2019 Master Plan

VILLAGE OF LAWRENCE 2019 MASTER PLAN April 2019 TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION 4 LIST OF CONTACTS/REFERENCES 41 EMERGENCY NOTIFICATION 41 WHAT IS A MASTER PLAN? 4 MASTER PLAN VS. ZONING ORDINANCE 5 HOW TO USE THE PLAN? 5 CHAPTER 5: FUTURE LAND USE PLAN 42 IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PLAN 6 RESIDENTIAL 42 COMMUNITY SUMMARY 6 CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT (CBD) 44 SUMMARY OF PAST PLANS 6 GENERAL COMMERCIAL 44 SUMMARY OF PUBLIC PARTICIPATION 7 BUSINESS / INDUSTRIAL PARK 45 INDUSTRIAL 45 CHAPTER 2: COMMUNITY AND QUALITY OF LIFE 8 OPEN SPACE 46 RIGHTS-OF-WAY, WATER BODIES AND OTHER 46 PART 1. OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES 8 PART 2. GOALS AND STRATEGIES 9 CHAPTER 6: IMPLEMENTATION 50 CHAPTER 3: ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IMPLEMENTATION TOOLS 50 STRATEGY 16 1. LAND USE REGULATIONS 50 2. CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN (CIP) 51 PART 1. OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES 16 3. PROPERTY ACQUISITION PROGRAMS 51 PART 2. GOALS AND STRATEGIES 17 4. FUNDING PROGRAMS 51 PART 3. REDEVELOPMENT READY SITES 22 5. OTHER PROGRAMS 52 6. PARTNERSHIPS 52 CHAPTER 4: WELLHEAD PROTECTION PLAN 35 ZONING PLAN 52 ZONING RECOMMENDATIONS 53 INTRODUCTION 35 CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS 54 GOALS AND STRATEGIES 35 ACTION PLAN 54 WELLHEAD PROTECTION AREA (WHPA) DELINEATION 36 CONTINGENCY PLAN 36 APPENDICES POTENTIAL SOURCES OF CONTAMINATION 36 A. COMMUNITY PROFILE PUBLIC EDUCATION AND PARTICIPATION 36 B. EMERGENCY NOTIFICATION REPORT FORM MANAGEMENT TOOLS 38 C. MASTER PLAN SURVEY D. CEDAM COMMUNITY ASSESSMENT POTENTIAL SOURCES OF CONTAMINATION 40 PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION 40 smithgroup.com 2 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS VILLAGE COUNCIL: David Quick, Village President Lucinda Nower, Village Clerk John Gritter Mary Webster Mark Keyser Phil Glennie Alicia Lorenzo Kevin Ouzts PLANNING COMMISSION: Kevin Ouzts, Chairperson David Quick Ryan Ransom Phil Glennie Mike Carpp Annette Crandall Dan Faulker, Village Manager COMMUNITY ASSESSMENT PARTICIPANTS: CEDAM Van Buren County Support for this plan was provided by the Redevelopment Ready Communities Program. 3 VILLAGE OF LAWRENCE ▪ 2019 MASTER PLAN CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION The Village of Lawrence Planning Commission has prepared this master land use plan under the authority of the Michigan Planning Enabling Act, Public Act 33 of 2008, as amended. WHAT IS A MASTER PLAN? The master plan is intended to take a long-term view of the community, guiding growth and development for the next A master plan is the official document used to guide the 20 years and beyond, while providing flexibility to respond future growth and development of a community. The to changing conditions, innovations, and new information. master plan should serve as a roadmap and foundation for Thus, planning is a process that involves the conscious future decision making, as well as the official policy guide selection of policies relating to land use and development for physical development. This master plan is intended to in a community. Through the process of land use planning, be a usable reference document, easily readable and it is intended that a community can preserve, promote, accessible to all residents. protect, and improve the public health, safety, and general Specifically, the Village of Lawrence Master Plan: welfare. By state law, the master plan must be reviewed . Identifies and evaluates existing conditions, every five years. community characteristics, economic trends, local The Michigan Planning Enabling Act (MPEA), Public Act assets, as well as redevelopment opportunities and challenges. 33 of 2008, requires that the planning commission approve a master plan as a guide for development and review the . Provides a general statement of the community’s goals plan at least once every five years after adoption. The and provides a comprehensive view of its vision of the future. master plan should serve as a roadmap and foundation for future decision making, as well as the official policy guide . Provides the statutory basis for the Zoning Ordinance, for community development. as required by the Michigan Zoning Enabling Act 110 of 2006, as amended. Serves as the primary policy guide for local officials considering development proposals, land divisions, capital improvements, and other matters related to land use and development; thus, it provides a stable and consistent basis for decision-making. Builds an informed constituency that can help support and participate in implementing this plan. Builds support for the allocation of funding and helps leverage funding from regional, state, and federal agencies. REDEVELOPMENT READY COMMUNITIES This master plan update implements the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) Redevelopment Ready Communities best practices