. By Tim Gwozdz
MiBiz Network

October 4, 2004

MUSKEGON — The Muskegon Area-wide Plan (MAP) is rounding the final stretch of its multi-year run. Designed to create a shared vision for the future of Muskegon County, the project will enter the implementation phase later this month with a special leadership briefing and the unveiling of a final planning document.

The MAP process began in 2002 when local government and community leaders with the assistance of the West Michigan Shoreline Regional Development Commission (WMSRDC) regional planning agency developed a planning process to define the qualities and assets of Muskegon County and set forth a course of action to preserve them. The MAP vision concentrates on five areas: land use and growth; natural resources, open space and the environment; economy and jobs; infrastructure; and quality of life.

Public forums were held and various scenarios for growth were proposed. Public input was received and a smart growth scenario was chosen as the best course of action for the county. With WMSRDC projecting a countywide population increase of 22,000 over the next 20 years, the smart growth scenario will enable officials to direct growth into areas where planned and invested infrastructure already exists. MAP organizers say this chosen vision will eliminate the need to develop forest and farmland, halt potential new air pollution and save taxpayers money by eliminating the cost of installing nearly 150 miles of water and wastewater lines and building and staffing new fire stations.

A final public forum was held last month to introduce the smart growth concept and get final citizen input. According to Erin Kuhn of WMSRDC, the MAP steering committee must now put the implementation process on the long-awaited county vision into motion.

"The steering committee is going through implementation strategies identified at the forum and trying to identify strategies for the divisions we established last year," said Kuhn. Exactly who will be doing what and the coordinating timeframes for action will be part of a final document that is being released at this month’s leadership meeting.

With the drafting of the final document complete, the idea now is to issue a challenge to community leaders to implement the chosen growth strategies found in the plan.

"The MAP steering committee will remain in place to review what happens and guide the implementation strategies," said Kuhn

Fourteen Muskegon County townships, seven cities and two villages have participated in the MAP effort. Numerous 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 throwing in their support.

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