VILLAGE OF DECATUR DECATUR TOWNSHIP HAMILTON TOWNSHIP Joint Comprehensive Plan 2017 Adopted: Decatur Village – May 1, 2017 Decatur Township –May 11, 2017 Hamilton Township – May 9, 2017 This plan was developed by a joint planning committee with representatives from Decatur Village, Decatur Township and Hamilton Township. The Southwest Michigan Planning Commission assisted the committee. Table of Contents Introduction ................................................................................................................................................................. 4 Overview.................................................................................................................................................................... 4 Regional Context ....................................................................................................................................................... 5 Historical Development ............................................................................................................................................. 9 Strategic Issues ........................................................................................................................................................ 11 Survey and Analysis .................................................................................................................................................. 16 Overview.................................................................................................................................................................. 16 Land Features........................................................................................................................................................... 16 Water Features ......................................................................................................................................................... 22 Green Infrastructure ................................................................................................................................................. 39 Agricultural Lands ................................................................................................................................................... 44 Population & Housing ............................................................................................................................................. 52 Village Neighborhood Analysis ............................................................................................................................... 62 Economy .................................................................................................................................................................. 68 Transportation/Mobility ........................................................................................................................................... 74 Community Facilities ............................................................................................................................................... 88 Parks and Recreational Facilities ............................................................................................................................. 92 Utilities .................................................................................................................................................................... 97 Existing Land Use/Cover ......................................................................................................................................... 99 Goals and Objectives ............................................................................................................................................... 104 Overview................................................................................................................................................................ 104 Community Survey ................................................................................................................................................ 106 Community Goals and Objectives ......................................................................................................................... 107 Analysis of Alternative Land Use Patterns ............................................................................................................ 114 Overview................................................................................................................................................................ 114 Resources and Constraints ..................................................................................................................................... 114 Alternative Development Patterns ......................................................................................................................... 120 Preferred Development Pattern .............................................................................................................................. 123 Future Land Use Plan ............................................................................................................................................. 124 Overview................................................................................................................................................................ 124 Agriculture Protection Area ................................................................................................................................... 128 Rural Residential ................................................................................................................................................... 132 Campground/Resort ............................................................................................................................................... 133 Public Land/Park/Open Space ............................................................................................................................... 133 Primary Growth Area ............................................................................................................................................. 135 Mixed Use.............................................................................................................................................................. 141 Transportation ........................................................................................................................................................ 142 Surface Water Quality Protection Overlay/Wellhead Protection Area .................................................................. 142 Implementation Strategies ...................................................................................................................................... 148 Overview................................................................................................................................................................ 148 Public Information and Education ......................................................................................................................... 148 Public Policy and Administrative Action ............................................................................................................... 150 Development Controls and Standards .................................................................................................................... 151 Public Facility Improvements ................................................................................................................................ 155 Continuous Planning .............................................................................................................................................. 156 Action Program ........................................................................................................................................................ 159 APPENDIX 1: 2015 Community Survey Results .................................................................................................. 163 Decatur-Hamilton Area Joint Comprehensive Plan Table of Contents 1 Visioning Sessions ................................................................................................................................................. 174 APPENDIX 2. Summary of Conservation Options............................................................................................... 178 APPENDIX 3. Financing Tools ............................................................................................................................. 180 APPENDIX 4 – Public Notices and Adoption Resolutions ................................................................................... 184 Tables Table 1. Area Lakes and Acreage ................................................................................................. 28 Table 2. Wetlands ......................................................................................................................... 32 Table 3. Van Buren County Farmland and Agricultural Statistics, 1987-2012 ........................... 46 Table 4. Cropland Data Layer 2014 – Total for Townships and Village ...................................... 46 Table 5. Cropland Data Layer 2014 – Total for Hamilton Township ........................................... 47 Table 6. Cropland Data Layer 2014 – Total for Hamilton Township ..........................................