SANDS TOWNSHIP MASTER PLAN Drafted April/May 2010 Reviewed July 2010 Public Hearing Director Zoning/Planning CUPPAD Month day 2011 Randall L. Yelle Michelle Dewitt Planning Commission September 22, 2010 Month 2011 Adopted Month Day 2011 Town Hall Meeting County review Sands Township Board Adopted per the Michigan Planning Enabling Act, PA 33 of 2008 0 Thanks As with any publication of this scope, there are many to whom I owe my thanks. First: thanks to Mark Wyckoff, Professor and Sr. Associate Director of the Land Policy Institute and Director of the Planning and Zoning Center at Michigan State University (input, guidance and direction). Second: thanks to Mrs. Lee Yelle and Ms. Carolyn Sironen, Sands Township’s Administrative Assistants (clerical support and research). Third: thanks to Ms. Michelle Dewitt, CUPPAD consultant, Eric Anderson & Marquette County Planning Commission (document review and input). Fourth: thanks to West Branch, Marquette, Richmond, Forsyth, and Negaunee Townships (providing copies of their comprehensive plans). Fifth: thanks to the residents of Sands Township who participated in the Town-hall meeting and Township work sessions. Sixth: thanks to Kurt Taavola, County Road Commission, along with many other county personnel (document review and input). Last but not least, thanks to the commissioners of the Sands Township Planning Commission. Randall L. Yelle Director of Zoning and Planning Sands Township, County of Marquette, State of Michigan [email protected] 1 TABLE OF CONTENTS Master Plan Reasoning ....................................................................................................... 7 Legal Background........................................................................................................... 7 Primary Responsibility of the Planning Commission................................................. 7 What is a Master Plan? ................................................................................................... 7 Purposes of a Master Plan........................................................................................... 7 Legal Role of Master Plan .......................................................................................... 8 Chapter 1........................................................................................................................... 10 DEMOGRAPHICS........................................................................................................... 10 DEMOGRAPHICS....................................................................................................... 10 Total Population........................................................................................................ 10 Population Projection................................................................................................ 11 Household Characteristics ........................................................................................ 12 Other Demographic Characteristics.......................................................................... 13 Chapter 2........................................................................................................................... 15 ECONOMY ...................................................................................................................... 15 INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................ 15 AREA ECONOMY ...................................................................................................... 15 County Employment ................................................................................................. 15 Income....................................................................................................................... 18 Poverty ...................................................................................................................... 18 State Equalized Value of Different Land Use Categories ........................................ 18 ISSUES AND PROBLEMS ......................................................................................... 19 Chapter 3........................................................................................................................... 21 HOUSING......................................................................................................................... 21 INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................ 21 Housing Types .......................................................................................................... 21 Age of Housing......................................................................................................... 22 Housing Values......................................................................................................... 23 Housing in the Future................................................................................................ 24 Chapter 4........................................................................................................................... 25 NATURAL FEATURES .................................................................................................. 25 INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................ 25 NATURAL FEATURES .............................................................................................. 25 Bedrock Geology .......................................................................................................... 25 Cambrian Sandstone ................................................................................................. 27 Surface Geology............................................................................................................ 27 Glacial Lake Plain..................................................................................................... 27 End or Recessional Moraine ..................................................................................... 27 Glacial Till – Bedrock............................................................................................... 27 Soils............................................................................................................................... 29 Mineral Deposits....................................................................................................... 32 Topography............................................................................................................... 32 Water Features and Watersheds................................................................................ 33 Wetlands ................................................................................................................... 34 Floodplains................................................................................................................ 34 Sands Plain Aquifer .................................................................................................. 35 2 Effect of Gribben Basin ............................................................................................ 35 Chapter 5........................................................................................................................... 36 EXISTING LAND USE ................................................................................................... 36 INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................ 36 LAND USE/LAND COVER IN SANDS TOWNSHIP ............................................... 37 Urban and Built-up ................................................................................................... 37 Agricultural Land...................................................................................................... 37 Non-forested ............................................................................................................. 38 Forested..................................................................................................................... 38 Water......................................................................................................................... 39 Wetlands ................................................................................................................... 39 Barren........................................................................................................................ 39 LAND USE BY TAX CLASS...................................................................................... 39 RELATIONSHIP OF LAND USE/COVER INVENTORY TO LAND USE BY TAX CLASS INVENTORY AND OTHER INFORMATION............................................. 41 Chapter 6........................................................................................................................... 43 PUBLIC FACILITIES AND SERVICES ........................................................................ 43 INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................ 43 TOWNSHIP ADMINISTRATION .............................................................................. 43 WASTEWATER SYSTEMS........................................................................................ 44 WATER WELLS.........................................................................................................