GVSU Metropolitan Strategy Initiative
A partnership with the Michigan Higher Education Land Policy Consortium (MIHELP)
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WEST MICHIGAN LAND USE STUDIES

 

CREATING HEALTHY COMMUNITIES
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Building Great Neighborhoods: A Citizen's Guide for Neighborhood Planning 
“…outlines a neighborhood planning process that can assist residents, businesses and other neighborhood stakeholders in taking control of their future.”
Land Policy Institute, 2007

Can Small Towns Be Cool?
“…an example driven, visually graphic interactive presentation that showcases successful community initiatives. Based on visits to more than 250 best-practice communities in 12 states, the 60-75 minute adaptable presentation provides 10 success themes with actual  community examples that build vitality.”
Dave Ivan, November 2007

Creating Communities of Support for Kent County’s Aging Population
“The purpose of this study is to explore what needs to be done at the local level to prepare for the aging of the population. Key questions include: What is the demographic make-up of the senior and soon-to-be senior population in Kent County, Michigan? What issues have the potential of affecting the local community of Kent County as their population ages? What services are already available to support aging citizens in the area? “
Grand Rapids Community Foundation, December 2002

Creating Cool Cities by Building Great Neighborhoods
This PowerPoint presentation outlines the neighborhood-based planning approach that the Kent County Michigan State University Extension is attempting to implement.
Carol Townsend, February 2006

Design Guidelines for Active Michigan Communities
“This book was created to help people in Michigan—city and township leaders, elected officials, planners, transportation professionals, parks and recreation professionals, bicycle enthusiasts, business owners, and neighborhood residents—envision and create safe, walkable, bikeable, and enjoyable Michigan communities.”
Land Policy Institute, 2007

Ethnic Connections in the Grand Rapids Area
This comprehensive list of ethnic institutions and businesses in the Grand Rapids Area is complete with maps, conversion charts, and a brief explanation of American Heritage and culture, as it relates to business activity.
The Right Place, Inc.,March 2006

Green Building and the Triple Bottom Line
A PowerPoint presentation that outlines the impact and benefits of building green.
Guy Bazzani, February 2007

Measuring the Impact of Community Design on Health in Michigan
“A public assessment of land use, conservation, and healthy lifestyles.”
Christine Vogt, February 2006

Patterns and Partners: Managing Sprawl in the Grand Rapids Metropolitan Area
A PowerPoint presentation that outlines the influences that are effecting the sprawl patterns in the Grand Rapids Metropolitan Area.
Andrew Bowman, February 2007

Smart Growth Readiness Assessment Tool
“The online tool will provide two options: first, a simple, quick assessment for individuals to gauge their understanding of Smart Growth principles and, second an extensive tool that includes a thorough community assessment.”
Land Policy Institute, 2007

 

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
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2006 and 2007 Economic Forecast for Muskegon County: Good News
Outlines the history and forecast on the Muskegon County economy in light of the State and National economies.
W.E. Upjohn Institute, January 2006

Ecotourism: A Perfect Fit for Michigan: The Great Waters 
A PowerPoint Presentation that outlines the efforts of Northern Michigan Communities to capitalize on the natural resources of the Great Lakes using the triple-bottom line approach.
Christine Rector, February 2007

Emerging Trends: Community and Economic Development in Grand Rapids
“This project intends to track data for each of the [Grand Rapids Community] Foundation’s Leadership Agenda areas including Public Education, Healthy Youth/Healthy Seniors, Civic Engagement, Community & Economic Development, and Child Welfare.”
Grand Rapids Community Foundation,May 2004

Lessons Learned in Brownfield Redevelopment
“MSU worked with the Southwest Detroit Contaminated Sites Task Force and other stakeholders to document the Lessons Learned in Brownfield Redevelopment. The purpose was to capture the experiences and lessons learned from the successful collaborative approach used by the Task Force. This poster highlights both successes and continuing challenges in brownfield redevelopment.”
Lisa Szymecko and Alison Benjamin, February 2004

Muskegon Area-wide plan (MAP)
The MAP is intended to provide vision and strategy to guide future growth and development in Muskegon County.
West Michigan Shoreline Regional Development Commission, April 19, 2005

Top Employers in West Michigan in 2007
Listing of top employers in West Michigan (i.e., companies with greater than or equal to 500 employees) including company name, total number of employees, local number of employees, and brief description of the type of business they are involved with.
The Right Place, Inc., March 2007

West Michigan Fact Sheet
A quick look at key indicators taken from U.S. Census information.
The Right Place, Inc., 2005

