MUSKEGON - The Muskegon Area-wide Plan (MAP) is moving forward.

Designed to create a common vision and strategy for growth and development in Muskegon County, the MAP project has completed its first phase of information gathering. Close to 250 county residents gave their input during three community forums held last month. In addition MAP officials completed one-to-one interviews with stakeholders and a community telephone survey late last year.

HNTB Michigan Inc. of East Lansing is serving as consultant on the MAP project. Preliminary data gathered by HNTB found a disconnect between the population increase and land use. Over the next 20 years Muskegon County's population is estimated to increase by only 8 percent, while residential land use is anticipated to grow by 28 percent. Commercial land use will increase 20 percent; industrial land use is anticipated to grow 14 percent.

Input from the telephone survey conducted by Epic MRA and the community forums showed residents having strong feelings about Muskegon County's abundance of water and the close proximity to lakes and rivers. A majority felt that job creation and investments in higher education were keys to development. Many also felt strongly that redevelopment of urban areas was important and that any greenfield development within the county must be proactively managed.

Information gathered is now being analyzed and will be used to formulate visions, goals and objectives as well as proposed land use alternatives. Composite zoning and land use maps will be created and alternative land use scenarios will be developed. That information will be disseminated to the public during a second set of community forums in September.

Laketon Township Supervisor Roland Crummel is heading a steering committee overseeing the project. Crummel told MiBiz he is pleased with the positive reaction to the MAP project. "The real proof of this project's success will be how the final plan is accepted by the community - whether it's adopted by the county through the metropolitan planning commission or adopted by local townships and cities that subscribe to the idea and support it, Crummel said. "I'm optimistic they will."

MAP organizers are planning to produce a series of newsletters throughout the year to update the public on their progress. A tentative action plan is scheduled to be unveiled in January 2004.

Fourteen Muskegon County townships, seven cities and two villages are participating in the 18-month MAP project, which is being coordinated by the West Michigan Shoreline Regional Development Commission (WMSRDC). Agencies such as the Federal Highway Administration, the MichCon Foundation, Muskegon Area Chamber of Commerce, Muskegon Area First, the Muskegon Area Intermediate School District, Muskegon County Cooperating Churches and the U.S. Department of Agriculture are supporting the effort.