest, and development of the community over the next Eagle in the southeast. The newly (2015) ten (10) to twenty (20) years. Since adoption of incorporated City of Ovid is on the east side of the 2002 Comprehensive Plan and the 2008 the County. Plan update, land use and development changes have been limited within the County The County is traversed by several major and the surrounding area. This lack of change is highways including US-127, I-69 and I-96 as well primarily due to the economic downturn as M-21. This access allows for many economic experienced nationally, but more intensively in development opportunities in the County as Michigan. To ensure that development policies well as the greater Lansing-East Lansing are kept current, the Clinton County Planning metropolitan area. Commission has periodically evaluated the Comprehensive Plan. This marks the second five (5) year review of the Plan since its Authority adoption in 2002. Amendment was considered The County derives its authority for the to the Plan in 2012 at the request of Dallas preparation of a master plan from the Michigan Township and the Village of Fowler. No action Planning Enabling Act, P. A. 33 of 2008 was taken. (“Enabling Act”). Historically the County has called their master plan as described by the Act Purpose a Comprehensive Plan. Planning is a process which involves the conscious selection of policy choices relating to 1 2016 Clinton County Comprehensive Plan land use, resource preservation, transportation tool, but provides guidance for the and public facilities for a community. The development of regulatory tools. Comprehensive Plan is a document that sets Zoning is one of the primary tools used forth policies for future development of the to implement the elements of the community and serves as a policy guide to the Comprehensive Plan. County regarding future land use decisions and investment in public improvements and private • The Comprehensive Plan attempts to development. The Future Land Use Plan is coordinate public improvements and component of the Comprehensive Plan and private developments by describing a represents a long-term goal for the future vision of the future as it concerns uses, growth of the County. transportation, densities and capacities. It is the intent of this Comprehensive Plan to be • Finally, the Comprehensive Plan serves a working document which will provide for the as an educational tool and gives orderly development of the County, assist the citizens, property owners, community in its effort to maintain and builders/developers, business people enhance a pleasant living environment, and and adjacent communities a clear advance a future vision to work towards. indication of the County’s direction for the future. The following summarizes what a Comprehensive Plan is and describes its intent and purpose: Planning In Clinton County The County’s most recent Comprehensive Plan • The Comprehensive Plan is a general was adopted in 2002 and involved extensive statement of the County goals and public input on the creation of the document. objectives and provides a single In 2008, the original Comprehensive Plan was comprehensive view of the updated as part of the required five (5) year community’s desire for the future. review. Further public input was sought and received. In 2012 the Comprehensive Plan was • The Comprehensive Plan serves as an opened for amendment as it concerned future aid in daily decision-making. The goals land use in Dallas Township surrounding the and objectives outlined in the Plan Village of Fowler. This 2016 update was guide the Planning Commission and commenced in 2013 under the five (5) year Board of Commissioners in their required review set forth by the Enabling Act. deliberations on zoning, subdivision, The current Zoning Ordinance was based capital improvements and other primarily on the goals and objectives outlined in matters relating to land use and the 2002 Comprehensive Plan. development. This provides a stable, long-term basis for decision-making. Clinton County has planning and zoning jurisdiction over twelve (12) general law • The Plan provides the statutory basis townships. Incorporated areas, the Charter upon which zoning decisions are based. Townships of Watertown, DeWitt and Bath, and The Enabling Act requires that the the general law Township of Dallas are not Zoning Ordinance be based upon a plan within the planning and zoning jurisdiction of designed to promote the public health, the County and therefore not subject to this safety, and general welfare. However, Comprehensive Plan. However, the planning it is important to note that the documents of these respective communities