Whiteford Township 2010 Master Plan July 2010 I hereby certify that the Whiteford Township 2010 Master Plan was approved at a regular meeting of the Whiteford Township Planning Commission on July 13, 2010 Alan Dippold, Chairman Whiteford Township Planning Commission I hereby certify that the Whiteford Township 2010 Master Plan was approved at a regular meeting of the Whiteford Township Board on July 20, 2010 Patricia Nidek, Clerk Whiteford Township Whiteford Township 2010 Master Plan TOWNSHIP BOARD Bernice Heidelberg, Supervisor Patricia Nidek, Clerk Timothy D. Hill, Treasurer Larraine Dressel Donald Sahloff TOWNSHIP PLANNING COMMISSION Alan Dippold, Chairman Paul Palka, Vice Chairman Larraine Dressel Walter Ruhl Douglas Cassada prepared with the assistance of the Monroe County Planning Department 125 East Second Street, Monroe, Michigan 48161-2197 Phone: (734) 240-7375 Fax: (734) 240-7385 Report Coordinator: Robert P. Peven, AICP July 2010 TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................................... 1 COMMUNITY PROFILE ........................................................................................................................ 3 A. REGIONAL SETTING ............................................................................................................... 3 B. HISTORY AND EVOLUTION OF WHITEFORD ....................................................................... 4 C. DEMOGRAPHICS .................................................................................................................... 7 D. NATURAL RESOURCES ........................................................................................................ 11 1. Bedrock Geology ........................................................................................................... 11 2. Glacial Geology .............................................................................................................. 14 3. Soils ................................................................................................................................. 15 4. Hydrology ........................................................................................................................ 17 5. Vegetation ...................................................................................................................... 20 E. PUBLIC UTILITIES & SERVICES ........................................................................................... 21 1. Wastewater Treatment ................................................................................................ 21 2. Water Supply .................................................................................................................. 22 3. Gas & Electric ................................................................................................................ 23 F. TRANSPORTATION ............................................................................................................... 24 1. Roads .............................................................................................................................. 24 2. Air Transportation ......................................................................................................... 26 3. Rail Transportation ....................................................................................................... 26 4. Public Transportation ................................................................................................... 26 EXISTING LAND USE ......................................................................................................................... 27 GOALS & OBJECTIVES ...................................................................................................................... 29 LAND USE PROGRAM ...................................................................................................................... 33 A. AGRICULTURAL LAND USE ................................................................................................. 33 1. Physical Criteria ............................................................................................................. 33 2. Social and Economic Criteria ...................................................................................... 36 3. Farmland Classification ............................................................................................... 38 4. Opportunities ................................................................................................................. 39 5. Goals and Objectives .................................................................................................... 41 6. Land Use Policies .......................................................................................................... 41 B. RESIDENTIAL LAND USE ..................................................................................................... 43 1. Opportunities ................................................................................................................. 46 2. Goals and Objectives .................................................................................................... 46 3. Land Use Policies .......................................................................................................... 47 4. Future Residential Land Use ....................................................................................... 47 C. COMMERCIAL LAND USE .................................................................................................... 51 1. Description ..................................................................................................................... 51 2. Opportunities ................................................................................................................. 52 3. Goals and Objectives .................................................................................................... 52 4. Land Use Policies .......................................................................................................... 52 D. INDUSTRIAL LAND USE ....................................................................................................... 54 1. Description ..................................................................................................................... 54 2. Opportunities ................................................................................................................. 54 3. Goals and Objectives .................................................................................................... 55 4. Land Use Policies .......................................................................................................... 55 E. RECREATION AND OPEN SPACE........................................................................................ 57 1. Other Recreational Opportunities ............................................................................... 58 2. Goals & Objectives ........................................................................................................ 58 3. Recreation Land Use..................................................................................................... 60 F. INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS ................................................................................. 61 1. Public Utilities (sewer & water) ................................................................................... 61 2. Future Utility Plans ........................................................................................................ 61 3. Transportation ............................................................................................................... 63 MASTER PLAN MAP ......................................................................................................................... 65 A. AGRICULTURE ....................................................................................................................... 65 1. Agricultural Preservation ............................................................................................. 65 2. Reserve Agricultural...................................................................................................... 66 B. RESIDENTIAL ........................................................................................................................ 66 1. Low Density Residential ............................................................................................... 66 2. Medium Density Residential ....................................................................................... 66 3. High Density Residential .............................................................................................. 67 C. COMMERCIAL ....................................................................................................................... 67 1. Highway Oriented Commercial ................................................................................... 67 2. Local Commercial ......................................................................................................... 67 D. INDUSTRIAL .......................................................................................................................... 67 E. RECREATION/OPEN SPACE ...............................................................................................