 

ENHANCED PLANNING AND ZONING
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Form-based Code Study
This report provides local governments a template for zoning ordinances that emphasize the urban design of places. The report is broken up by section on GVMC's website
Grand Valley Metro Council, unknown

Residential Housing Preferences in Michigan: Summary Analysis of Four Focus Groups in Detroit and Grand Rapids
Takes a look at “attitudes and values related to high-density development among prospective homebuyers.” Data is based on four discussion groups – two of which took place in suburbs of Detroit, and two in Grand Rapids.
Michigan Environmental Council, July 2003

 

ENVIRONMENT
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EQUIPPING STATE DESICION MAKERS
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Commerce Centers in Michigan: Data and Analysis to Support Policy Decisions
“This report provides information on possible designation scenarios, economic development and land management tools, and implementation strategies…” for commerce center policy.
Soji Adelaja, Mary Beth Lake, Paul Gottlieb, August 2006

Michigan’s Land, Michigan’s Future: Final Report of the Michigan Land Use Leadership Council
This report was developed by a non-partisan committee (including representatives from the public sector, the private sector, agriculture, business, and many other facets) appointed by Gov. Jennifer Granholm with the task of establishing recommendations for future land use and economic development policy at the state and local levels.
Michigan Land Use Leadership Council, August 2003

 

LAND USE
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Alternative Funding Sources for Farmland Preservation in Michigan
“This report describes a wide range of funding sources the State of Michigan could tap into to provide a higher level of funding than currently exists in the farmland preservation program.”
MSU Land Policy Institute, 2006

Answers to the Top 10 Questions About Preserving Farmland in Kent County - A White Paper on Purchase of Development Rights (PDR)
Asks and answers frequently asked questions relating to the Kent County PDR Program.
Grand Valley Metro Council, date unknown

Assisting Michigan Counties and Local Governments in Conservation Planning
This PowerPoint presentation highlights the ways in which the resources of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources may be useful tools for local land use planning.
John Paskus, February 2006

Helping to Shape Michigan's Future: The First Report
The first “annual report” of the Land Policy Institute, highlighting, how the Institute came to be, the LPI’s focus areas, and a financial report.
Land Policy Institute, May 2007

Follow the Money: Uncovering and reforming Michigan’s sprawl subsidies
This report “documents a pervasive pattern of public investments for roads, jobs, government offices, and business development that encourages runaway sprawl.”
Michigan Land Use Institute, January 2005

Map of Targeted Areas for Purchase of Development Rights
This map, created by the Grand Valley Metropolitan Council, shows the Agricultural Preservation Areas in Kent County.
Grand Valley Metro Council, January 2004

 

MARKET SOLUTIONS TO LAND USE PROBLEMS
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REGIONALISM
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The Common Framework: West Michigan, A Region in Transition
The Common Framework is a snapshot (not a plan for the future) of the ”Tri-plex region of the greater Grand Rapids, Muskegon, and Holland areas from a global perspective in comparison with other metros in the Upper Midwest, and across the various systems or activities within the Tri-plex.”
West Michigan Strategic Alliance,2002

Coordinated Planning in Michigan
This report spotlights three Michigan communities that are examples “where coordinated planning and other examples of inter-municipal coordination are working to protect farmland, safeguard waterways, protect taxpayers, and enhance Michiganders’ quality of life.” One of the case studies is the Grand Rapids region.
Tony Dutzik and Brian Imus - The Pigrim Fund, Late 2001, Early 2002

Framework for Growth
"These Principles were adopted by GVMC in September of 2000, and were used as one of many important guides... These principals added significantly to the central themes and initial strategies of the Metropolitan Development Blueprint (MDB) and gave a much clearer picture of future directions for Metropolitan Planning."
Grand Valley Metro Council, November 2003

Grand Rapids Area Metropolitics: A West Michigan Agenda for Community and Stability
This study outlines problems associated with sprawl, the diversity of metropolitan areas, demographic findings in the Grand Rapids Area, suggestions for solutions.
Grand Valley Metro Council, May 1999

Grand Valley Regional Design Charette – Grand Rapids
The purposes of this charette , according to the Grand Valley Chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) include: “Experimenting in multi-jurisdictional regional planning collaboration, Creating a basis for state and community grants for expanded study opportunities, Creating the basis to apply for the AIA Regional/Urban Design Assistance Team program (R/UDAT), and Providing to architects the opportunity for strategic civic engagement at the regional level, now at this unique time in Michigan’s development history.” The Grand Valley AIA conducted the charette in conjunction with the West Michigan Strategic Alliance.
West Michigan Strategic Alliance, February 2005

