County Comprehensive Plan Comments

The City Council commented on the County Comprehensive Plan tonight. This plan will be going to public hearing in a few short weeks.

I made three main comments. First I was concerned that the transportation plan was passed last year. The transportation plan was passed without knowing the land use and changes in density or commercial/ industrial changes. In short the transportation plan was past roughly a year before knowing what traffic would generated or where it would be generated.

The second main concern is the potential doubling of population density in the townships. Will there be a moratorium to give time to have new ordinances and planning in place before the changes take affect? Is there a plan to increase the services to these areas including police protection? Will this increased population lead to higher county taxes that we as City residents pay but do not receive the same benefit?

The commercial/industrial changes concern me because there appears to be a 180 from trying to concentrate economic growth in the municipalities as was the focus of past County Comprehensive plans. The Cities have made the costly investment in infrastructure and staff. Will this be undercut by allowing more diverse commercial/industrial growth in townships? Will there be appropriate infrastructure and environmental controls in place. Again will there be a moratorium and proper planning and police protection.

When growth happens in one of the municipalities we pay for the extra police or public works cost through City taxes. When it happens in the townships it is covered by county taxes. We pay both taxes in the City and will therefore be subsidizing any increased County cost. This is why it is of special concern that our comments be heard. I hope the balance will be struck between Township and City but I do not believe this current Comprehensive Plan achieves that balance.