Previously in The Clarkston News: Michigan is in the midst of transforming from an industrial to a service economy. Clarkston is not immune to the state economic problems, resulting in a severe housing slowdown. Here, Clarkston-area leaders say what they’re doing about it.

BY PHIL CUSTODIO, LAURA COLVIN, AND PAUL KAMPE
Clarkston News Staff Writers
The challenge facing local leaders is to get the trend moving the other way.
For that to happen, commercial development is key, said Independence Township Supervisor David Wagner.
‘When the Sashabaw corridor is developed in the manner that we all envisioned, that will help all business and housing,? he said.
Planners and developers need to be open to different types of industry, including the McLaren medical village proposed for Sashabaw and I-75.
‘The hospital could bring in 4,000 good jobs and tax growth,? Wagner said.
Medical research facilities could bring in several high-paying jobs. These and other new businesses would support future housing sales, he said.
The Sashabaw Corridor Improvement Authority, if successful, could do several things to stimulate appropriate development, he said.
‘It’s really a positive thing,? he said. ‘Our Vision 2020 called for certain types of commercial growth on Sashabaw, but we don’t have the funding.?
The authority’s work, funded by Tax Increment Financing, could provide that growth, he said.
In the City of the Village of Clarkston, the Planning Commission is working to revise the city’s master plan, which will lead to a revision of the zoning ordinance.
This would affect everything from signs and business construction to the placement of a homeowner’s new garage.
‘The zoning ordinance is the most used ordinance we have,? said City Manager Art Pappas. ‘By law you’re supposed to update the master plan every five years, so we’ll make sure zoning and master plan are working well together.?
The city council is also working to put together a comprehensive policy and procedures manual, as well as update the park ordinance.
Financially, the city is starting to recover from an extensive and costly water, sewer and street project completed in 2003.
‘We’ve kind of picked ourselves up by the bootstraps, that was a huge undertaking,? he said. ‘We’re recovering from that, I think, quite nicely.?
Vacant lots for new home construction are in short supply in Clarkston, a half-square mile of less than 1,000 residents.
‘If we get one new building permit a year, that’s a boon for us,? Pappas said.
‘Due to the older nature of the homes in Clarkston, we do get a lot of building permits for renovations.?
The remodeling and subsequent reopening of The Clarkston Caf? was significant for the city’s economy, Pappas said.
Contractors pulled electrical, mechanical and building permits during the renovations, and private property behind the restaurant, from Washington to Church Street, saw a complete resurfacing to improve parking.
‘When people realize the caf? is open, it’s going to bring them into town,? Pappas said. ‘In fact, my wife was in the gift shop and the clerk told her they’ve been very busy since The Clarkston Caf? opened. It’s a definite plus to our downtown.?
In Springfield Township, elected officials have voted against a raise for themselves three years in a row, and the township was forced to layoff the planning director in December 2005 and the building inspector in September 2006, said Supervisor Collin Walls.
Additionally, the township cut the building department hours by half last year, and declined to fill positions vacated in the assessing, building and treasure’s department, Walls said.
The Clarkston Area Chamber of Commerce is doing its part, by keeping members connected through networking social events.
Each luncheon begins with socializing by members and continues with the seating arrangement, designed so members are seated with two or three new faces at each event.
‘Our chamber is mainly focused on networking and member benefits, that’s one of the reason I first got involved with the chamber,? chamber President Stephen Hyer said.
‘When you come, you’re guaranteed you’re going to meet some new people,? he added.
Executive Director Penny Shanks said the socialization helps otherwise isolated businesses get their word out.
‘It’s scary when you’re an entrepreneur and you only have two people in the office and one of them is your spouse, to go into a business function and bring up your business and talk about it and get referrals,? Shanks said.
‘We try to make it easy for them to do that.?
The chamber also offers gatherings for women in business as well as after-hours mixers.
Shanks said two-thirds of member businesses are either owned or operated by women.
‘We can’t assume our membership is staying the same,? she said.