Grand Valley Regional Design Charette - Holland
The purposes of this charette , according to the Grand Valley Chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) include: “Experimenting in multi-jurisdictional regional planning collaboration, Creating a basis for state and community grants for expanded study opportunities, Creating the basis to apply for the AIA Regional/Urban Design Assistance Team program (R/UDAT), and Providing to architects the opportunity for strategic civic engagement at the regional level, now at this unique time in Michigan’s development history.” The Grand Valley AIA conducted the charette in conjunction with the West Michigan Strategic Aliiance.
West Michigan Strategic Alliance, February 2005

Grand Valley Regional Design Charette - Muskegon
The purposes of this charette , according to the Grand Valley Chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) include: “Experimenting in multi-jurisdictional regional planning collaboration, Creating a basis for state and community grants for expanded study opportunities, Creating the basis to apply for the AIA Regional/Urban Design Assistance Team program (R/UDAT), and Providing to architects the opportunity for strategic civic engagement at the regional level, now at this unique time in Michigan’s development history.” The Grand Valley AIA conducted the charette in conjunction with the West Michigan Strategic Aliiance.
West Michigan Strategic Alliance, February 2005

Inter-Local Government Cooperation around City Services: A Grand Rapids Case Study
A PowerPoint presentation that outlines the “collaborative relationships and strategic partnerships that benefit West Michigan.”
Grand Valley Metropolitan Council, February 2006

LITTLE BOXES – LIMITED HORIZONS: Remarks of David Rusk to the Muskegon Area Environmental Excellence Awards banquet
This is a transcript of David Rusk - a nationally-renowned urban policy author, consultant, and speaker - to the Muskegon Area Environmental Excellence Awards banquet. Rusk touches on the importance of the Muskegon Area-Wide Plan (MAP), and the challenges that lay ahead.
David Rusk, April 2005

Tenets of Smart Growth in Michigan
A poster that gives you a cursory overview of the definition of smart growth, its tenets, its challenges, and policy recommendations.
Soji Adelaja, Mary Beth Lake, Steve Pennington,February 2004

 

 

SUSTAINABILITY
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Green Building: Applying LEED Site Standards
A PowerPoint presentation that outlines the LEED Certification standards, the popularity of the LEED program, the impact of LEED Buildings in Michigan, and many other variables relating to the program.
Tim Mrozowski, February 2007

Growing Grand Rapids
This webpage provides links to a series of MLUI articles pertaining to how Grand Rapids is dealing with all of the issues relating to sprawl.
Michigan Land Use Institute,July 2001-April 2006

Linking Brownfields Redevelopment and Greenfields Protection for Sustainable Development
Chapter topics include “Development and Farmland Conversion in the Great Lakes Region, Brownfields in the Great Lakes Region, Community Involvement in Borwnfield Decision Making, Greenfields in the Great Lakes Region, New Policy Directions in Brownfields Redevelopment and Greenfields Protection, Strategic Action for Brownfields Redevelopment and Greenfields Protection,” and tables and data to support the study.
Great Lakes Commission, June 2001

 

TRANSPORTATION/TRAILWAYS
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Getting There Together
This report is a collaboration of Concerned Citizens for Improved Transit, Disability Advocates of Kent County, Faith in Motion, and the Michigan Land Use Institute. It looks at expanding transportation opportunities in the Greater Grand Rapids Area.
Michigan Land Use Institute, January 2006

Grand Valley Metro Council Non-Motorized Transportation Plan DRAFT
This study sets forth recommendations that the GVMC hopes will “help to guide development of bicycle and pedestrian facilities” in West Michigan.
Grand Valley Metro Council, March 2006

Greater Muskegon Metropolitan Area Traffic Counts 2003-2005
Traffic Count data collected from 2003-2005.
West Michigan Shoreline Regional Development Commission, 2003-2005

The Long Range Transportation Plan for the Grand Valley Region
The Plan looks at the most recent data available to assess transportation needs and priorities for the region including items such as traffic volumes, population, employment, and financial forecasts.
Grand Valley Metro Council

Macatawa Area Coordinating Council 2030 Long Range Transportation Plan (LRP)
 “The goals and objectives for the 2030 LRP center around the following themes: Comprehensive Planning, Economic and Financial Considerations, Efficiency, Mobility, Land Use & Environmental Impacts, Accessibility, Safety” for the area that MACC serves.
Macatawa Area Coordinating Council, April 2004

