Public Hearing

A public hearing on the proposed Master Plan amendment for Long Lake Township, as required by the Township Planning Act, Act 168 of 1959 as amended, was held on January 18, 2000, at the Township Hall.   Section Nine of the Act requires that thirty days notice of public hearing be given in two publications at least two weeks apart and not less than seven days before the hearing.  Notice of the public hearing was published in the Record Eagle Newspaper.  Copies of the public hearing notice and dates published are on file at the Township Hall.

The purpose of the public hearing was to present the proposed master plan amendment and to accept comments from the public. The public hearing began with a brief explanation of the planning process.  Plan development included workshops and several Planning Commission meetings and input from the public.  During the hearing, information on existing conditions, priority resource areas, goals and objectives and future forest resource areas were presented. 
 

Plan Adoption

On January 18, 2000, the Planning Commission formally adopted the master plan amendment. 
 

Legal Transmittals

Michigan planning law requires that the adopted Master plan be transmitted to the Township Board.  The plan must also be submitted for review and comment to the Grand Traverse County Planning Commission.  The community forestry plan was transmitted to the Township Board and the Grand Traverse County Planning Commission.
 

Plan Implementation

A Master plan is developed to provide a vision of the community's future.  It is designed to serve as a tool for decision making on future development proposals.  A Master plan will also act as a guide for future public investment and service decisions, such as the local budget, grant applications, road standards development, community group activities, tax incentive decisions, and administration of utilities and services.

According to the Township Rural Zoning Act, comprehensive planning is the legal basis for the development of a zoning ordinance.  Section Three of the Act states:  "The zoning ordinance shall be based on a plan designed to promote the public health, safety and general welfare; to encourage the use of lands in accordance with their character and adaptability, and to limit the improper use of land; to conserve natural resources and energy; to meet the needs of the state's residents for food, fiber, and other natural resources, places to reside, recreation, industry, trade, service, and other uses of land; to insure that use of the land shall be situated in appropriate locations and relationships; to avoid the overcrowding of population; to provide adequate light and air; to lessen congestion of the public roads and streets; to reduce hazards to life and property; to facilitate adequate provision for a system of transportation, sewage disposal, safe and adequate water supply, education, recreation, and other public requirements; and to conserve the expenditure of funds for public improvements and services to conform with the most advantageous use of land resources, and properties."

Zoning
The zoning ordinance is on of the tools for implementing this Master plan amendment.  Zoning is the authority to regulate private use of land by creating land use zones and applying development standards in various zoning districts.  Long Lake Township is in the process of updating its zoning ordinance.  Recommendations presented in the Community Forestry Plan should be incorporated in the zoning ordinance update.

Grants and Budget
The Township is committed to implementing actions recommended in this plan and intends to appropriate dollars from its general fund.  However, in order to implement the technical assistance and public education components of the community forestry plan, Long Lake Township will need to seek additional funding sources to supplement appropriations from its general fund.  The Township should develop grant proposals to Michigan Department of Natural Resources and the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality.  Additionally, local and state foundations are another potential source for funding assistance.

Partnerships
Long Lake Township does not have the technical staff to accomplish the proposed technical assistance and education programs on its own.  Nor does it intend to hire full time staff to implement these programs.  There are agencies and organizations in Northwest Michigan that have staff who already work in these program areas.  It was determined in the planning process, the best way to accomplish identified goals, is to first develop a cooperative arrangement with interested agencies and organizations.  Long Lake Township will seek to develop partnership agreements with agencies and organizations to initiate proposed technical assistance and public education programs.  After this has been completed, Long Lake Township and participating groups will develop a work plan for carrying out the programs.