Houghton County Master Plan June 19, 2012 Houghton County Master Plan – June 19, 2012 - 1 - (This page intentionally left blank for two sided printing) Houghton County Master Plan – June 19, 2012 - 2 - Houghton County Master Plan – June 19, 2012 - 3 - (This page intentionally left blank for two sided printing) Houghton County Master Plan – June 19, 2012 - 4 - Houghton County Master Plan A Vision for Houghton County........................................................................................... 7 Introduction......................................................................................................................... 7 Overview of Houghton County........................................................................................... 9 Table 1-1. Historic Houghton County Population ..................................................... 9 Population and Demographics ...................................................................................... 10 Table 1-2. Houghton County Population Change.................................................... 10 Geography and the Environment .................................................................................. 11 Major Rivers ............................................................................................................. 11 Climate...................................................................................................................... 11 Geology..................................................................................................................... 12 Present Land Use and Development................................................................................. 12 Housing and Community Development........................................................................ 13 Schools.......................................................................................................................... 14 Universities ................................................................................................................... 14 Historic Features ........................................................................................................... 14 Employment and Industry............................................................................................. 15 Income and Poverty .................................................................................................. 15 Employment Trends.................................................................................................. 16 Industry by Category................................................................................................. 16 Business Size ............................................................................................................ 17 Transportation and Commuting Patterns ...................................................................... 17 Roads......................................................................................................................... 17 Rail............................................................................................................................ 18 Ports .......................................................................................................................... 18 Airports ..................................................................................................................... 18 Transit ....................................................................................................................... 19 Public Review and Participation....................................................................................... 20 Public review of the draft plan...................................................................................... 20 Planning in harmony with winter...................................................................................... 21 Land Use Planning Trends and Critical Development Issues Facing Houghton County. 22 Changes in the Houghton/Hancock area....................................................................... 22 Decreasing Government Funding and Consolidation of Services ................................ 22 Waterfront development ............................................................................................... 23 Fragmentation of large land holdings ........................................................................... 23 Commercial strip development..................................................................................... 24 Trails and recreational access ....................................................................................... 24 Portage Lake Lift Bridge and Public Safety ................................................................. 25 Scenic, historic, cultural resource preservation and management ................................ 26 Torch Lake Superfund Site ........................................................................................... 27 Patterns for Residential Growth.................................................................................... 27 Living the Plan.................................................................................................................. 31 Future Land Use Descriptions by Township .................................................................... 32 Duncan Township ..................................................................................................... 32 Laird Township......................................................................................................... 32 Elm River Township................................................................................................. 32 Adams Township ...................................................................................................... 33 Stanton Township ..................................................................................................... 33 Houghton County Master Plan – June 19, 2012 - 5 - Chassell Township.................................................................................................... 33 Charter Township of Portage.................................................................................... 33 Franklin Township.................................................................................................... 34 Quincy Township...................................................................................................... 34 Hancock Township ................................................................................................... 34 Osceola Township..................................................................................................... 34 Torch Lake Township............................................................................................... 34 Charter Township of Calumet................................................................................... 35 Schoolcraft Township ............................................................................................... 35 Map: Future Land Use in Houghton County .................................................................... 36 Map: Commercial Forest Program Lands in Houghton County...................................... 38 Map: Duncan Township.................................................................................................... 39 Map: Laird Township ...................................................................................................... 40 Map: Elm River Township............................................................................................... 41 Map: Adams Township..................................................................................................... 42 Map: Stanton Township.................................................................................................... 43 Map: Chassell Township.................................................................................................. 44 Map: Portage Township................................................................................................... 45 Map: Franklin Township.................................................................................................. 46 Map: Quincy Township ................................................................................................... 47 Map: Hancock Township................................................................................................. 48 Map: Osceola Township .................................................................................................. 49 Map: Torch Lake Township............................................................................................. 50 Map: Calumet Township.................................................................................................. 51 Map: Schoolcraft Township............................................................................................. 52 Preparation of this plan:.................................................................................................... 53 Appendix A: Summary of Public Review and Comment, January 2011 to July 2012.... 54 Appendix B: HOUGHTON COUNTY MASTER PLAN CONTACT LIST.................. 57 Houghton County Master Plan – June 19, 2012 - 6 - Houghton County Master Plan A Vision for Houghton County Houghton County is a special place where outstanding natural resources, scenic beauty, outdoor recreation, a four season climate,