Macatawa Area Coordinating Council Area State Trunkline Traffic Volumes in 2004
Map showing traffic volumes on state trunkline within MACC’s jurisdiction.
Macatawa Area Coordinating Council, 2004

Macatawa Area Coordinating Council FY 2006-2008 Transportation Improvement Program
Highlights transportation-related projects and planning in the Macatawa Area Coordinating Council’s (MACC) jurisdiction. Included in the study are overviews of public involvement, financial analysis, private enterprise participation, air quality, environmental justice analysis, and  state & local roadway, nonmotorized, planning, and transit projects/programs.  
Macatawa Area Coordinating Council, July 2005

Macatawa Area Coordinating Council United Work Plan (UWP)
The UWP identifies transportation issues facing the urbanized area and indicates work items to be undertaken to address those issues.
Macatawa Area Coordinating Council, FY2006 (no specific date given)

Map of Open, Multi-Use Trails in Michigan
Map and brief description of open, multi-use trails in Michigan.
Michigan Trails and Greenways Alliance, 2005

New Economic Engine: National comparison shows Michigan can pull ahead with world-class transit
This study looks at transit from a state-wide perspective, but offers many references to The Rapid. Specifically, the report details why “Michigan must increase its support for public transit” so that the State can “compete successfully for workers, tourists, and commercial investment.”
Michigan Land Use Institute, March 2002

On Track for Sustainability: A Study of Rail Options for West Michigan
Description: The AQOLADE (Accessibility, Quality Of Life, And Development Evaluation) workgroup looked at what can be done to ameliorate the continually worsening traffic congestion situation that is affecting the City of Grand Rapids and surrounding communities.
West Michigan Environmental Action Council, unknown

Road Endings at Water Study
Prepared by Progressive AE, in Conjunction with West Michigan Shoreline Regional Development Commission, this report documents the “nuances, use conflicts, ownership/maintenance issues, and other issues that have risen” out of roads ending at bodies of water in Muskegon County
Progressive AE, September 2003

Westplan 2030 Long-Range Transportation Plan
This report is a “multi-jurisdictional, multi-year look at the Muskegon/Northern Ottawa’s future transportation system.” Chapter topics include Regional Goals and Objectives, Analyses of Transportation System Needs and Financial Resources, and considers Non-Motorized Transportation, Long-Range Transportation Projects, environmental issues, and public involvement.
West Michigan Shoreline Regional Development Commission, October 2005

 

URBAN AFFAIRS
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The Fiscal Impacts of Alternative Single Family Housing Densities Infrastructure Costs
“The objective of this study is to ascertain how the costs of certain infrastructure improvements vary with the density of single family residential development.”
MSU Land Policy Institute, May 2006

Revitalizing Michigan Cities
Outlines the stakeholders, visions, and priorities of the Land Policy Program’s initiative to revitalize Michigan’s Cities.
Land Policy Program, February 2004

State of the Cities Report
This report intends to give its reader " a better understanding of the status
and conditions of Michigan’s cities, both individually and collectively" through the analysis and discussion of select indicators.
MIHELP, February 1, 2007

 

VIABLE AGRICULTURE FOR THE FUTURE
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Consuming Land, Losing Character: How Large Lot Residential Zoning is Reshaping Michigan’s Agricultural Communities
This study looks at large-lot development from a statewide perspective. It identifies problems, key findings, and recommendations to remedy this situation that many West Michigan communities are facing.
Michigan Environmental Council, August 2004

Enabling Innovation in Michigan Agriculture
“This report describes the potential for a transformation in Michigan’s agricultural industry through the development of an innovation fund for emerging agricultural enterprises.”
MSU Land Policy Institute, January 2007

New Approaches for Growing [In Our] Communities
A look at agriculture opportunities in an urban setting, and how Grand Rapids is “incorporating forms-based (or context-based) zoning into their ordinances.”
Grand Valley Metro Council, date unknown

Preserving Farmland and Achieving Agricultural Viability in the State of Michigan
Four fundamental questions guided the research and outreach efforts leading up to this report: What is Michigan’s target acreage for farmland protection? How does Michigan pay for farmland preservation? How can Michigan stretch its preservation dollar? How does Michigan encourage agricultural innovation?
Soji Adelaja, Mary Beth Lake, January 2007

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Last updated: January 4, 2008
Copyright © 2006 GVSU Land Policy Initiative

GVSU Land Policy Initiative  
E-mail: jelierr@gvsu.edu  
244C DeVos Center  
Grand Rapids, MI 49504  
Phone: (616) 331-6578
 

 
January 4, 2008