Community Strategic Plans
A Sense of Place and a
Sustainable Future
Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners
2006/07 Planning Process
March 2, 2005
1
Agenda

Mandated responsibilities and
services

Beyond mandates - transition to a
more holistic approach

Community leadership - partners,
systems and forums

Assessment of community needs

Community Impact
2
Community of Interest
Intergov’t
Cooperation
Land
Use
Transportation
Sewer &
Water
Agriculture
Horticulture
Parks &
Recreation
A Sense of Place
& Sustainable
Future
Housing
Historic
Preservation
Natural
Resources
3
Health
Solid
Waste
Emergency
Preparedness
Economic
Develop.
Separate
Presentations
Mandated Services and
Local Priorities
Environment
 Parks and Recreation
 Economic Development
 Water, Sewer, and Development
Services
 Transportation
 Land Use

4
Mandated Services and Local
Priorities
Environment:

Water Management
• Drain Construction and Improvement Projects
• Drain and Lake Operations and Maintenance
• Develop and Implement Federal Storm Water Permit
• Implement “Total Maximum Daily Loads” Mandate
• Watershed Management Plans
• Soil Erosion and Sedimentation Control
• Pollution Prevention
• Illicit Discharge Correction
• Invasive Species
5
Mandated Services and Local
Priorities
Environment (cont’d):

Natural Areas Preservation

Solid Waste
• Landfill Management
• Home Toxics
• Waste Knot


Lake Management
Sanitation
Restaurants
 Group Homes and Mobile Home Communities
 Public Pools and Beaches
• Communicable Disease
• Serve Safe (Food Safety)

6
Mandated Services and Local
Priorities
Parks and Recreation:

Acquisition, Development and Operation of County Park
System

County-wide Trail System

Natural Areas Preservation
Economic Development:

Brownfield Redevelopment

Workforce Development
• Adult and Youth Training
• Dislocated Worker Job Assistance
• Welfare to Work
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• Corporate Services
Mandated Services and Local
Priorities
Water, Sewer and Development Services:

Local Government Water and Sewer Systems

Development Plan Review and Inspections

On-site Water and Sewer Systems

Time-of-Sale Program
Transportation:
8

Planning, Construction, Operation and
Maintenance of County Road System

Transit

Non-Motorized Systems
Mandated Services and Local
Priorities
Land Use:
9

Local Plan and Plan Amendment Reviews

County Comprehensive Plan

Historic Districts

Watershed Management Plans

Agriculture and Horticulture

PA 116

Citizen Planner Education Program

Development Reviews
Beyond Mandates
Transition to a more holistic approach
10
Community Vision
A Sense of Place and a
Sustainable Future
11
Broad Community of Interest
Requires a Systems Approach
Intergov’t
Cooperation
Land
Use
Transportation
Sewer &
Water
Agriculture
Horticulture
Parks &
Recreation
A Sense of Place
& Sustainable
Future
Housing
Historic
Preservation
Natural
Resources
12
Health
Solid
Waste
Emergency
Preparedness
Economic
Develop.
Community
Leadership
Partners, systems and forums
13
Community Partners
State & Federal

Michigan Department of Transportation

Michigan Department of Agriculture

Michigan Department of Environmental Quality

Michigan Department of Natural Resources

Michigan Family Independence Agency

Michigan Dept. of Labor and Economic Development

Environmental Protection Agency

Food and Drug Administration

Center for Disease Control
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Community Partners
Local Governments and Agencies

Cities, Townships & Villages

County Departments

County Road Commission

Washtenaw Area
Transportation Study

School Districts and
Universities

Michigan Townships
Association

Workforce Development
Board
15

Local Recreation
Departments

Huron Clinton
Metropolitan Authority

Neighboring
Communities

Washtenaw Development
Council

Ann Arbor Transportation
Authority
Community Partners
Community Members/Groups

Property Owners

Watershed Councils

Nature Conservancies

Land Trusts

Land Developers and Homebuilders

Recreational Organization and Enthusiasts

Sustainable Washtenaw

MSU Extension Councils and Volunteers

Commodity Groups and Business Associations
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
Chambers of Commerce
Regular Partner Meetings


Regular meetings with Local Governments to review specific
projects, local needs and expand partnerships
Storm Water Permit Intergovernmental Coordinating Committee –
forum for sharing resources and information

Storm Water Permit County-wide Citizens’ Advisory Committee secure public input on programs and gain wider participation

