Claire Karner - Resilient Monroe!

Transcription

November 26, 2013
Monroe Charter Township Planning Commission
Monroe Charter Township
4925 E. Dunbar Road
Monroe, MI 48161
Dear Planning Commissioners,
Thank you again for participating in the Resilient Monroe Planning Project! Your
participation, advice, and support have been instrumental in guiding this successful
planning endeavor.
As you are aware, last month we completed our final edits of the Resilient Monroe
Resource Atlas. The Atlas provides a wide variety of useful information to support future
land use planning and development efforts in the greater Monroe Community. Each
member of the planning commission should have received their own copy of the
Resource Atlas. If you have not received a copy of the Atlas, please let us know and we
will mail you a copy. The Atlas can also be viewed on the Resilient Monroe website:
www.resilientmonroe.org.
In addition to the Atlas, LIAA worked to develop a series of revisions and suggested
updates to the Monroe Charter Township Master Plan. The focus for this effort was
provided by Kim Fortner and Chris Khorey. Please keep in mind, these revisions and
updates are merely suggestions. Ultimately, the final language and content of any future
revision to the Master Plan will need to be approved by the planning commission. The
revisions and suggested updates address a number of specific topics, including:
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Demographic and Economic Updates (incorporating 2010 US Census figures)
Updates to the Natural Resources Chapter
Updates to the Transportation Chapter
Existing Land Use (as pertaining to the LaPlaisance Town Center)
New Goals and Objectives
A description of Community Resilience
A description of the public input process, through the Resilient Monroe Planning
Project
Please direct any questions or clarifications about the suggested revisions and updates
to Claire Karner. In addition, if there is an additional topic/map that you would like LIAA
to address let us know. Thanks again for your support!
Sincerely,
Claire Karner
Claire Karner
2013 Monroe Charter Township Master Plan Addendum
Thank You
Part 1: Planning Process
Early in 2013, the City of Monroe, Frenchtown Charter Township and Monroe Charter
Township agreed to pool their resources and work together in reviewing and revising
their respective master plans under the project name Resilient Monroe. Each of these
local governments conducts land-use planning and community development
separately under Michigan’s planning and zoning laws. However, when taken
together, the three jurisdictions include the geographic area most people think of as
the greater Monroe Community.
The Resilient Monroe project is designed to serve the whole community by supporting
the work of all three planning commissions and the elected officials. Together, these
public officials have formed the Community Planning Committee to review and
consider the planning documents developed by the project. Research, planning and
process facilitation services are being provided by the Land Information Access
Association (LIAA) with support from the Community Foundation of Monroe County,
Michigan Municipal League (MML), Michigan Townships Association (MTA), Michigan
Association of Planning (MAP) and the Urban Planning division of the University of
Michigan. Funding for this effort has been provided by the City of Monroe,
Frenchtown Charter Township, Monroe Charter Township, the Kresge Foundation and
the Americana Foundation.
Ultimately, the Resilient Monroe project is about helping the leaders and citizens of
the greater Monroe Community refine their land use and development plans. This
effort will support the City of Monroe in rewriting its existing Master Plan and assist
the participating townships in reviewing their master plans — working toward greater
resilience. In all cases, this community planning effort is following the requirements of
the Michigan Planning Enabling Act (Public Act 33 of 2008) including the five-year plan
review.
The participation and cooperation of community leaders
and residents of Monroe Charter Township, Frenchtown
Charter Township, and the City of Monroe in the Resilient
Monroe cooperative planning effort is greatly
appreciated. In particular, we acknowledge the following
individuals representing Monroe Charter Township who
participated throughout the full community planning
process and made this Addendum to the Monroe Charter
Township Master Plan possible:
Monroe Charter Township Planning Commission
Duane Heck
G. C. "Josh" Henscheid, Chairman
Charles Jackson
Wendy Spicer
Lawrence Toburen
Fred Williams
Board of Trustees
Alan Barron, Supervisor
Bob Schnurr, Clerk
Penny Barton, Treasurer
William Heck, Jr, Trustee
Richard A. Janssens, Trustee
Amber Pancone, Trustee
Richard Wilson, Trustee
Staff
Kim Fortner, Zoning Enforcement Officer, Monroe
Charter Township
Chris Khorey, Associate Planner, McKenna Associates
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Community Planning Committee
To manage and oversee this project, a Community Planning Committee (CPC) was formed by bringing
together the appointed planning commissioners and many elected officials from the City of Monroe
and Frenchtown and Monroe Charter Townships. Meeting monthly in open public forums, the CPC is
responsible for evaluating and recommending changes and updates to local government master plans.
However, this is only part of the public process for Resilient Monroe. Project staff members have
reached out to people across the community for their vision and goals for Monroe. By holding public
meetings and focused discussions with people from across the community, project leaders hoped to
build a greater public understanding of climate and economic resilience. By engaging citizens in
working sessions for visioning and goal setting, project leaders hoped to inform the local government
planning process while building citizen leadership. By conducting an extensive community survey of
opinions on development and change in Monroe, project leaders hoped to inform and encourage a farreaching community planning discussion.
PUBLIC DISCUSSIONS & FORUMS
Throughout the early spring of 2013, Resilient Monroe project team members worked to gather
information from state and local government agencies, community organizations and nonprofit groups,
public schools, and business leaders. Project leaders also met with community leaders individually and
in focused discussion settings to help identify shared issues of concern and opportunities for
cooperative community development.
A meeting of the Community
Planning Committee at Monroe
Charter Township Hall
Public Gatherings – During April and May of 2013, the Resilient Monroe project team distributed 1,000
project brochures and dozens of posters announcing the project and encouraging public participation.
The project team convened three public gatherings in different parts of the community, making brief
presentations about the potential for improving community resilience to better manage the challenges
of global climate change and economic turbulence. These gatherings also provided an opportunity to
receive public comments on issues of concern and hopes for the future.
Leadership Summit – In April, the Resilient Monroe project team offered a day-long Leadership Summit
to engage interested citizens, public officials and community leaders in a more in-depth discussion. This
summit asked community leaders to better understand and come to grips with the challenges of
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climate change and our changing global economy. Presentations were made by the experts from the
University of Michigan, Michigan State University, Michigan Municipal League, Michigan Association of
Planning, Michigan Department of Community Health, the Huron River Watershed Council and LIAA. At
the end of the day, participants broke up into smaller groups to discuss their vision and goals for the
community’s future. This exercise helped foster and support more in-depth discussions undertaken by
Community Action Teams.
YOUTH INITIATIVE: PLANNING GOALS FOR THE MONROE COMMUNITY
Early in the Resilient Monroe project, the CPC asked project staff members to engage young people in
this discussion about the future of their community. They wanted to learn more about what young
people thought would help make their community a vibrant and attractive place to live.
The Youth Initiative was designed as a two-day asset mapping, community visioning, and goal setting
project involving approximately 60 students from Monroe High School and Jefferson High School. The
Resilient Monroe project team spent half-days with the students on two consecutive weeks. Because of
school transportation difficulties, the process was duplicated at each high school separately.
A group of community members
brainstorming at the day-long
Leadership Summit at Monroe
County Community College.
The curriculum consisted of interactive, hands-on, and group-focused planning activities. On the first
day, after discussing the importance of local government and land-use planning, students worked
together to identify the most important assets in the Monroe Community in an activity called Crayon
your Community. Following that, students used aerial photographs to envision the best possible
scenarios for their community, assuming no monetary or political constraints. The second session
focused on challenges that the Monroe Community faces, and innovative, community-driven ideas for
overcoming those challenges. Students were asked to brainstorm ways to thrive with an aging
population, a transitioning economy, and a variable climate.
The students compiled a listing of their recommended community development projects. Then, the
students conducted a survey to find out how highly the proposed projects would be rated among their
peers. Approximately 100 participants at these schools were asked to rate the importance of each
proposed development project to the community using a scale of 1 for not-at-all important to 5 for
Students at Monroe High School
worked together on an exercise
in identifying community assets.
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extremely important. Results from the student input can be found in the Resilient Monroe Resource
Atlas.
