A New Master Plan for Grand Traverse County

The communities of Grand Traverse County are undertaking a new planning process to develop a new master plan for the County. Key points about the planning process:

1. Utilize a bottom-up approach by engaging all local planning commissions
2. Build upon both master plans and the principles of the Grand Vision
3. More of a unifying work plan of local master plans - less comprehensive plan
4. Focus on top issues as defined by planners, existing plans, surveys and data
5. Establish communication first, then find opportunities for collaboration
6. Emphasis on placemaking
7. Maintain process with bi-annual planning summits

See the work plan timeline for an outline of the process. 

The master plan is supported, in part, by a HUD Community Challenge Planning Grant program through the Partnership for Sustainable Communties.   


Discussion Groups (First Round):

Group A. Protect Natural Resources, Open Space and the Landscape
Group B. Preserve Agricultural and Rural Land
Group C. Revise Development Standards
Group D. Plan for Town Centers, Village Centers and High Density Areas
Group E. Plan for Transportation, Infrastructure & Corridors
Group F. Collaborate and Plan Together on Common Land Use Issues
Group G. Housing Strategy
Group H. Foster Economic Development


Outreach to Planning Commissions:

Following the Discussion Group meetings, we continued the dialog by meeting with all of the Planning Commissions from January, 2012 through April 2012.  The notes from the meetings are included here. 

East Bay Twp Planning Commission 1-3-2012
Garfield Twp Planning Commission 1-11-2012
Peninsula Twp Planning Commission 1-16-2012
Blair Twp Planning Commission 1-18-2012
Green Lake Twp Planning Commission 1-23-2012
Union Township Planning Commission 1-31-2012
Mayfield Township Planning Commission 2-6-2012
Traverse City Planning Commisson 2-15-2012
Acme Township Planning Commission 2-20-2012
Long Lake Township Planning Commission 2-29-2012
Paradise Township Planning Commission 3-1-2012
Grant Township Planning Commission 3-7-2012
Fife Lake Township & Fife Lake Village Joint Planning Commissiuon 3-8-2012
Kingsley Village Planning Commission 3-26-2012
Whitewater Twp Planning Commission 4-4-2012



Discussion Groups (Second Round):

The second round of Discussion Groups were held in June and July, 2012.  The trend information and meeting notes are includued here:

Second Round Discussion Group - Trend Information:

Group A. Protect Natural Resources, Open Space, and the Landscape.
Group B. Preserve Agricultural and Rural Land
Group C. Revise Develpment Standards
Group D. Plan for Town Centers, Village Centers, and High Density Areas--Trend Information
Group E. Plan for Transportation, Infrastructure, and Corridors
Group F. Collaborate and Plan together on Common Land Use Issues
Group H. Foster Economic Development


Second Round Discussion Group - Meeting Notes:

Group A. Protect Natural Resources, Open Space, and the Landscape Notes
Group B. Preserve Agricultural and Rural Land Notes
Group C. Revise Development Standards Notes
Group D. Plan for Town Centers, Village Centers, and High Density Areas Notes
Group E. Plan for Transportation, Infrastructure, and Corridors Notes
Group F. Collaborate and Plan Together on Common Land Use Issues
Group H. Foster Economic Development

Additional Information:
GTC Master Plan - Sept 29, 2011 Planning Summit - Overview
GTC Master Plan - Sept 29, 2011 Planning Summit - Data Trends
The Grand Traverse County Databook