"Acting as One to Accelerate Regional Cooperation"
November 3, 2003
Conference Summary
West Michigan leaders broke into smaller workgroups to discuss and prioritize
ways to spur regional collaboration during the recent Acting as One to Accelerate
Regional Cooperation conference at the Meijer Gardens conference center. Each
of the workgroups produced a series of recommendations that are summarized
in the following report.
Nearly 200 of the 600 attendees at the November 3 regional cooperation conference
took advantage of the opportunity to vote, electronically, on some of the recommendations
included in the report of the Governor's Land Use Leadership Council. While
the voting results pointed to a wide range of opinions on key issues, there
was support for several key recommendations that are already moving through
the Legislature.
Former Lansing Mayor David C. Hollister, who now serves as Director of the
new state Department of Labor and Economic Growth, urged attendees to continue
thinking regionally and acting locally to solve a wide range of problems facing
West Michigan communities. Hollister, who served 20 years in the Michigan House
of Representatives, praised regional collaboration initiatives in West Michigan
and implored attendees from the public, private and institutional sectors to
continue working together to improve economic growth opportunities in the region.
Breakout Results – Recommendations for Process & Involvement
Enabling legislation for this collaboration with incentives
Education & information for public involvement
Seek input from all potential populations
Collaborative planning respecting each others individuality and uniqueness
Developing ownership of a regional perspective
Modify zoning ordinances
Sharing knowledge (not reinventing the wheels)
Cooperation among governments (incentives vs. mandated )
Communication to stakeholders on a regular basis
Make sure there are clear incentives. We need to understand the economics
of development.
Voting Results Summary
Demographics
What sector do you represent? Government 52% - Business 20% - Non-Profit
25% -
Other 4%
What part of the Tri-plex do you align with? Grand Rapids 66% - Holland
19% -
Muskegon 15%
What is your primary interest? Rural Issues 41% - Urban Issues 59%
How familiar are you with the recommendations? First exposure 17% - Some
exposure
54% - Very familiar 28%
Where do you live? City 49% - Township 48% - Village 4
MLULC Report Priorities
Siting of Public Facilities. 60 %
State and Local Assistance in Attracting Private Investment. 63%
Public/Private Support for Livable Communities. 66%
Governmental Programs: Land Division Act reforms. 61%
Education and Public Information: Land use education. 62%
Housing and Development: Manufactured home community legislation. 67%
State Role in Land Use and Intergovernmental Cooperation: Establishment
of state land use goals for Michigan . 66%
State Role in Land Use and Intergovernmental Cooperation: Modernization
of the planning and zoning enabling acts. 61%
Regional Land Use and Intergovernmental Cooperation: Regional and multi-jurisdictional
partnerships. 60%
Local Governance Structure: Authorization of joint planning commissions.
79%
Balanced Growth Strategy: Balancing the authorization of new planning
and zoning tools with certainty for obtaining approval for higher density.
60%