COMMUNITY ACTION TEAMS – CITIZEN WORKING GROUPS FOR
RESILIENCE
As part of the Resilient Monroe project, citizens from throughout the community were invited to join a
set of working sessions to develop topic-specific community planning recommendations for the City of
Monroe, Frenchtown Charter Township and Monroe Charter Township. Participants were asked to
select one of six topics to examine and discuss together in groups known as Community Action Teams
(CATs). The topics were (1) Access and Transportation, (2) Business and Economy, (3) Buildings and
Neighborhoods, (4) Agriculture and Food, (5) Human and Social, and (6) Natural and Environmental.
Each team had the opportunity to learn about the workings of the topic or system, as well as its
strengths and weaknesses.
Participants worked through a
vision for their community at
the first Community Action
Team Meeting
A diverse group of approximately 75 individuals participated in a series of four CAT meetings during the
months of May, June, and July of 2013. CAT members represented the public and private sector, and
included farmers, elected officials, church leaders, nonprofit directors, private business leaders, and
numerous other stakeholders. Participants chose the system or topic they were most interested in
working on. At each meeting, all six teams gathered in a large meeting space to hear a short
presentation on aspects of planning for community resilience.
Then, the teams conducted separate discussions followed by a short period for reporting out to the
larger group. Each team had a discussion leader (sometimes two), a facilitator for note-taking, and at
least one Community Planning Committee representative.
The primary work of the participants focused on identifying key goals that would address communitywide issues and concerns. These goals were further developed by each CAT to include underlying
objectives and specific task lists. The CAT participants have submitted a full report, including a
complete list of goals, objectives and tasks, as their community planning recommendations to the City
of Monroe, Frenchtown Charter Township and Monroe Charter Township. A full listing of the overall
goals developed by the CAT participants can be found in the Resilient Monroe Resource Atlas.
Above, the County Emergency
Manager and Planning
Commission Chair deliberate
about transportation goals.
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RESILIENT MONROE COMMUNITY PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT SURVEY
The Community Planning Committee (CPC) worked with staff members to develop a public opinion
survey for the residents of the City of Monroe, Frenchtown Charter Township and Monroe Charter
Township. Our goal was to learn more about what residents like most about the Monroe Community
and what cultural and natural features are most important. We also wanted to learn what residents
thought about key land-use planning and development concerns identified by the CPC.
To obtain opinions from a representative sample of community residents, we selected a random
sample of names and addresses from the lists of registered voters maintained by each of the three
participating jurisdictions. At that time, there were a total of 40,639 voters registered in the three
jurisdictions. With help from the U.S. Postal Service, we were able to select a total of 10,870 voter
names with valid addresses at random from the lists. To achieve a statistically significant,
representative sample for each jurisdiction, a response rate of about 10% was needed.
A total of 1,578 surveys were returned, yielding a very respectable 14.5% response rate and a good
representative sample of all registered voters in the Monroe Community. The survey yielded a large
number of responses from a broad cross-section of the population (based on the demographic data),
providing valuable information about the preferences of voting citizens with an active interest in the
community. A full survey report can be found in the Resilient Monroe Resource Atlas in Chapter 10.
TELEGRAPH ROAD CHARRETTE
A three-day planning charrette was conducted for the Telegraph Corridor as part of the Resilient
Monroe project. A charrette is a collaborative planning event that engages local officials, state and
regional agencies, business owners, local stakeholder groups, and interested citizens to create and
support a feasible and transformative plan for a specific issue or area of the community. The focus of
our charrette was on a seven-mile portion of Telegraph, roughly bound by Dunbar Road to the south
and Stewart Road to the north. See the Telegraph Final Report for a full overview of the process and
detailed community recommendations.
Monroe Charter Township elected
officials, staff, and commissioners
participated heavily throughout
the Resilient Monroe planning
process.
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Part 2: Building Community Resilience
Most communities across Michigan are wrestling with difficult economic, social and environmental
challenges. The shifting global economy and statewide recession is forcing big changes in business
practices and employment. State and federal funding is declining and new long-term assistance
appears unlikely. Fuel and electrical energy costs are high and subject to unpredictable price spikes.
Further, paying for basic energy supplies continuously siphons off community resources. Making
matters worse, the harmful impacts of extreme weather events on agriculture, infrastructure and
human health are being felt almost everywhere across Michigan.
These are turbulent times for many Michigan communities. However, with planning and preparation,
communities can weather the storms and recover, becoming even better places to live and thrive.
Through community-wide planning, resilient cities and townships actively cultivate their abilities to
recover from adverse situations and events, working to strengthen and diversify their local economies
and communications networks, increase social capital and civic engagement, enhance ecosystem
services, improve human health and social systems, and build local adaptive capacity.
Resilience
Resilience can be described as the capability of a person or community to withstand and recover from a
shock or serious misfortune without permanent disruption. According to the Rand Corporation,
community resilience is a measure of the sustained ability of a community to utilize available resources
to respond to, withstand, and/or recover from adverse situations.12 Communities that are resilient are
able to learn from adversity and adapt quickly to change. In general, the most important characteristics
of community resilience are: (1) strong and meaningful social connections, (2) social and economic
diversity, (3) innovation and creative problem solving capacity, and (4) extensive use of ecosystem
services.
Defining Resilience
One way to reduce the impacts of
disasters on the nation and its
communities is to invest in
enhancing resilience. As defined in
this report, resilience is the ability
to prepare and plan for, absorb,
recover from, and more
successfully adapt to adverse
events. Enhanced resilience allows
better anticipation of disasters and
better planning to reduce disaster
losses — rather than waiting for an
event to occur and paying for it
afterward.
Disaster Resilience – A National
Imperative, 2012. National Academy of
Science, National
Academies Press, Washington, DC
1
Rand Corporation, Community Resilience. http://www.rand.org/topics/community-resilience.html
Focus on Community Resilience. Santa Monica, CA: RAND Corporation, 2012. http://www.rand.org/pubs/
corporate_pubs/CP640-2012-04
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Resilience includes adaptive capacity. Adaptation is a critically important part of resilience because it
allows us to prevent further harm from disasters and disruptions while making the most of the new
conditions. By adapting rapidly to changing circumstances, our communities may not only survive
challenges, but thrive.
Communities interested in becoming more resilient assess their vulnerabilities and make action plans
to reduce their sensitivities and exposures to hazards of all kinds. For example, local governments can
improve building standards to reduce heating and cooling challenges posed by severe temperature
swings (cold and hot). Improvements in social cohesion and civic engagement also improve community
resilience, by increasing the capacity of volunteer organizations and providing more secure
neighborhoods, among other things. Planning processes can help increase civic engagement by
improving communications and cooperation between cultural and service organizations and assuring
more effective community projects.
A resilient community places
an important emphasis on
ecological preserving
ecological processes.
To improve economic resilience, communities can work to encourage and support local production of
goods and supplies, increasing self-reliance and reducing the flow of funds out of the community.
Programs to encourage local investing and entrepreneurship have been helpful in building both
employment and production capacity. Local investments, consumption of locally produced products,
and locally owned businesses all help to diversify the community’s economy, giving it greater resilience.
Economic Trends and Challenges
Over the past 20 years, technologies such as broadband digital communications and the rapid transport
of agricultural and manufactured goods have changed the global economy. Many manufactured goods
can now be produced anywhere in the world and transported anywhere else, increasing global
competition. As a result, many manufacturing jobs have been and are being moved to countries with
the lowest labor and related costs.
The trend toward moving jobs to other, lower-cost countries together with the continuing automation
of processes has resulted in the nation, as a whole, losing manufacturing jobs. The impact of this
changing trend has been particularly hard on Michigan’s economy which has relied more heavily on
manufacturing than most other states’ economies. In the vehicle manufacturing sector alone, Michigan
Strong and meaningful social
connections strengthen a
community’s ability to
withstand stress.
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lost 65,100 jobs from 1990 to 2010. Overall, between 2000 and 2010, Michigan lost 367,000
manufacturing jobs.3
Over the past decade, most communities across Michigan have faced severe economic challenges due
in part to a statewide loss of manufacturing jobs combined with a severe national recession. Along with
the harsh economic downturn has come a loss in population and a significant loss in real estate values
as many people moved to other locations. Ranked 17th of all states in 1970, Michigan was ranked 34th
in average household income by 2007.
According to many experts, most of the future economic growth in Michigan will come in the hightechnology and services sectors, including health care, financial management,
Figure 1
highly-skilled manufacturing, human services and the food industry. While the
recovering manufacturing sector will remain a major component of our state’s
economy, most of the jobs already lost will not return. Rather than compete for a
decreasing number of manufacturing jobs, the experts say, communities and
regions should embrace this New Economy.
