Houghton County Master Plan May 15, 2018 Houghton County Master Plan – May 15, 2018 - 1 - (This page intentionally left blank for two sided printing) Houghton County Master Plan – May 15, 2018 - 2 - Houghton County Master Plan – May 15, 2018 - 3 - (This page intentionally left blank for two sided printing) Houghton County Master Plan – May 15, 2018 - 4 - Houghton County Master Plan Table of Contents A Vision for Houghton County....................................................................................................... 7 Introduction..................................................................................................................................... 7 Overview of Houghton County....................................................................................................... 8 Table 1-1. Historic Houghton County Population ................................................................. 8 Population and Demographics .................................................................................................... 9 Table 1-2. Houghton County Population Change.................................................................. 9 Geography and the Environment .............................................................................................. 10 Major Rivers ......................................................................................................................... 11 Climate.................................................................................................................................. 11 Geology................................................................................................................................. 11 Present Land Use and Development ............................................................................................. 12 Housing and Community Development.................................................................................... 13 Schools...................................................................................................................................... 13 Universities ............................................................................................................................... 13 Historic Features ....................................................................................................................... 14 Employment and Industry......................................................................................................... 14 Employment Trends 15 Industry by Category 15 Business Size 16 Transportation and Commuting Patterns .................................................................................. 17 Roads..................................................................................................................................... 17 Rail........................................................................................................................................ 21 Ports ...................................................................................................................................... 22 Airports ................................................................................................................................. 22 Transit………………………………………………………………………………………23 Internet………………………………………………………………………………………….. 24 Public Review and Participation................................................................................................... 26 Public review of the draft plan.................................................................................................. 26 Planning in harmony with winter.................................................................................................. 27 Land Use Planning Trends and Development Issues Facing Houghton County.......................... 28 Changes in the Houghton/Hancock area................................................................................... 28 Decreasing Government Funding and Consolidation of Services ............................................ 29 Waterfront development ........................................................................................................... 29 Trails and recreational access ................................................................................................... 30 Portage Lake Lift Bridge .......................................................................................................... 30 Scenic, historic, cultural resource preservation and management ............................................ 31 Forest and timber products…………………………………………………………………….32 Mining Resurgence……………………………………………………………………………32 The Potential for Growth – the desire for a rural, yet close-in, lifestyle .................................. 32 Solid Waste Reduction and Recycling……………………………………………...................33 Future Economic Development………………………………………………………………….33 Economic Development Entities…………………………………………………………………34 Living the Plan.............................................................................................................................. 36 Houghton County Master Plan – May 15, 2018 - 5 - Projected Land Use Descriptions by Township............................................................................ 36 Duncan Township ................................................................................................................. 37 Laird Township..................................................................................................................... 37 Elm River Township............................................................................................................. 37 Adams Township .................................................................................................................. 37 Stanton Township ................................................................................................................. 37 Chassell Township................................................................................................................ 38 Charter Township of Portage................................................................................................ 38 Franklin Township................................................................................................................ 40 Quincy Township.................................................................................................................. 40 Hancock Township ............................................................................................................... 40 Osceola Township................................................................................................................. 41 Torch Lake Township........................................................................................................... 41 Charter Township of Calumet............................................................................................... 41 Schoolcraft Township ........................................................................................................... 41 Map: Future Land Use in Houghton County ................................................................................ 42 Map: Commercial Forest Program Lands in Houghton County.................................................. 43 Map: Duncan Township........................................................................................................ 44 Map: Laird Township .......................................................................................................... 45 Map: Elm River Township................................................................................................... 46 Map: Adams Township......................................................................................................... 47 Map: Stanton Township........................................................................................................ 48 Map: Chassell Township...................................................................................................... 49 Map: Portage Township....................................................................................................... 50 Map: Franklin Township...................................................................................................... 51 Map: Quincy Township ....................................................................................................... 52 Map: Hancock Township..................................................................................................... 53 Map: Osceola Township ...................................................................................................... 54 Map: Torch Lake Township................................................................................................. 55 Map: Calumet Township...................................................................................................... 56 Map: Schoolcraft Township……………………………………...…………………..…….57 Preparation of this plan:................................................................................................................ 58 Appendix A: Summary of Public Review and Comment, January 2012 to July 2012………….58 Appendix A-1: Summary of Public review and Comments, April 2018………………………..61 Appendix B: Houghton County Master Plan Contact List (Updated 2018)…………………….62 Houghton County Master Plan – May 15, 2018 - 6 - Houghton County Master