Introduction

This page serves as an initial plan of action for the Township; implementing the goals, projects, actions, and future land use categories outlined during the process. Each implementation step is categorized into the plan themes as well as the Cascade Village sub area plan.

Responsibility & Partners

Primary responsibility for implementing this plan rests with the Township Board, the Planning Commission, and Township staff. Many entities and organizations will need to cooperate in order to fully implement policies, recommendations, and vision.

Sustainability & Environment

Utilities + Infrastructure

Action #1

Install public water and sanitary sewer into areas of the Township consistent with Township utility plans.

Strategy
Permit intense or dense development only in areas which are currently served or planned to be served by public water and sanitary sewer.

Responsibility & Partners
Township staff, City of Grand Rapids, Planning Commission, Township Board.

Success Indicator
Development within the utility service boundary is connected to both water and sanitary sewer where available or desired.

Timeframe:

Medium – 3-5 years

Action #2

Permit solar energy collectors in the Township at both the private and utility scale.

Strategy
Amend the Zoning Ordinance to allow for utility scale and private solar installations.

Responsibility & Partners
Township staff, Planning Commission, Township Board.

Success Indicator
Zoning Ordinance contains standards which allow for utility scale and private solar installations.

Timeframe:

Medium – 3-5 years

Action #3

Encourage green infrastructure in new developments that discourages site run-off.

Strategy
Amend the Zoning Ordinance to offer incentives for green stormwater infrastructure.

Responsibility & Partners
Township staff, Planning Commission, Township Board.

Success Indicator
Zoning Ordinance contains standards which encourage green stormwater infrastructure during site design.

Timeframe:

Medium – 3-5 years

Preserve + Protect

Action #1

Increase residential density where water and sewer are present to encourage alternative modes of transportation and discourage the inefficient pattern of spread-out development and infrastructure.

Strategy
Amend the Zoning Ordinance to reflect increases in density prescribed in the future land use plan.

Responsibility & Partners
Township staff, Planning Commission, Township Board.

Success Indicator
Zoning Ordinance contains standards which reflect the densities outlined in the future land use plan.

Timeframe:

Medium – 3-5 years

Action #2

Create an inventory of significant natural features, vistas, and viewsheds and develop an overlay which protects these assets.

Strategy
Utilize topographic, wetland, and hydrographic data and a community survey to determine significant or prized natural features in the Township. Amend the Zoning Ordinance as an overlay to protect these features through buffering or incentives.

Responsibility & Partners
Members of the public, Township staff, Planning Commission, Township Board.

Success Indicator
The Township will have a significant natural features inventory which reflects the objective and subjective input from data and the public; the Zoning Ordinance contains standards which establish a natural features overlay which protects the features indicated in the natural features inventory.

Timeframe:

Long – 5-10 years