Community Partners for Clean Streams

Annual Local Government Planning Workshop

Extension Advisory Council and Local Advisory Councils

Regional planning groups

Solid Waste Consortium

Building Officials Group

Workforce Development Board
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Assessment of
community needs
Data-based decision making
18
Assessing Community Needs
Surveys

HCMA Recreation Survey 2001

WCPARC recreation usage and awareness survey
2003

UM Detroit Area Study (land use and public services)
2002

MSU Extension Survey 2001

WCRC Community Profile Survey (rating of
infrastructure by Townships) 2004
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Assessing Community Needs
During Development of Strategic Plans

Recreational Summit 2004

Parks and Recreation Master Plan Public Hearings
and presentations

Comprehensive Plan Public Hearings and Workshops
2004-2005

Public Meetings on Watershed Plans, Permits and
Projects

Agriculture Economic Development Conference 2000

Report Card 2005 Joint Community Board Meetings

Public Workshops on the 2006-2011 WCRC Capital
Improvements Plan
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Community Assessment Example
Parks and Recreation
Develop a County-wide system of
pedestrian and bicycle trails7
Purchase land for conservation
71%
62%
6
Purchase land for parks and
active recreation 5
54%
50%
Develop more outdoor activities 4
Renovate existing facilities
3
Develop more indoor facilities
2
Add new facilities to existing parks
1
0%
21
47%
42%
40%
Source: Washtenaw County
Parks and Recreation
Commission Survey, 2003
Relative Importance to County Residents
% of Total Sample that rated these items
“Very Important/Important” on a scale of 1-5
100%
Community Assessment Example
Comprehensive Plan
20.3%
19.4%
Land Use
Transportation
11.4%
11.3%
10.9%
Natural Resources
Intergov't Cooperation
Infrastructure
9.7%
Economic Development
6.5%
4.5%
4.2%
Housing
Agriculture
Parks and Recreation
Historic Preservation
Solid Waste
0%
22
1.3%
0.6%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
Community Needs
Environment
 Preserve Existing Natural Areas
 Protect and Restore Water Quality
 Meet Federal Mandates
Parks and Recreation
 Recreation opportunities for all ages
 County-wide open space/trail system
Economic Development
 Replace Loss of Jobs in Manufacturing Sector
 Provide Workforce Development for Sectors
23
Community Needs
Transportation
 Alternatives to the automobile
 Coordinate road policies with land use
Land Use
 Coordinate Land Uses Among Local Units of
Government
 Protect the charm and uniqueness of
Hamlets, Towns and Villages
 Support agriculture viability
 Revitalize downtowns
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Community Needs
Intergovernmental Cooperation
Cooperation to improve services and
reduce costs
 County should expand its facilitation role

25
From Community Needs
to Community Impact
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Response to Community Needs
Strategic Planning

Parks and Recreation 2004-2008 Master Plan

A Comprehensive Plan for Washtenaw County
2020

Watershed Plans

Plans to meet Water Quality Mandates

Report Card 2005 & Beyond

2006-2011 WCRC Capital Improvements and
Master ROW Plan
27
Response to Community Needs
Projects & Sustainable Structures
Environment

Watershed plan implementation: governments
and community groups

Drain Commissioner Education Partnership

MSU Education Plan: high risk areas in Stoney
Creek Watershed

Annual Water Quality Report
28
Response to Community Needs
Projects & Sustainable Structures
Parks and Recreation
 Youth and families
 County-wide trail system
Economic Development
 Sector development (A2 Tech Central)
 Sector-based workforce development
strategies
 Agriculture and food economy (Leadership
Group)
29
Response to Community Needs
Projects & Sustainable Structures
Transportation
30

Capital Improvements Program: MultiYear Plan for Transportation (WCRC)

Non-Motorized Network: Alternatives to
the Automobile (WATS)
Response to Community Needs
Projects & Sustainable Structures
Land Use

Regional open space systems (WMA Pilot that
can be used by other regions)

Agriculture and food economy (Regional
Leadership Group)

Watershed management plans developed
before areas experience growth (Governments
and Community Groups)

Plan amendment reviews (Expanded Review
Group Planning, Drains, Roads, Parks, WATS)
31
Response to Community Needs
Projects & Sustainable Structures
Intergovernmental Cooperation
o
Thinking and Acting Regionally: Formal
Regional Arrangements for Public Services,
Land Use and Natural Resource Protection
32
Next Steps

Continuation of Strategic Planning
Initiatives for Community Impact

Presentations to BOC in May to highlight
Community Goals being proposed for
2006/07
34