The New Economy is a buzz-phrase used to describe the transition from a
manufacturing-based economy to a service-based or innovation-based economy.
In the new economy, communities and regions are encouraged to build from
within, expanding existing businesses and supporting new entrepreneurial
enterprises. To rebuild or retain economic vitality, the experts say, communities
will need to attract and retain educated and talented people.
There are a number of things that communities and regions can do to improve
their economic outlook. Economic development actions recommended by many
experts reflect on the characteristics of the New Economy. For example, the
following list presents some of the actions suggested by Michigan State
3
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS Spotlight on Automobiles. October 2011. http://www.bls.gov/spotlight
3
University’s Land Policy Institute’s (MSU LPI) 2010 training course. All of these actions could, if properly
focused, increase community resilience.
Figure 2
Actions We Could Take to Restore Prosperity
1. Diversify our economy.
2. Expand our markets.
3. Embrace the Green Economy and its focus on alternative energy.
4. Promote and support entrepreneurialism.
5. Focus on talent retention and attraction.
6. Focus on population retention and attraction.
7. Focus on effective placemaking and place-based strategies.
8. Right-size and maintain our infrastructure.
Climate Change and Variability
Climate and weather are directly related, but not the same thing. Weather
refers to the day-to-day conditions we encounter in a particular place: sun or
rain, hot or cold. The term climate refers to the long-term patterns of weather
over regions or large areas. When scientists speak of global climate change,
they are referring to generalized, regional patterns of weather over months,
years and decades. Ongoing and predicted climate changes refer to the
generalized weather characteristics or averages on a regional basis.
As stated by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, significant
changes in the earth’s climate have been observed and thoroughly
documented. Warming of the climate system is unequivocal and is now evident
in average air and ocean temperatures, rising sea levels and the melting of ice.
Further, more change is expected.
Figure 2 provides a summary of observed changes in several key climate
indicators over the last 100 to 150 years, as compiled by the Intergovernmental
Panel on Climate Change.
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To help predict what the climate will be in the future, scientists are using rapidly improving threedimensional computer models of the earth’s atmosphere, oceans and land surfaces to understand and
predict large-scale changes in climate. These General Circulation Models (GCM) have been improved
and verified in recent years, resulting in relatively reliable predictions for climate changes over large
regions. To help predict climate change at the earth’s surface for smaller regions, scientists apply
downscaling techniques.
The Great Lakes Integrated Sciences Assessment (GLISA) is a consortium of scientists and educators
from the University of Michigan and Michigan State University that is helping to provide downscaled
models for the Great Lakes Region in support of community planning efforts like Resilient Monroe.
According to GLISA, the Great Lakes region has already experienced a 2.3° F increase in average
temperatures from 1968 to 2002. An additional increase of 1.8 to 5.4° F in average temperatures is
projected by 2050. Although these numbers appear relatively small, they are driving very dramatic
changes in Michigan’s climate.4
Based on the most recent models, the climate of Monroe and southeast Michigan will continue to
warm, with greater increases in temperature during the winter months and at night. There are a variety
of weather impacts expected with this change in average temperatures. For example, storms ar
expected to become more frequent and more severe. Some of the potential impacts of climate change
for Monroe and southeast Michigan include:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Neighborhoods with trees
are often better suited to
withstand days of severe
heat.
Increases in winter and spring precipitation
Less precipitation as snow and more as rain
Less winter ice on lakes
Extended growing season (earlier spring/later fall)
Greater frequency and intensity of storms
More flooding events with risks of erosion
Increases in frequency and length of severe heat events
4
U.S. Global Change Research Program. Global Climate Change in the United States, 2009. Cambridge
University Press, Cambridge, MA. http://www.globalchange.gov/usimpacts
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8. Increased risk of drought, particularly in summer
Figure 3
These changes in climate could have a number of both good and bad effects on the greater Monroe
area. For example, an extended growing season could help increase crop yields for area farmers. On
the other hand, the highly variable weather conditions such as severe storms and flooding mixed with
summer droughts present big challenges to farming.
The National Climate Assessment for 2009 (U.S. Global Change Research Program) includes a number
of illustrations that help us understand the extent and character of anticipated climate change impacts.
The section on the Midwest includes an illustration of projected summer climate for Illinois and
Michigan under two different emissions scenarios (see Figure 3). The higher emissions model refers to
the continuation of existing discharge levels. Models indicate that Michigan’s climate will feel more like
present-day Arkansas or Oklahoma by the end of the century.5
Responding to the impacts of climate change will challenge many different parts of the Monroe
Community, from social services to industrial production. The following is a partial list of climate
change impacts on community life as described by GLISA and Michigan’s State Climatologist:
Rivers, Stream and Lakes
Decline in coldwater fish populations – changing fisheries. Lower river and lake levels and more
frequent lake stratification. Increases in pollution from stormwater runoff.
Plants and Wildlife
Increases in invasive species that damage local trees and plants. Changes in tree species able to
survive in the new regional climate.
Energy & Industry
Increases in electrical energy demand due to heat waves. Reduced water availability from
streams and groundwater.
Transportation
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U.S. Global Change Research Program. Global Climate Change in the United States, 2009. Cambridge
University Press, Cambridge, MA. http://www.globalchange.gov/usimpacts
6
Increased damage to roads and bridges from flooding and heat waves. Additional difficulty for
shipping on the Great Lakes due to lower water levels.
Public Health Risks
Increased risk of illness and death due to high heat and humidity. Increased risk of water
contamination from flooding events. Increased risk of disease spread by mosquitoes, ticks and
other vectors.
Moving Forward
The following recommendations and updates to the Monroe Charter Township Master Plan take into
account best management practices to promote economic resilience and climate resilience for a
healthy, thriving community.
Standing water presents threats to
agriculture yields as well as to public
health.
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2013 Monroe Charter Township Master Plan Update
Part 3: Proposed Updates
The following sections propose a series of updates and minor modifications to the existing
Monroe Charter Township Master Plan. Edits and updates are in order by page and chapter as
they appear in the existing Master Plan. Sections in ‘ALL CAPS’ imply that text has been added.
Where a ‘strike-thru’ appears, we are recommending that text is removed from the plan. These
edits can be accepted in full, or portions of the text can be integrated into the existing Master
Plan
Chapter 3
Update p. 3-2 Floodplain
The eastern portion of the Township plus areas along the River Raisin and Plum Creek and some
of the eastern portion of the main creeks, drains, and swales are within the 100-year floodplain.
THE PRIMARY CHANGE IN THE 2013 UPDATED FEMA FLOODPLAIN MAPS IS THE ADDITION OF
THE NEIGHBORHOOD NORTH OF DUNBAR AND WEST OF TELEGRAPH AND HOMES IN THE
SOUTHEAST PORTION OF THE TOWNSHIP. The 100-year floodplain is any area within the
Township that HAS A ONE PERCENT CHANCE OF FLOODING IN ANY GIVEN YEAR typically floods
at least once during a 100-year period. MAP 1 SHOWS THE EXTENT OF THE 100-YEAR
FLOODPLAIN. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Federal
Insurance Administration produce National Flood Insurance Rate Maps used by the insurance
industry to determine insurance rates in flood-prone areas.
Dixie Soft Serve is one of the
many unique places in Monroe
Charter Township that
contributes to a quality sense of
place.
The playground pictured above is
connected to a baseball field with
a new bicycle and pedestrian
path.
Part 3: Proposed Updates 1
Map 1
Flooding in the Township occurs mainly in the spring due to a combination of seasonal rains and
melting snow. This combination creates high water levels in Lake Erie. With at least one-third
of the Township’s land in the 100-year floodplain, these spring conditions create prime
conditions for flooding. In addition, during this time of the year, ice from the River Raisin, Plum
Creek, and Lake Erie breaks up and occasionally create ice jams flooding the area. The flooding
situation is further compounded when the winds come off of Lake Erie pushing water onto the
land and restricting the flow of runoff to Lake Erie.
The Township permits development within the 100-year floodplain subject to the Township’s
Floodplain Ordinance. One of the major problems with permitting development within the 100year floodplain is that such development has the potential to change the drainage pattern and
reduce the water storage capacity. New development is required to raise the housing pad
above the 100-year floodplain and acquire permits and approval from the Department of
Environmental Quality. This action over a wide area causes a change in the drainage pattern of
the area to the point of flooding areas not previously prone to flooding. The Township
Floodplain Ordinance regulates the uses and requires that compensating storage be provided as
a part of new development so that the volume of water within the 100-year floodplain does not
change.
