Grand Traverse Bay Pilot Project
Finding Common Ground:
Exploring Opportunities for Joint Municipal Planning Around Grand Traverse Bay
The Northwest Michigan Council of Governments received a grant from the Michigan Coastal Management Program in the Department of Environmental Quality to implement a joint planning project around Grand Traverse Bay. Additional funding for the project was provided by the Grand Traverse Regional Community Foundation with in-kind assistance from the Traverse Area Chamber of Commerce New Designs for Growth and MSU Extension. This project includes the townships, villages, and city bordering Grand Traverse Bay.
Three successful workshop sessions were conducted in April, May and June of 2005 on a sub-regional basis:
- Training session: legislative options and opportunities; scientific data and issues; and the Grand Traverse Bay Watershed Management Plan.
- The working session: assessments of master plans and zoning ordinances; common issues; and resources to build capacity.
- The action session: barriers to joint planning; model ordinances; summary assessment on zoning and the environment; and suggested actions to work together.
