By David Fleet
dfleet@mihomepaper.com
Atlas Twp. — On March 19, the Atlas Township Planning Commission approved a new township master plan.
“I am very grateful to all the Advisory Committee and Planning Commission members who spent many hours over the past two and one half years generating this Master Plan,” said J. Michael Rembor, PC chairperson.” It was through this process that a plan was developed that reflects the long range wishes and needs of the residents of Atlas Township.”
The responsibility to create and approve a Master Plan is assigned to the Planning Commission as defined in the Michigan Planning Enabling Act – Act 33 of 2008. The last township master plan was approved in 2009.
The final plan continues to focus on maintaining a rural atmosphere in Atlas Township, defines desired future land use applications and areas and sets planning and zoning goals and objectives for the next several years.
In October 2022, the township board of trustees voted 5-0 to approve, at a cost of $20,500, to update the Master Plan. In addition, the township approved at a cost of $4,250, a new five-year Parks and Recreation Plan that will dovetail into the Master Plan. The new plan is necessary to apply for several DNR grants.
Over the past 16 plus years several trends and considerations have prompted an update to the Master Plan. The old Master Plan was prepared when a nation-wide economic recession was occurring; the data used was based on the 2000 U.S. Census; the area population is aging; home sizes have changed; housing affordability is a big issue now; more residents are working at home and the township along with other nearby communities have invested in miles of walking trails. Consider too, the population of the township has jumped 4.5% since 2010, one of the largest increases among Genesee County communities.
The entire process was driven by the Master Plan Advisory Committee and the results of the Citizen Survey. The committee met on several occasions and on Oct. 10, 2023 an open house was hosted by the township to discuss the master plan. The goals and objectives and land use maps were recommended to be presented to the Planning Commission in January and a second Open House was held on June 13 to review the full draft Master Plan.
Following the required public entity comment period time frame, the Planning Commission hosted a Public Hearing on March 16, to receive public comments from any interested party. Based on a lack of any public comments at the hearing, the Planning Commission unanimously voted to approve the final draft of the Master Plan.