HEAVY RAINFALL HAS ALSO CAUSED URBAN FLOODING FROM RUNOFF ON A NUMBER OF
OCCASIONS SEPARATE FROM THE RIVER RAISIN AND PLUM CREEK. THE MOST RECENT EXAMPLE
OF URBAN FLOODING FROM RUNOFF WAS IN LATE NOVEMBER 2011. TO BETTER UNDERSTAND
THE POTENTIAL FOR FLOODING DUE TO THE RUNOFF AND PONDING OF STORMWATER, WE
IDENTIFIED THOSE SOILS THAT ARE SUBJECT TO FREQUENT PONDING DUE TO A LACK OF
PERMEABILITY AND NATURAL DRAINAGE ACCORDING TO THE USDA. THE POTENTIAL FLOODING
EXPOSURES MAP (MAP 1) COMBINES THE LOCATION OF FREQUENTLY PONDED SOILS WITH
FEMA’s MAP LAYER OF 1% AND 0.2% CHANCE OF FLOODING ADJACENT TO RIVERS AND
STREAMS TO ESTABLISH THE AREAS MOST LIKELY TO BE EXPOSED TO STORM AND FLOOD
WATERS.
Additional areas near the mouth
of the River Raisin were added to
the 100-year Floodplain in the
most recent FEMA update.
Because of the Township’s clay
soil, areas away from any water
body are still prone to ‘ponding’
and flooding.
USING A GIS (GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEM), WE IDENTIFIED ALL THE BUILDINGS THAT
FALL WITHIN THE 100-YEAR AND 500-YEAR FLOOD PLAINS, AS WELL AS THE NUMBER OF
BUILDINGS IN AREAS WITH FREQUENTLY PONDED SOILS. IN MONROE CHARTER TOWNSHIP,
THERE ARE A TOTAL OF 3,480 STRUCTURES AT RISK.
TO REDUCE THE IMPACT OF FLOODING FROM EXTREME RAIN EVENTS, SOME COMMUNITIES
ESTABLISH AREAS FOR TEMPORARY WATER STORAGE ON PUBLIC LAND OR UNDERUTILIZED
FARMLAND. MONROE CHARTER TOWNSHIP HAS A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO PRESERVE
FARMLAND AND OPEN SPACE WHILE PROVIDING TEMPORARY WATER STORAGE. MAP 2
HIGHLIGHTS AREAS OF THE TOWNSHIP WITH LARGE AGRICULTURE PARCELS (20 ACRES OR
MORE) AND PUBLICALLY OWNED LAND. WHEN THIS MAP IS COMPARED WITH THE ‘POTENTIAL
FLOODING EXPOSURE’ MAP, A NUMBER OF OPEN AREAS ARE FOUND TO BE PRONE TO
FLOODING, AND COULD SERVE AS TEMPORARY WATER STORAGE. FOR EXAMPLE, THE
PUBLICALLY-OWNED LINK GOLF COURSE COULD STORE EXCESS WATER DURING THE OFFSEASON AND THE MONROE COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS COULD STORE EXCESS WATER.
MAP 3 (ON PG. 6) HIGHLIGHTS AREAS OF THE TOWNSHIP WITH EXISTING WETLANDS AS WELL
AS PLACES WITH THE POTENTIAL FOR HIGH QUALITY WETLANDS. WETLANDS PROVIDE
INVALUABLE ECOSYSTEM SERVICES TO A COMMUNITY. WETLANDS CAN REMOVE SEDIMENTS
AND POLLUTANTS FROM RUNOFF AND DETAIN STORMWATER, REDUCING THE IMPACTS OF
FLOODING. THE TOWNSHIP SHOULD CONSIDER RESTORING SOME WETLANDS IN VACATED
INDUSTRIAL AREAS AND OPEN SPACES, FOCUSING ON AREAS WITH THE HIGHEST WETLAND
POTENTIAL. THE MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY (MDEQ) OFFERS A
WETLAND MITIGATION BANKING PROGRAM. MONROE CHARTER TOWNSHIP COULD
PARTICIPATE IN A WETLAND CONSTRUCTION AND BANKING PROGRAM TO HELP REDUCE LOCAL
FLOODING CONCERNS. IF A DEVELOPER FROM ANOTHER COMMUNITY IS SEEKING A BUILDING
PERMIT ON A SITE THAT WOULD REMOVE EXISTING WETLANDS, THAT DEVELOPER CAN
PURCHASE WETLAND CREDITS FROM THE WETLAND BANK .1
1
Fields like this one for Monroe High
School can work well for temporary
water storage outside of the regular
sports season.
Portions of the area surrounding
Bolles Harbor are identified as ‘high
potential wetlands.
http://www.michigan.gov/deq/0,1607,7-135-3313-10426--,00.html
Map 2
Map 3
Add p. 3-4 Potable Water
The City of Monroe PROVIDES WATER SERVICE TO MONROE CHARTER TOWNSHIP AND has a
water plant with a capacity of 18 million gallons. The plant can currently process approximately
14.3 million gallons per day (MGD) before improvements need to be made to the draw water
system. Current average daily flows are 9 to 10 MGD. Thus, approximately 4 to 5 MGD remain to
be allocated. Therefore, it is anticipated that adequate capacity will be available in the
foreseeable future.
Residents and businesses in Monroe Charter Township currently consume approximately 2 MGD
of potable water. The Township’s central water system is quite extensive with the ability to
provide central potable water service to almost all of the property within Monroe Charter
Township. With the scheduled completion of extension of the 12-inch line from its current
terminus on Telegraph Road at Davis Swale south to Albain Road within the next five years, the
system will virtually be completed along the major roads.
Lake Erie is the public drinking water
source for Monroe Charter Township.
ACCORDING TO A 2012 ANNUAL WATER QUALITY REPORT, SEVERAL SYSTEM-WIDE
IMPROVEMENTS ARE PLANNED FOR FISCAL YEAR 2013-2014 WHICH WILL EXTEND AND
MAINTAIN THE SERVICE LIFE OF THE CITY’S FACILITIES. AT THE WATER TREATMENT PLANT &
RAW WATER INTAKE FACILITY, THERE ARE PLANNED PROJECTS FOR OZONE INJECTION SYSTEM
REPLACEMENT, FACILITY ROOF REPLACEMENTS, AND A REPLACEMENT OF THE RAW WATER
PUMP DRIVE SYSTEM.
ACCORDING TO THE ENVIRONMENTAL DIVISION AT THE MONROE COUNTY HEALTH
DEPARTMENT, THE KARST GEOLOGY MAKES THE MONROE AREA PARTICULARLY SUSCEPTIBLE
TO CONTAMINATION WHEN SURFACE WATER MIXES WITH GROUNDWATER. THIS IS ESPECIALLY
A CONCERN IN RURAL AREAS WITH WELLS AND SEPTIC TANKS. AN OVERLOADED OR
MALFUNCTIONING SEPTIC TANK IN KARST LANDSCAPES MAY DUMP RAW SEWAGE DIRECTLY
INTO UNDERGROUND CHANNELS.
Update p. 3-5 Wastewater
The City of Monroe in partnership with Monroe Charter Township also provides wastewater
service to the Township. The City’s wastewater treatment plant has a capacity of 25 MGD. THE
SEWER SERVICE DISTRICT IS MANAGED BY THE MONROE METROPOLITAN WATER POLLUTION
CONTROL SYSTEM, WHICH WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1976. THERE IS A SEVEN MEMBER BOARD
MADE UP OF TWO REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE CITY AND EACH TOWNSHIP AND ONE
REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE COUNTY DRAIN COMMISSION THAT OVERSEES THE SANITARY
SEWER.
Inflow/Infiltration (I/I) is a term
that refers to dilution of sanitary
sewer, which often causes sewage
volumes to exceed design capacity
of the Water Treatment Plant.
The wastewater collection system is not as extensive as the potable water system, a condition
common in many jurisdictions. The wastewater network is not as extensive in the
predominantly agricultural western and southern parts of the Township, where there are only a
few residential units. A large portion of the system that has been installed is the result of court
ordered installations due to a high water table and the soil’s inability to support private septic
systems. Development potential is limited in areas of the Township without access to sanitary
sewers.