Hyer, an eight-year chamber member with IGD Solutions in Independence Township, said the organization continues to cultivate new membership while helping current members transition to e-commerce.
‘It’s something you can’t ignore,? Hyer said.
‘More and more people are going online and doing more things.?
If they operate Web sites where customers can make purchases, then they should be aware of the need to modify their in-store offerings, he said.
‘You have to realize the days of open-ing your doors and having people walk in are over. There’s not enough traffic to do that,? Hyer said.
‘You have to be able to compete if a customer can buy what you’re selling online, if you can’t, then you need to diversify your business.?
In his own business, Hyer said his clients are looking for ways to innovate and become more efficient with technology.
The chamber will continue to move forward this year by expanding its member offerings.
‘We’re going to continue growing the chamber and expanding the number of members and benefits and services offered,? he said.
Currently, there are discounts available through the chamber for communications through Verizon Wireless as well as through Office Depot, one of the chamber’s newest members. Office Depot, located in White Lake Commons in Independence Township, opened its doors in mid-January, but became a member several months before coming into the area, Hyer said.
The chamber can also offer discounts for health insurance, one of the biggest issues facing the chamber’s membership. The chamber can offer member business a share in a group plan, which should lower their costs by being part of a larger group.
‘It’s a big deal. The days of employer-paid health care are probably over. It would be nice for me if I could offer everyone health care and pay for it. Based on the increases we’ve seen the past few years, a lot of businesses are looking into sharing those costs,? Hyer said.
The issue can be even more significant since more than three-quarters of the membership is classified as small business.
‘We’re very cognizant that 80 percent (of our member’s businesses) have one-11 employees. And to be effective in servicing and providing value for our members, we have to keep that in mind,? Hyer said.
Some companies are looking into saving money on health care through health savings accounts and reimbursement accounts, Hyer added.
Shanks said one of the chamber’s goals this year is to keep more money in the area circulating to other businesses.
‘We’re continuing to tweak and align what we do, to be more strategic this year.
‘One of our missions is to help residents discover the value of local business and support the local business owners’and to really keep our economic dollars in our community rather than going out and shopping three towns down because somebody told them that’s where they needed to go. We want to make sure they listen to us first,? she said.
Shanks said membership from outside the community will help bring business to Clarkston.
‘We have several chamber members that are not located in the Clarkston area, but they help refer and bring business into our network and that’s very helpful to us.?
Shanks said the area will soon be home to a Starbucks within months.
The Wireless Oakland County initiative to provide free wireless Internet access over the county’s 910 square miles should encourage business in the area.
‘That’s going to be a huge boon for business. We have definitely seen a change in the way people are doing business within the last three years,? Shanks said.
‘That layer is already in demand. Where there are Wi-Fi spots, people zoom to get there, you can see it,? she added.
Each chamber member is also actively pursuing members as well as the approximately 20 ambassadors of the group, who are also dedicated to encouraging members to take as much advantage of their enrollment as they wish.
‘After you join, we don’t want the next thing for you to hear from the chamber to be your renewal bill,? Hyer said.
‘They (ambassadors) follow up with members and encourage them to stay active. We want to give them every opportunity to take advantage of their membership.?
Businesses of any size are welcome in the community, Hyer said, and it doesn’t matter where they are from.
‘There are some places where if my address isn’t from that city, they don’t want to do business with me and where your address is (from), is a lot less important when you want to be a part of our community. I hope our chamber reflects that,? Hyer said.
‘When new members come in, it doesn’t matter where they are from as long as they fit with the professionalism we’ve established, they’re accepted.?
Both Shanks and Hyer said the chamber’s Web site, www.clarkston.org, is useful in keeping new and current members in-the-know. Shanks said the site receives about 6,000 visitors each month and allows the chamber to send its ‘E-blast? newsletter-oriented e-mails to its members.
‘Our Web site is specifically designed to be useful to members and provide additional information for people looking for referrals,? she said.