Jun. 10, 2010 - Onekama Plan Paves Way for Community and State
Contact: Tim Ervin
231-723-4325
For Immediate Release
ONEKAMA PLAN PAVES WAY FOR COMMUNITY AND STATE
Onekama, Michigan – A blueprint for the future of two Michigan communities in Manistee County has been created in the Onekama Community Master Plan, a collaborative initiative between Onekama Township and the Village of Onekama to work together toward common visions and goals and achieve economies of scale for the future of the municipalities.
An evaluation of the two-year initiative completed by an independent firm, Draze Consulting, reports that the new Joint Master Plan meets or exceeds best practices for master planning as well as the original goals and expectations for the project. The evaluation of the project was completed to provide a model for governmental units throughout Michigan to consider in using economies of scale to provide efficient management of resources, in keeping with recommendations of the Michigan Land Use Leadership Council.
The Plan focuses on strategies for community sustainability and is structured around the principles of Smart Growth as a way to sustain the community in ways that do not compromise quality of life and the environment for future generations. The plan contains goals and strategies for the Portage Lake watershed, economic development, land use, water quality management, biodiversity and natural ecosystems, community connectivity and human infrastructure.
Steps are underway in the Onekama Community to begin implementation of the Joint Plan, including development of a new community ordinance and a “Gateway to M-22” project to implement economic development recommendations of the Plan, funded under a grant from the U. S. Department of Agriculture – Rural Development.
The collaborative effort is viewed as a model for partnership among governmental entities in Michigan and has been supported in part by grants from the W. K. Kellogg Foundation, Oleson Foundation, Michigan Coastal Management Program and Manistee County Community Foundation.
The development of the Joint Master Plan was guided by a diverse community leadership team. One role of the leadership team was to ensure that all community interests had multiple opportunities to participate in development of the plan. The Plan was then reviewed by a joint Township/Village Planning Commission that was established by the two governing bodies to ensure collaboration prior to Plan adoption.The firm Beckett & Raeder facilitated the project and helped draft the joint master plan. The Manistee County Community Foundation assisted in securing grants for developing the Plan. The Manistee-based Alliance for Economic Success administered grants and assisted with project coordination and is continuing to help the community in seeking grant support for Plan implementation.
“Since completing our assessment of opportunities for local government cooperation in 2009, we’ve watched with interest the efforts in the Onekama Community to unify their community around a vision and a plan for their future that crossed municipal boundaries,” said Eric Lupher of the Citizens Research Council of Michigan. “This effort and evaluation report should be of considerable benefit to communities that are considering joint planning or any form of shared service, particularly those that seek to build economies of scale to be sustainable for the future.”
As noted in the evaluation by Draze Consulting:
“The two local governments made the commitment to develop a plan to protect and sustain their quality of life and economic well-being. The Joint Master Plan was an essential component to guiding the development of a community that has grown over 20% in the past ten years. The intent was to provide the framework under which the community can increase commerce, plan for public services, preserve natural resources, build strong neighborhoods and guide new development.”
The evaluation report concluded that: “Evidence points to the Onekama Joint Community Master Plan being successfully implemented and becoming a model for community planning that can be used across rural Michigan and beyond.”
A full copy of the Onekama Community Master Plan and a copy of the Village of Onekama and Onekama Township Joint Master Plan Development – Final Evaluation Report by Draze Consulting are available here.