IN 2011, A STUDY WAS CONDUCTED TO IDENTIFY THE MOST COST EFFECTIVE COMBINATION OF
INFLOW/INFILTRATION (I/I) REMOVAL, WASTE WATER TREATMENT PLANT EXPANSION, AND/OR
STORAGE REQUIRED TO ELIMINATE WET WEATHER BLENDING FOR HEAVY RAIN EVENTS. WET
WEATHER BLENDING IS A CONCERN BECAUSE AT ONE TIME THE CITY AND TOWNSHIPS HAD A
COMBINED SEWER SYSTEM, WHICH HAS SINCE BEEN CONVERTED TO TWO SEPARATE SYSTEMS;
STORM SEWER AND SANITARY SEWER. HOWEVER, MANY OLDER HOMES HAVE NONCONFORMING FOOTING DRAINS THAT DIRECTLY CONNECT THE HOUSE TO THE SANITARY
LATERALS, RESULTING IN SANITARY SEWER OVERFLOW DURING HEAVY RAIN EVENTS. MONROE
CHARTER TOWNSHIP SHOULD EXPLORE THIS ISSUE TO DETERMINE IF IT IS A CONCERN. RESULTS
OF THE 2011 WET WEATHER FACILITIES PLAN STUDY INDICATE THAT FOOTING DRAINS
CONTRIBUTE APPROXIMATELY 43% OF WET WEATHER I/I. FOOTING DRAIN DISCONNECTION
WAS DETERMINED NOT TO BE COST EFFECTIVE, SO IT WAS NOT RECOMMENDED TO CITY
OFFICIALS. OTHER LOWER COST STRATEGIES THAT CAN REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF STORM
Footing Drains A drain system
composed of a set of pipes, gravel,
and filter fabric that collects the
water from the perimeter of the
foundation of a home or building of
a man-made structure.
WATER ENTERING THE SEWER SYSTEM INCLUDE REPAIR OF MANHOLES AND REPAIR OF
LEAKING SEWER LINES.
Update p. 3-5 Drainage
STORMWATER MANAGEMENT IS AN IMPORTANT GOVERNMENT SERVICE PROVIDED TO
PROTECT ROADS, BRIDGES, HOMES, AND BUSINESSES FROM DAMAGE AND TO ENSURE THE
PERSONAL SAFETY OF RESIDENTS. The Monroe County Drain Commissioner is responsible for
the performance and maintenance of the County’s primary drainage system. The Township’s
major drainage system is composed of a set of interlinked drains, swales, creeks, and rivers that
move surface water to Lake Erie. In many instances where manmade swales and drains exist,
the natural water table has been artificially lowered to provide more land for agriculture.
Add Green Infrastructure (p. 3-5)
LONG-TERM CLIMATE PROJECTIONS FOR SOUTHEAST MICHIGAN INDICATE HIGH INTENSITY
RAIN EVENTS WILL OCCUR MORE OFTEN AND WITH GREATER SEVERITY. EXPERTS EXPECT THE
TOTAL AMOUNT OF PRECIPITATION IN THE MIDWEST TO INCREASE, ESPECIALLY IN THE WINTER,
WITH A PROJECTED 30% INCREASE IN ANNUAL AVERAGES. IN THE SUMMER, STREAMFLOWS
ARE EXPECTED TO INCREASE IN FLASHINESS AND VARIABILITY.
Vegetation, pervious pavement,
and on-site water holding tanks
can all be integrated into
stormwater management
design.
MANAGING STORMWATER SERVES A NUMBER OF IMPORTANT PURPOSES. IT CAN REDUCE THE
COST BURDEN ON THE PUBLIC WATER SYSTEM AND IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF RAIN WATER
ENTERING THE WATERSHED. IN THE CASE OF RESILIENCE TO CLIMATE CHANGE, STORMWATER
MANAGEMENT INCREASES THE CAPACITY OF THE SYSTEM, REDUCING THE POTENTIAL FOR
FLOODING AND REDUCING THE LIKELIHOOD OF WATERBORNE DISEASES AND WATER SUPPLY
CONTAMINATION. MONROE CHARTER TOWNSHIP SHOULD CONTINUE ITS EFFORTS TO SUPPORT
LOW IMPACT DEVELOPMENT AND GREEN STORM WATER SYSTEM INFRASTRUCTURE.
THERE ARE NUMEROUS OPPORTUNITIES DURING THE SITE PLAN DEVELOPMENT PHASE TO
INTEGRATE BEST PRACTICES IN STORMWATER MANAGEMENT. CLUSTER HOUSING
DEVELOPMENTS ARE A COMMON STRATEGY USED BY DEVELOPERS TO AVOID CONSTRUCTION
ON WETLANDS AND FLOODPLAINS. MANY COMMUNITIES ALSO REQUIRE LARGE BUFFERS
BETWEEN DEVELOPMENT AND NATURAL WATERWAYS. SITE DESIGNS THAT PROTECT HOMES
Farmland and open space can
provide temporary water storage.
AND OTHER CRITICAL STRUCTURES TOP THE PRIORITY LIST FOR MANY COMMUNITIES GIVEN
THAT LIFE IS AT STAKE. THE CITY OF GRAND RAPIDS REQUIRES THAT DEVELOPERS SUBMIT A
GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE PLAN AT THE BEGINNING OF THE SITE PLAN REVIEW PROCESS.
ELIMINATION OF REVERSE SLOPE DRIVEWAYS IS ONE REQUIREMENT TORONTO, ONTARIO HAS
INTEGRATED INTO ITS ZONING CODE. MANY COMMUNITIES ALSO REQUIRE EXISTING UTILITIES,
SEWER AND WATER FACILITIES PRIOR TO DEVELOPMENT.
LIKE MANY COMMUNITIES, MONROE CHARTER TOWNSHIP DOES NOT PLAN FOR MUCH
ADDITIONAL DEVELOPMENT; THEREFORE RETROFITTING IMPERVIOUS SURFACES IS A USEFUL
STRATEGY FOR STRENGTHENING THE RESILIENCE OF THE STORM WATER SYSTEM. FOR
EXAMPLE, ANN ARBOR HAS PROVIDED INCENTIVES TO PROPERTY OWNERS TO INSTALL
SMALLER HOLDING SYSTEMS ON PRIVATE PROPERTY. RAIN BARRELS ARE ANOTHER GREAT WAY
FOR RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY OWNERS AND SMALL COMMERCIAL BUSINESSES TO CAPTURE
RAINWATER AND REUSE IT IN THE FUTURE, SIMULTANEOUSLY REDUCING STORMWATER
DISCHARGE WHILE REDUCING THE DEMAND FOR TREATED WATER.
Chapter 4 Recreation and Community Facilities Analysis
Update P. 4-6. Remove the segment on Linear Parks.
Chapter 5 Transportation Analysis
Update P. 5-6. Add the following segment on Greenways:
THROUGHOUT THE RESILIENT MONROE PLANNING PROCESS, MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY
EMPHASIZED THE IMPORTANCE OF INTERCONNECTED BIKING, HIKING AND WALKING ROUTES
THROUGHOUT THE MONROE COMMUNITY. AS EVIDENCED BY THE MONROE COMMUNITY
PLANNING SURVEY, OVER HALF OF ALL MONROE CHARTER TOWNSHIP RESIDENTS FEEL ACCESS
TO WALKING AND BIKING PATHS IS IMPORTANT OR VERY IMPORTANT. HOWEVER, OVER HALF
OF TOWNSHIP RESIDENTS ALSO FEEL IT IS DIFFICULT TO GET AROUND BY FOOT AND BY BICYCLE.
THE TOWNSHIP COULD RESPOND TO THESE CONCERNS BY ESTABLISHING A GREENWAYS PLAN
OF PROPOSED PATHWAYS AND BIKE LANES THAT WOULD CONNECT RESIDENTS WITH
COMMUNITY ASSETS, INCLUDING RECREATIONAL FACILITIES, SHOPPING CENTERS, AND
HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL AMENITIES (SEE MAP 4 FOR A PROPOSED PLAN).
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There is evidence of pedestrians
using South Dixie; a view looking
north.
ALREADY, THERE IS POSITIVE MOMENTUM FOR PATHWAYS, BOTH LOCALLY AND REGIONALLY.
