2016 Blue Print for Tomorrow Printed 4/14/2016 with markouts 2016 May 5 Incorporated edits 2016 May 12, saved edits and added more. 2016 May 13 after Copper Harbor Meeting 2016 June 29th after Planning Commission Meeting Keweenaw County Planning Commission 5095 4th Street, Eagle River Michigan 906-337-3471 906-337-2253 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The Keweenaw County Blueprint for Tomorrow was prepared in 2016 by the Keweenaw County Planning Commission with assistance from the Western Upper Peninsula Planning and Development Region as well as input from Allouez, Eagle Harbor, Grant, Houghton, and Sherman Townships, Ahmeek Village, Keweenaw County Building & Grounds, Sheriff Department, Road Commission, Economic Development Committee, Houghton County Planning Commission and many others. The Planning Commission proudly presents the updated Blue Print for Tomorrow. Planning Commission Members: Jon Soper, Chairman John Parsons, Vice-Chairman Ray Chase, County Commissioner Tom Hall, Member Ned Huwatschek, Member Richard Schaefer, Member Steven Siira, Member Ann Gasperich, Zoning Administrator Keweenaw County Commissioner District 1: Don Piche District 2: Ray Chase District 3: Del Rajala District 4: Robert DeMarois District 5: Randy Eckloff 1 CONTENTS SECTION 1: BACKGROUND INFORMATION ..................................................................................................... 5 1.1 INTRODUCTION ..................................................................................................................................... 5 1.2 Setting ................................................................................................................................................... 5 1.3 COMMUNITY CHARACTER AND COMMUNITY LIFE............................................................................... 6 Population Trends .......................................................................................................................................... 6 Population Distribution .................................................................................................................................. 9 Housing ......................................................................................................................................................... 10 Community Composition .............................................................................................................................. 12 Educational Attainment ................................................................................................................................ 14 Personal Income ........................................................................................................................................... 15 Retirement Income ....................................................................................................................................... 15 Population Projections ................................................................................................................................. 15 Population Density ....................................................................................................................................... 16 Community Attributes .................................................................................................................................. 16 Historic and Archeological Assets ................................................................................................................. 21 Wilderness Experience ................................................................................................................................. 26 Visual Landscape .......................................................................................................................................... 26 1.4 LAND AND WATER RESOURCES .......................................................................................................... 27 Physiography ................................................................................................................................................ 27 Ecosystems ................................................................................................................................................... 29 Scenic Sites and Viewsheds .......................................................................................................................... 29 Water Features and Shoreline ...................................................................................................................... 32 Watersheds .................................................................................................................................................. 34 Wetlands ...................................................................................................................................................... 34 Mineral Resources ........................................................................................................................................ 35 Climate.......................................................................................................................................................... 35 2 Vegetation/Land Cover ................................................................................................................................. 35 Wildlife and Habitat ...................................................................................................................................... 36 1.5 LAND USE ............................................................................................................................................ 38 Ownership Patterns ...................................................................................................................................... 38 Factors Affecting Land Use ........................................................................................................................... 39 Land Ownership and Use Trends .................................................................................................................. 40 Current Zoning .............................................................................................................................................. 41 Development Trends .................................................................................................................................... 41 1.6 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND FISCAL BALANCE ............................................................................. 42 Labor Force and Employment Characteristics .............................................................................................. 42 Economic Base .............................................................................................................................................. 44 1.7 PUBLIC FACILITIES, INFRASTRUCTURE AND SERVICES ........................................................................ 46 Public Facilities ............................................................................................................................................. 46 Township Halls and Community Buildings .................................................................................................... 47 Roads and Maintenance ............................................................................................................................... 47 Water, Sewer and Solid Waste ..................................................................................................................... 48 Communications ........................................................................................................................................... 49 Public Safety ................................................................................................................................................. 49 Emergency Services ...................................................................................................................................... 50 Health Care and Medical Services ................................................................................................................ 51 Schools .......................................................................................................................................................... 51 Park and Recreation Facilities ....................................................................................................................... 52 Community Relations ................................................................................................................................... 57 1.8 Issues and Opportunities .................................................................................................................... 57 Allouez Township Issues and Opportunities ................................................................................................. 57 Eagle Harbor Township Issues and Opportunities ........................................................................................ 58 Grant Township Issues and Opportunities ................................................................................................... 59 3 Houghton Township Issues and Opportunities ............................................................................................ 60 Sherman Township Issues and Opportunities .............................................................................................