Three Themes
Open Space/Greenways
Create compact centers of Regional Activity
Promote compact livable communities
Blueprint Strategies
Appoint Blueprint Commission
Complete Inventory of Natural Assets
Define a Metro network of Open Lands/Green spaces
Design Transit system based on Blueprint Development Concepts
Define current Regional Employment Centers/Locate probable Future
Centers
Review Water/Sewer utility services and the way they serve land use
patterns
Committee of Public/Private Professionals to devise ways to encourage
Compact/Livable communities
Create/Encourage sub-regional planning alliances to address specific
issues
Immediate Steps
Appoint Blueprint Commission
Seek support area governmental units
Develop sound funding base for implementation
Organize Greenways Network process
Form Land Use Advisory Committee
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Task Forces
Land Use Visions
Develop "Metro" perspective
Establish voluntary "Review and comment" procedure
for local master plans
User friendly summary of the blueprint
Create "Vital Central Business District"
Develop comprehensive Downtown Mobility system
Reuse existing sites and buildings
Inventory existing underutilized sites
Amend legislation, Covenants "Not to sue"
Promote growth in compact form (clusters)
Promote local adoption of Cluster regulations (result in open
spaces)
Develop metro mechanism to coordinate growth
Place stronger emphasis on natural systems
Encourage regional growth in compact centers
Encourage/promote future development in regional activity
centers
Develop regional funding for public transit
Provide zoning incentives to encourage use of public transit
Provide employment and services close to residential
Revise local ordinances to allow/promote close home/work
Provide financial incentives for neighborhood business centers
Develop network of open lands
On going funding for natural resource
inventory
Improve community awareness (seminars/education)
Neighborhoods will be attractive/stable/safe/well served
Metro wide tax base sharing
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Transportation Visions
Transportation will serve land use patterns
Create Blueprint commission to address regional employment centers,
compact livable communities and open space/green space networks
Passenger Rail
Do feasibility study for short/long term public transit to Chicago/Detroit
Re-emerging Transit/multi modal
Expand MPO to include agencies responsible for transportation related
facilities /services
Conduct feasibility study for land use vis a vis transit,
expanded transit services in KOMA regional, and expanded
services within metro region
Multi-modal transit plan/services
Streets will be better maintained, expanded, support clusters
Plan roads and services based on activity
centers
Employ land use advisory committee to
avoid strip commercial development
Require neighborhood impact statements
for all street projects
Expand non-motorized routes
Planning process to include bike/pedestrians
Establish standards for design and construction
Kent County International Airport
Increase inter modal system for airport area
Freight- Rail services
Do market study for rail service expansion
Maintain existing rail connections
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Utility Task Force Visions
Single region water and sewer authority
Expand metro water and sewer plan agency to include citizen,
environmental, business participation
Include storm water issues in MWSPA
Explore cooperation for lab, IPP, permitting, etc., for cost effectiveness
Evaluate single authority
Reinforce land use policies through utility development
Participate in growth management issues/legislation
Update Utility Master Plan
Expansion Costs to be borne by new users (For whom
Adopt policies where new development pays full cost of utility
expansion/service
Utilities should emphasize resource conservation
Require water conservation measures/adopt rates to encourage rates
to encourage conservation
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Information Exchange Visions
Develop information exchange
Create information network: Have program to educate business,encourage
network standards, have liaison with state and federal, and
have economic development agencies participate.
Secure capacity on all networks within the public ROW for
public use
Environmental/Natural Resource Visions
Policies/development will be environmentally sound; will enhance,
not degrade the environment
Storm water Management/soil erosion training for contractors
Create awards program for "Sustainable Communities"
Expand WMEAC "Adopt a Stream"
Develop Regional Green Space Network
Establish Grand Valley Green Ways Commission
Develop Green way concept plan
Initiate planning for Priority Green ways
Encourage Open Space Zoning
Reuse Contaminated Sites/Prevent further pollution
Support Act 307 Changes (allow for Type C cleanup)
Develop/encourage organizational alternatives for Multi-site cleanups
Identify one site for Demonstration project
Promote continued education for recycling/waste reduction
Priscilla Babcock .
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