IN 2011, THE TOWNSHIP BUILT A PATHWAY THAT BEGINS AT THE TOWN HALL PARKING LOT
AND CONTINUES BEHIND THE FACILITY THROUGH THE WOODS, CONNECTING A PLAYGROUND
AND BASEBALL FIELDS. THE RECENTLY UNVEILED RIVER RAISIN HERITAGE CORRIDOR MASTER
PLAN CALLS FOR A CONNECTED SYSTEM OF PATHWAYS THROUGHOUT THE MONROE
COMMUNITY. ONE PATHWAY OF INTEREST IS THE PROPOSED GREENWAY CORRIDOR THAT WILL
CONNECT THE BATTLEFIELD PARK WITH THE HISTORICALLY SIGNIFICANT PLUM CREEK SITE.
MONROE CHARTER TOWNSHIP SHOULD WORK TO CONTINUE THAT PATHWAY TO CONNECT
WITH RECREATIONAL AND SOCIAL DESTINATIONS WITHIN THE TOWNSHIP AND BEYOND.
THE REGIONAL DOWNRIVER LINKED GREENWAY INITIATIVE PLAN CALLS FOR ADDITIONAL
COMMUNITY TRAIL CONNECTIONS. THE PROPOSED LAKE ERIE TRAIL WILL CONNECT THE CITY OF
MONROE TO NORTHERN COMMUNITIES VIA FORMER RAILROAD AND/OR UTILITY CORRIDORS.
LOCAL CONNECTORS WITH VIEWS AND ACCESS TO LAKE ERIE ARE ALSO PLANNED FOR THE LAKE
ERIE TRAIL. MONROE CHARTER TOWNSHIP SHOULD BUILD ON THIS REGIONAL INITIATIVE AND
CONTINUE THE LAKE ERIE TRAIL SOUTH ALONG THE CANADIAN NATIONAL RAILROAD CORRIDOR
OR THE NORFOLK SOUTHERN RAILWAY. CONVERTING A RAIL CORRIDOR INTO A PATHWAY WILL
BE ESPECIALLY DESIRABLE IN CASE THE CN AND NS RAILROAD CORRIDORS ARE CONSOLIDATED,
A GOAL THAT WAS PREVIOUSLY SPECIFIED IN THE MONROE CHARTER TOWNSHIP MASTER
PLAN.
An illustration of the streetscape along
Telegraph near Dunbar Road with the
addition of a pedestrian and bicycle
pathway.
AS PROPOSED IN THE TELEGRAPH ROAD CHARRETTE PUBLIC PROCESS, A PATHWAY ALONG
TELEGRAPH COULD EXTEND DOWN TO CUSTER ELEMENTARY AND GILILAND MEMORIAL FIELD.
THE IMAGE TO THE RIGHT IS A RENDERING OF A PROPOSED PATHWAY ON TELEGRAPH.
ANOTHER ROUTE FOR THE TOWNSHIP TO CONSIDER IS A PATHWAY ALONG SEVENTH STREET
THAT EXTENDS ALONG THE UTILITY CORRIDOR TO RAISINVILLE ROAD (SEE MAP 4). THE CITY OF
MONROE’S GREENWAY PLAN CALLS FOR A PATH ALONG SEVENTH STREET EXTENDING SOUTH
TO HERR ROAD. MONROE CHARTER TOWNSHIP SHOULD CONSIDER EXTENDING THIS PATHWAY
ALL THE WAY TO RAISINVILLE ROAD, EVENTUALLY CONNECTING WITH MONROE COUNTY
COMMUNITY COLLEGE.
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A pathway connection to Monroe County
Community College could reduce the
demand for student and faculty parking.
IN ADDITION, BOLLES HARBOR IS ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR RECREATIONAL AREAS IN THE
COMMUNITY. A PATHWAY ALONG LAPLAISANCE WOULD CONNECT RESIDENTS TO THE
LAPLAISANCE TOWN CENTER AND BOLLES HARBOR. MAP 4 (PAGE 13) OUTLINES A SYSTEM OF
PROPOSED PATHWAYS AND BIKE LANES THAT WOULD CONNECT RESIDENTS WITH COMMUNITY
ASSETS, INCLUDING RECREATIONAL FACILITIES, SHOPPING CENTERS, AND HISTORICAL AND
CULTURAL AMENITIES.
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Map 4
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Chapter 7 Community Vision – Goals and Objectives
The following is a series of suggested updates to the existing Goals and Objectives based on
findings from the Resilient Monroe Process:
Land Use Page 7-2
Edit Policy:
Require the planting of STREET trees along subdivision ALL PUBLIC
rights-of-way.
Transportation
Add Objective: DEVELOP A SEPARATED SHARED-USE PATH SYSTEM THAT PROVIDES SAFE AND
EFFICIENT ROUTES WITHIN THE TOWNSHIP AND TO THE REGION.
Add Policy:
PROVIDE GREENWAYS ALONG MAJOR ROADWAYS AND HIGHWAYS,
WITHIN RAILROAD RIGHTS-OF-WAY, AND ELECTRICAL AND DRAINAGE
EASEMENTS.
Add Policy:
PROVIDE WAYFINDING SIGNAGE TO COMMERCIAL AND RECREATIONAL
DESTINATIONS FOR CYCLISTS AND PEDESTRIANS.
Add Policy:
WORK WITH THE CITY OF MONROE TO BUILD A GREENWAY
CONNECTING THE RIVER RAISIN NATIONAL BATTLEFIELD PARK WITH
PLUM CREEK AS OUTLINED IN THE HERITAGE CORRIDOR MASTER PLAN.
Pathway connections to local historical
and cultural assets improve the local
community and make Monroe a more
desirable place for visitors.
Add Objective: REDUCE THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF IMPERVIOUS SURFACES ALONG THE PUBLIC
ROAD RIGHT-OF-WAY TO REDUCE FLOODING AND RUN-OFF DURING HEAVY
STORMS.
Add Policy:
Add Policy:
EXAMINE THE FEASIBILITY OF PERVIOUS PAVEMENT IN TOWNSHIPOWNED PARKING LOTS AND LOW-TRAFFIC ROADWAYS.
PROVIDE A CONSISTENT ROW OF LARGE CANOPY STREET TREES ALONG
MAJOR CORRIDORS, LOCATED BETWEEN THE SIDEWALK AND THE
STREET CURB AND PLANTED AT A RATE OF ONE EVERY 30-40 FEET
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Pervious pavement and planting islands
are two strategies which places like the
Kroger Shopping Plaza could consider.
Add Objective: WORK WITH LAKE ERIE TRANSIT TO EXPAND THE FREQUENCY AND SERVICE OF
THE SYSTEM TO MEET THE EXISTING NEEDS OF THE RIDERS AND THE GROWING
NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY.
Add Policy:
IMPROVE THE SYSTEM TO ATTRACT PEOPLE WHO MIGHT CHOOSE TO
USE PUBLIC TRANSIT INSTEAD OF A PERSONAL VEHICLE TO
ACCOMMODATE AN AGING POPULATION AND AN INCREASE IN THE USE
OF ‘CHOICE’ RIDERS.
Add Policy:
THE TOWNSHIP SHOULD WORK WITH L.E.T. AT THE BEGINNING STAGES
OF DEVELOPMENTS AND REDEVELOPMENTS TO ENSURE SITE PLANS
INCORPORATE TRANSIT-FRIENDLY DESIGN.
Add Objective: CREATE A MULTI-JURISDICTIONAL CORRIDOR IMPROVEMENT AUTHORITY AS
OUTLINED IN THE TELEGRAPH CHARRETTE REPORT TO FACILITATE
IMPROVEMENTS ON TELEGRAPH ROAD, SOUTH DIXIE/MONROE STREET, AND
POSSIBLY LAPLAISANCE.
Lake Erie Transit fills an important niche
in the community fabric, providing over
400,000 rides per year.
LaPlaisance Road Commercial Center
Add Objective: WORK TO MAKE LAPLAISANCE A TRUE ENTRANCE INTO THE MONROE
COMMUNITY.
Add Policy:
BUILD ON THE IDEAS AND ENTHUSIASM GENERATED BY THE HERITAGE
CORRIDOR MASTER PLAN. INTEGRATE HISTORIC ELEMENTS INTO
LAPLAISANCE DESIGN GUIDELINES SO IT IS A TRUE GATEWAY INTO THE
COMMUNITY AND THE RIVER RAISIN NATIONAL BATTLEFIELD PARK.
