WHAT IS A MASTER PLAN?

WHY HAVE A MASTER PLAN?

It is Required by the Michigan Planning Enabling Act (MPEA)

The MPEA requires that the Master Plan “make careful and comprehensive surveys and studies of present conditions and future growth within the planning jurisdiction with due regard to its relation to neighboring jurisdictions” Section 31(2)(a)). This includes information such as demographic and housing data and conditions within a community such as existing environmental and transportation information. This information is the background data, studies and resources that are used to help create the goals and objectives of the master plan. In newer master plan this information is put into a “fact book” and included by reference in the Master Plan. This allows the Master Plan document to be more streamlined and easier to use by reducing the overall size of the document and only including the more important information in the actual Plan.

MPEA also requires “A master plan shall address land use and infrastructure issues and may project 20 years or more into the future. A master plan shall include maps, plats, charts, and descriptive, explanatory, and other related matter and shall show the planning commission’s recommendations for the physical development of the planning jurisdiction” (Sec. 33(1)). This information also can mostly be found in the fact book.

In addition to this required information MPEA also states that the Master Plan shall include the following subjects if they are considered in determining the future development of the Township:

1. A land use plan that includes a classification and allocation of land for various uses (Sec. 33(2)(a);

2. Recommendations on infrastructure including transportation for all users of roadways (Sec. 33(2)(b));

3. Recommendations for redevelopment or rehabilitation of blighted areas (Sec. 33(2)(c));

4. For a local unit of government that has adopted a zoning ordinance, a zoning plan (Sec. 33(2)(d)) and

5. Recommendations for implementing any of the master plan’s proposals (Sec. 33(2)(e)).

MPEA (Sec 7(2)(d)) suggest that the Master Plan also include “among other things, promotion of or adequate provision for one or more of the following:

1. A system of transportation to lessen congestion on streets and provide for safe and efficient movement of people and goods by motor vehicles, bicycles, pedestrians, and other legal users.

2. Safety from fire and other dangers.

3. Light and air.

4. Healthful and convenient distribution of population.

5. Good civic design and arrangement and wise and efficient expenditure of public funds.

6. Public utilities such as sewage disposal and water supply and other public improvements.

7. Recreation.

8. The use of resources in accordance with their character and adaptability.”

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The Master Plan will be used by Hamburg Township to do the following:

• Make better decisions about where to invest in public infrastructure and improve municipal services. 

• Understand changing demographics and how shifts might impact housing, municipal services, transportation needs, and other aspects of town life.

• Bring residents together to talk about the Town’s future.

• Be eligible for funding opportunities, showing how projects have been vetted with the public and are local priorities.

• Its most important goal is to protect and enhance the things in Hamburg Township that make it a great place to live, both for today’s residents and future generations.