A vital step in the development of a general development plan is the establishment of a policy plan or statement. The formulation of such statements may evolve from a desire to remedy an existing or projected problem or may be based on a perception of an ideal community. Policy development is the most important element of the general development plan.
By establishing concise policies, Reed City can meet the challenges of the future in a definitive manner. The policy planning process is based on the assumption that a community wide consensus should be developed before realistic plans for future growth can be prepared.
The process of establishing policy is an aid to the daily decision-making process. Clear statements benefit municipal government, developers, and the public. Local government, in particular, can perform more efficiently and consistently when policy is established. The time necessary for considering and acting on recurring problems can be greatly reduced if policy guideline have been established.
Private enterprise and the general public benefit when specific policy statements are adopted. By establishing policies, they can have a better understanding of the general rules governing future development and can make decisions accordingly. In addition, public confidence in the local level of government is enhanced with a clear understanding of the planning process and how the goals for the community are to be achieved.
The benefits of establishing goals and policies for the City of Reed City are as follows:
- Consistency: A comprehensive list of policies concerning a variety of planning issues can do much to minimize arbitrary decision-making.
- Efficiency: Clearly stated policies may reduce the amount of time spent on individual projects while providing sound planning principles to aid in the process.
- Coordination: Policy statements create a single framework within which the city council, planning commission, staff, and the public can work under in the development of the city.
- Stability: Policies are general in nature and, thus, provide an element of stability as the plan is modified over time.
- Guide to Decision-Making and Review: Policies are necessary in adopting sound land use decisions and are helpful to the courts in judging the fairness of specific controls in the context of an overall plan for the community.
SURVEY
Several years ago, the Reed City Chamber of Commerce conducted a survey of the city's residents in an attempt to more fully understand the attitude of the residents concerning Reed City businesses. Of the total number of surveys delivered to homeowners and renters, only a small percent were returned. A new survey should be conducted to determine what the city's highest priority should be. Top priorities for the city may be to promote industry, improve public services, improve the city's infrastructure or that more jobs are needed in the city.
From a land use perspective, respondents might comment on whether or not (1) residential neighborhoods should be protected from incompatible land uses; (2) stores and businesses should be restricted to certain areas within the city; (3) their neighbor should be able to build up to their property line; (4) they would like to see single-family housing, apartment complexes, condominiums, or a mobile home park.
The public may also want to comment on sewer services, schools, fire protection, ambulance service, water services, parks and recreation, police protection, drainage, downtown parking, and streets and roads.
It is often of interest to learn if property owners are willing to pay to improve public services, police protection, fire protection, and streets and roads. In October of 1993, the planning commission and city staff compiled a list of important issues in the city. The results are based upon the priority ranking of this input.
1) Develop a certified industrial park along US-10 and use property along US-131 for residential development.
2) Encourage commercial development downtown and along South Chestnut.
3) Provide for good quality affordable housing.
4) Clean-up abandoned commercial properties.
5) Improve the condition of existing residential neighborhoods.
POLICY GOALS
As a vital component of the planning process, the following policy goals were developed by the planning commission in consideration of the needs of the city and discussions with the city staff and administrators:
Goal: Encourage (1) economic development and (2) improve employment opportunities.
- Encourage both commercial and industrial development in appropriate locations in the city.
- Take advantage of the city's location along the US-10 and US-131 transportation corridors.
- Develop a certified industrial park between US-10, the railroad, and Roth and Dailey Streets.
- Improve public services, such as streets, sidewalks, and police and fire protection to prepare for and attract new commercial and industrial establishments.
- Encourage stores and businesses to locate in the city.
- Promote existing industrial partnerships and facilities to attract additional industrial development.
- Consider and plan for future cooperation with Richmond Township to promote continued economic growth and residential opportunities.
Goal: Improve and maintain high-quality public services to meet the needs of a growing community.
- Coordinate public services between the city, county, and neighboring communities whenever possible.
- Closely monitor sanitary sewer, storm drainage, public water, and other public services; and improve as necessary.
- Study the parking conditions in the downtown area to identify alternatives to the present parking situation.
- Plan for future street and sidewalk improvements as necessary.
- Provide for adequate capacities to serve future industrial demands.
- Prepare and adopt design standard guidelines for roads, utilities, and other improvements that are proposed by developers, public utilities, and the city.
Goal: Provide for a well-balanced land use pattern to minimize conflicts between various land uses.
- Educate city residents, and ensure municipal advocacy of the goals and policies of this plan.
- Strive for compliance with the future land use map to ensure a minimum of land use conflicts.
- Revise the zoning ordinance to implement the land use policies identified in this plan.
- Protect the residential areas of the city from incompatible, higher-density land uses.
- Encourage new commercial development in the downtown, in existing commercial areas, and along major transportation routes.
- Encourage new industrial development to provide a more efficient business environment and to minimize conflicts with neighboring land uses.
- Create a designated industrial park using existing industrial areas along with adequate vacant land for future development.
- Encourage the strict consolidation of industrial development in one or two designated areas, one of which would be the certified industrial park.
Goal: Provide additional high-quality residential opportunities for the residents of the city.
- Encourage and promote new residential areas with access to full public services.
- Allow medium-density, single-family residential development in most areas of the city.
- Provide for multiple-family residential growth, provided it is located in appropriate areas and made compatible with adjacent uses.
- Discourage singlewide mobile homes outside of mobile home parks.
- Establish programs that improve the quality of existing housing stock, and elevate the appearance of residential areas.
Goal: Provide recreational opportunities for city residents.
- Encourage an adequate range of recreational opportunities for city residents, such as playgrounds, picnic areas, and neighborhood parks.
- Maintain all existing facilities in peak condition.
- Provide recreational improvement projects listed in the city's recreation plan, and apply for state and federal recreation grant monies.
- Optimize the utilization of all existing facilities, including county and school properties.
- Use abandoned railroad rights-of-way as a local and regional recreational amenity and economic generator.
Goal: Promote a clean, healthy, and attractive natural environment.
- Protect the ground and surface water from urban contamination and pollution, and clean up existing environmental problem areas.
Provided by the Reed City Downtown Development Authority.
This site is continually being updated, if you have any comments or suggestions, please take a minute to write [email protected].
Return to General Development Plan Table of ContentsBack to Reed City Main Page.
Back to
Main Page.
MultiMag is not affiliated with external sites and is not responsible for their content.
Copyright © MultiMag 1996