Add Objective: HOLD A CHARRETTE PROCESS FOR LAPLAISANCE SIMILAR TO THE TELEGRAPH
CORRIDOR CHARRETTE
Add Policy:
EVALUATE FORMATION OF A CORRIDOR IMPROVEMENT AUTHORITY TO
CAPTURE FUNDS FOR PUBLIC AND SEMI-PUBLIC INVESTMENT.
Add Policy:
EVALUATE AVERAGE DAILY TRAFFIC COUNTS AND CONDUCT A
DETAILED TRAFFIC STUDY TO IDENTIFY THE NUMBER AND TYPE OF
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A Corridor Improvement Authority could
provide much needed investment in the
Horizon Outlet Center.
PEOPLE TRAVELING THROUGH THE PROPOSED ‘LAPLAISANCE
COMMERCIAL CORRIDOR’ ON AN AVERAGE DAY.
Add Policy:
CONSIDER RIGHT-OF-WAY IMPROVEMENTS THAT WILL HELP BALANCE
THE AUTOMOBILE FUNCTION WITH THE DESIRE FOR A WALKABLE
COMMUNITY AT A HUMAN SCALE.
Add Policy:
DEVELOP DESIGN STANDARDS THAT INCLUDE UNIFORM LIGHTING,
BUILDING FORM, AND TREATMENTS FOR PUBLIC UTILITIES.
Add Objective: INVOLVE STAKEHOLDERS IN EXPLORING OBSTACLES TO DEVELOPMENT AND
REDEVELOPMENT OF THE LAPLAISANCE CORRIDOR.
Add Policy:
ENGAGE WITH LOCAL BUSINESS OWNERS TO IDENTIFY OBSTACLES TO
LOCATING IN THE PROPOSED COMMERCIAL CENTER AND SPECIFICALLY
THE OUTLET MALL.
Add Policy:
ENGAGE WITH THE BOLLES HARBOR NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION TO
BETTER UNDERSTAND THEIR HOPES FOR THE AREA.
Add Policy:
PURSUE FUNDING FOR PUBLIC IMPROVMENTS TO PUBLIC SPACES IN
THE PROPOSED LAPLAISANCE ROAD COMMERCIAL CORRIDOR.
Edit Objective: Pursue the construction STUDY THE FEASIBILITY of a five-lane boulevard for
LaPlaisance Road from I-75 to Dunbar Road (approximately three-quarters of a
mile) with the roadway narrowing at the railroad crossing.
Edit Policy:
Establish REDUCE setbacks for structures along LaPlainsance Road at least 90
feet from the center line. AND CITE PARKING BEHIND BUILDINGS.
Add Policy:
REQUIRE THAT NEW DEVELOPMENTS AND REDEVELOPMENTS SUBMIT A GREEN
INFRASTRUCTURE PLAN DURING THE SITE REVIEW PROCESS.
Involving business owners in the planning
process can ensure that corridor
improvements will fit with the overall
character of the community.
Uniform design standards that include
uniform lighting, building form, and
treatments for public utilities may
improve the overall visual appeal of
LaPlaisance.
Add Agriculture
16
Add Goal: PRESERVE AGRICULTURAL LAND AND OPEN SPACE FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS.
Add Objective: ESTABLISH FARMING POLICY THAT WILL FACILITATE AGRICULTURAL AND
HORTICULTURAL OPERATIONS AND CONSERVE PRODUCTIVE AGRICULTURAL
LANDS.
Add Policy:
CONSIDER INCREASING THE MINIMUM LOT SIZE FROM 5 ACRES TO 10
ACRES IN AREAS ZONED FOR AGRICULTURE.
Add Policy:
Add Policy:
AMEND THE ZONING CODE for AGRICULTURE LAND TO EXPAND THE
LIST OF PERMITTED USES ALLOWABLE INCLUDING BED AND BREAKFAST
OPERATIONS, ROADSIDE STANDS, INDIVIDUAL DWELLING UNITS FOR
YEAR ROUND EMPLOYEES, WINERIES, MICROBREWERIES, AND
DISTILLERIES AND OTHER VALUE ADDED AGRICULTURAL ENTERPRISES.
AMEND THE ZONING CODE TO EXPAND THE LIST OF SPECIAL USES
ALLOWABLE INCLUDING CIVIC EVENTS SUCH AS WEDDINGS, FARM
DINNERS, AND OTHER ENTERTAINMENT ACTIVITIES.
Zoning amendments would make it
easier for local farmers to sell their valueadded products, which ultimately
benefits the local economy.
Add Objective: USE UNDERUTILIZED AGRICULTURAL LAND FOR THE GREATER GOOD OF THE
COMMUNITY WHILE STILL PRESERVING IT FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS.
Add Policy:
PROVIDE A REGULATORY SCHEME FOR THE DESIGNATION OF
PROPERTIES SUITABLE FOR THE LOCATION, CONSTRUCTION AND
OPERATION OF AN ON-SITE WIND ENERGY CONVERSION SYSTEM,
ESTABLISHING SETBACKS AND SOUND VISUAL STANDARDS.
Add Policy:
REINTRODUCE WETLANDS FOR WILDLIFE, RECREATION & FLOOD
STORAGE IN UNDERUTILIZED AGRICULTURE AREAS BY INVESTIGATING
THE WETLAND BANKING PROGRAM OFFERED BY THE MICHIGAN
DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY.
Chapter 8 Future Land Use Plan
Edit: P. 8-1 Agriculture/Open Space with the following text:
17
This category is devoted to the preservation of agricultural land and open space. The intent of
the district is to preserve the large areas of open space, minimizing the disruption caused by
residential lot splits, in order to maintain agricultural land, special natural areas, PROVIDE FOR
TEMPORARY STORMWATER STORAGE and, in some cases, provide for future development of
large parcels of land. Minimum lot area in this district is five acres BUT THE TOWNSHIP SHOULD
CONSIDER INCREASING THE MINIMUM LOT SIZE TO 10 ACRES TO PRESERVE AGRICULTURAL
USES. The agricultural area is mainly in the southern portion of the Township, south on Albain
Road and west of Telegraph Road (US 24).
VALUE-ADDED AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS OFFER A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR TRADITIONAL
FARMERS TO INCREASE THE ECONOMIC VALUE OF THEIR COMMODITY THROUGH PRODUCTION
PROCESSES, LIKE ORGANIC PRODUCE, OR THROUGH REGIONALLY-BRANDED PRODUCTS THAT
INCREASE CONSUMER APPEAL OVER SIMILAR BUT NON-UNIQUE PRODUCTS. ACROSS THE
COUNTRY, CONSUMERS ARE WILLING TO PAY MORE FOR LOCAL AND ORGANIC PRODUCTS. TO
FACILITATE THIS GROWING TREND, MONROE CHARTER TOWNSHIP SHOULD CONSIDER
EXPANDING ITS ZONING CODE TO ALLOW FOR PERMITTED USES IN AGRICULTURE ZONES SUCH
AS BED AND BREAKFAST OPERATIONS, ROADSIDE STANDS, INDIVIDUAL DWELLING UNITS FOR
YEAR-ROUND EMPLOYEES, WINERIES, MICROBREWERIES, AND DISTILLERIES.
An increase in wind production could
benefit farmers, Monroe Charter
Township households, and the local
business, VenTower.
ANOTHER ACTIVITY THAT MAY BE APPROPRIATE ON SOME AGRICULTURE PARCELS IS WIND
ENERGY PRODUCTION. WIND ENERGY IS AN ABUNDANT, RENEWABLE AND NONPOLLUTING
ENERGY RESOURCE AND ITS CONVERSION TO ELECTRICITY WILL HELP DIVERSIFY THE
TOWNSHIP’S ENERGY SOURCES. THE TOWNSHIP SHOULD CONSIDER INVESTIGATING THE
APPROPRIATENESS OF WINDMILLS ON LAND ZONED FOR AGRICULTURE AND PROVIDE A
REGULATORY SCHEME FOR THE LOCATION, CONSTRUCTION, AND OPERATION OF ON-SITE WIND
ENERGY PRODUCTION.
Remove: P. 8-4 Commercial and Office:
Additional commercial and office is located along both sides LaPlaisance Road. This area was
formally designated in the previous plan as an activity center that allowed for a mix of intense
18
uses from commercial and office to multiple family residential and active recreation. Good
quality development should be promoted in this area that will attract people and business to
the Township, and the addition of the hotel and golf course will hopefully provide a needed
incentive for development and redevelopment of this area.