to create a strong vision for redevelopment in the Village of Lawrence. smithgroup.com 4 WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HOW TO USE THE PLAN? A MASTER PLAN AND A ZONING The master plan goals are divided between two chapters: ORDINANCE? Chapter 2. Community and Quality of Life and Chapter 3. The Master Plan is intended to guide land use and zoning Economic Development Strategy. Chapter 4. Wellhead decisions. The future land use map should be used in Protection Plan is a standalone chapter including both conjunction with the plan goals where reviewing rezoning goals and strategies and implementation program. Chapter applications. A Plan is a guide to development, but it is 5. Future Land Use Plan and Chapter 6. Implementation not a legally enforceable document. provide a framework and tools for implementation. TABLE 1: DIFFERENCES BETWEEN PLANNING & ZONING TABLE 2: MASTER PLAN GOALS MASTER PLAN ZONING ORDINANCE CHAPTER 2. COMMUNITY AND QUALITY OF LIFE Sets forth zoning regulations – . GOAL 1. Preserve the character and quality of the Provides general policies for the the law. (i.e. notes locations community for the present and future residents of the Village (e.g. attract new where commercial uses are village businesses to downtown, provide prohibited, stores must be a mixture of housing, and replace setback 50 feet from the street . GOAL 2. Encourage citizen engagement and park equipment). right-of-way, maximum sign is 60 leadership in the implementation of the plan square feet) . GOAL 3. Provide for a range of residential styles and Rigid, requiring formal densities to meet the needs of the community’s Flexible, written to be able to amendment and details of how to diverse population respond to changing conditions. administer the zoning ordinance. GOAL 4. Provide for high-quality public and semi-public Provides a background on the Deals just with physical uses in locations appropriate for their development community, issues, goals, the development and how to and utilization citizen survey, and potential administrate the zoning . GOAL 5. Provide for a safe and connected actions. ordinance. transportation system and non-motorized network that Enacted under the Michigan Enacted under the Michigan provides access and choice to all users Planning Enabling Act (MPEA), Zoning Enabling Act 110 of 2006, Public Act 33 of 2008, as as amended. amended. CHAPTER 3. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY Adopted by the Planning Adopted by the elected body Commission (unless the Village . GOAL 6. Revitalize the Downtown through Public and (Village Council) Council resolves to adopt) Private Investment Changes may be made by the Changes made by the Village . GOAL 7. Create a thriving Business Park and the Planning Commission. Council. Appeals and variances South Gateway District to the Board of Appeals. GOAL 8. Strengthen the Local Economy . GOAL 9. Advance Regional Communication and Collaboration Partners for Community Prosperity 5 VILLAGE OF LAWRENCE ▪ 2019 MASTER PLAN IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PLAN Lawrence is regionally accessible via Interstate-94. Other For this plan to serve as an effective tool in guiding new State or County roads that run through the Village include: development within the Village of Lawrence, it must be County Roads 365, Paw Paw St (215) and St. Joseph St implemented. Primarily this responsibility resides with the (Red Arrow Highway). The existing rail line which bisects Village Planning Commission and Village Council. the Village has been abandoned by the owner and the rail Following are those steps which should be undertaken to bed’s future is under discussion. assist in the successful implementation of this Master As of the 2010 Census, there were 996 people residing in Plan. the Village of Lawrence. While the population is projected . The Master Plan is primarily a tool created for to increase into 2020, this would require new residential extensive use by the Village Planning Commission. It development. is therefore essential that the Commission refers to the Plan’s Future Land Use Map to determine appropriate areas for future developments, and perhaps more SUMMARY OF PAST PLANS importantly, study the Community Goals and Strategies and intent of the existing/proposed land use Planning is an iterative process; arriving at a land use and categories before making land use decisions. While policy document by repeating rounds of analysis and the map provides as a guide, the detailed engagement. Each planning effort builds on previous recommendations are to be found in the text. plans. As previously mentioned, the Master Plan does not possess legal authority to regulate development. For this reason, it is imperative that the Village ensure that VILLAGE OF LAWRENCE MASTER PLAN (2002) adequate regulatory measures which coincide with the Lawrence’s previous master plan was adopted by the Master Plan’s goals and strategies exist

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