Move: P. 8-5 (Move from Commercial and Office to Commercial Recreation)
Development is in this area (LaPlaisance Center), because of its prominent location off of I-75,
SHOULD BE GIVEN special consideration to building design, materials, and screening.
Development should incorporate attractive entry features with high quality signage and
landscaping, and a consistent landscape treatment to ensure an attractive view-shed from the
roadway. An overlay zone could be used to provide strong design guidelines in this area and
encourage cohesive and high-quality development.
Add to Page 8-5 Commercial Recreation
THE LAPLAISANCE CORRIDOR IS CURRENTLY DESIGNATED AS A RETAIL COMMERCIAL CENTER
WITH MIXED USE AND OTHER HIGHER INTENSITY USES. MONROE CHARTER TOWNSHIP SHOULD
CONSIDER IDENTIFYING THIS AREA AS ‘COMMERCIAL RECREATION’ AS OPPOSED TO ITS
CURRENT DESIGNATION OF ‘COMMERCIAL AND OFFICE.’ AN OVERLAY ZONE WITH MIXED USE
DESIGNATION MAY ALSO BE APPROPRIATE.
Placemaking and LaPlaisance THE LAPLAISANCE CORRIDOR PRESENTS A GREAT PLACEMAKING
OPPORTUNITY BECAUSE IT IS UNIQUELY POSITIONED BETWEEN TWO COMMERCIAL
RECREATION AREAS. LAPLAISANCE CONNECTS THE OLD ROCK QUARRY, WHICH IS DESIGNATED
AS A PLANNED COMMERCIAL RECREATION AREA IN THE FUTURE LAND USE PLAN, WITH BOLLES
HARBOR, ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR COMMERCIAL RECREATION AREAS IN THE TOWNSHIP.
FURTHER COMPLEMENTING THIS ‘COMMERCIAL RECREATION’ DESIGNATION IS THE HERITAGE
CORRIDOR MASTER PLAN, WHICH CLASSIFIES LAPLAISANCE ROAD AS ONE OF TWO PROMINENT
ENTRANCES INTO THE MONROE COMMUNITY AND THE NATIONAL BATTLEFIELD PARK.
19
Strategic Placemaking is targeted at
achieving a particular goal in addition to
creating quality places. It aims to create
places that are uniquely attractive to
talented workers so that they want to be
there and live there, and in so doing,
create the circumstances for substantial
job creation and income growth.
-MI Place Initiative
Map 5
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AS DEPICTED IN MAP 5, THE LAPLAISANCE COMMERCIAL CORRIDOR LINKS DOWNTOWN
MONROE WITH THE LAPLAISANCE ‘TOURISM CENTER’ AND EVENTUALLY TO BOLLES HARBOR.
SUCCESSFUL PLACEMAKING EFFORTS USE EXISTING, UNIQUE COMMUNITY ASSETS TO HELP TO
DEFINE THE CHARACTER OF THE COMMUNITY. PLACEMAKING WORKS TO LEVERAGE
COMMUNITY ASSETS TO CREATE COMMUNITIES IN WHICH PEOPLE WANT TO LIVE, WORK AND
PLAY. DESIGN STANDARDS CAN ALSO PLAY AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN CREATING A UNIQUE SENSE
OF PLACE. UNIFORM BUILDING DESIGN, SETBACKS, TRAFFIC LIGHTS, AND STREETSCAPE WILL
MAKE THE LAPLAISANCE CORRIDOR FEEL MORE LIKE A DESTINATION AND THE VARIOUS
COMMERCIAL ESTABLISHMENTS MORE UNIFIED.
Water Trails in Monroe County
FOR EXAMPLE, THE LINK GOLF COURSE AND MINI-GOLF NEARBY COULD SUPPORT ADDITIONAL
RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES. IN A TWO-DAY PLANNING EXERCISE, MONROE HIGH SCHOOL
STUDENTS REQUESTED ADDITIONAL RECREATION ACTIVITIES IN THE MONROE COMMUNITY
SUCH AS A HIGH ROPES COURSE, A WATER PARK, FRISBEE GOLF, MORE ATV AND DIRT BIKE
TRAILS, AND A PAINTBALL FACILITY. BOLLES HARBOR COULD INCREASE THE NUMBER KAYAKERS
AND CANOEISTS WHO ACCESS THE WATER BY LEVERAGING THE CURRENT WATER TRAILS WORK
IN MONROE COUNTY. THE WATER TRAILS WORK COULD HELP INITIATE IMPROVED MARKETING,
KAYAK AND CANOE RENTALS, AND BETTER INFORMATION ON WHERE PADDLERS CAN ACCESS
THE WATER.
The Monroe County Planning department, in
cooperation with several project partners,
recently received a grant to develop a water
trail plan for Monroe County. Specifically, the
plan will focus on the Lake Erie Coastline and
the River Raisin.
IN THE INTERIM WHILE THE HORIZON OUTLET CENTER STILL HAS A NUMBER OF VACANCIES;
MONROE CHARTER TOWNSHIP SHOULD CONSIDER DEDICATING A PORTION OF THE CENTER TO
TEMPORARY VENDORS FOR SPECIAL EVENTS OR WEEKLY MARKETS. ARTS AND CULTURE ARE
ESSENTIAL COMPONENTS OF A THRIVING, KNOWLEDGE-BASED ECONOMY. ACCORDING TO A
RETAIL GAP ANALYSIS USING DATA FROM THE 2013 ESRI BUSINESS ANALYST DATABASE, THE
MONROE COMMUNITY HAS AN UNMET DEMAND FOR SPECIALTY FOOD AND SPECIALTY FOOD
SERVICES. AN EVEN GREATER DEMAND FOR THESE LOCAL, ‘VALUE-ADDED’ PRODUCTS IS
PROJECTED ONCE THE FULL HERITAGE CORRIDOR MASTER PLAN IS COMPLETE. BECAUSE OF ITS
PRIME LOCATION JUST OFF THE EXPRESSWAY, MONROE CHARTER TOWNSHIP HAS THE
OPPORTUNITY TO ATTRACT LOCALS AND TOURISTS TO THE HORIZON OUTLET CENTER. INVITING
LOCAL FARMERS AND ENTREPRENEURS TO BE VENDORS AT THE OUTLET CENTER WILL HAVE A
21
A water trail is a designated route along a
river, lake, canal or bay specifically designed
for people using small boats like kayaks,
canoes, single sailboats or rowboats. Water
trails feature well-developed access and
launch points, are near significant historical,
environmental or cultural points of interest,
and often include nearby amenities such as
restaurants, hotels and campgrounds.
Water trails can have a significant impact on
the local economy. Water trails can help
attract and support tourism and new business
opportunities. According to a report from
Michigan Sea Grant, the Outdoor Industry
Foundation estimated that in 2006 the annual
economic impact of paddlers in the Midwest
totaled $1.78 billion in trip-related spending
and $433 million in gear-related spending. In
addition, tax revenue from these activities
totaled $396 million and 35,000 jobs were
supported
POSITIVE EFFECT ON THE ECONOMY. THE MONROE COMMUNITY PLANNING SURVEY RESULTS
SHOWED THAT ABOUT HALF OF ALL MONROE CHARTER TOWNSHIP RESIDENTS HAVE BEEN TO
THE MONROE FARMER’S MARKET IN THE PAST YEAR, INDICATING THERE IS AN APPRECIATION
FOR LOCAL VALUE-ADDED PRODUCTS IN THE TOWNSHIP.
Suggested Edits to Map 7 Future Land Use Map:
1.
COMMERCIAL RECREATION SURROUNDING THE OLD QUARRY SHOULD BE EXPANDED
SO THAT IT CONNECTS WITH THE GREENWAY PATH THAT RUNS SOUTH FROM THE BATTLEFIELD.
2.
CONSIDER CHANGING THE ZONING DESIGNATION OF THE CORRIDOR BETWEEN
NORFOLK SOUTHERN RAILWAY AND CANADIAN NATIONAL RAILWAY FROM LIGHT INDUSTRIAL
TO PUBLIC/SEMI PUBLIC TO ACCOMMODATE A NON-MOTORIZED TRAIL.
22

Claire Karner - Resilient Monroe!

Transcription

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