Participants in the planning process identified a wide variety of concerns and issues they perceived will influence the Township's future. These concerns serve as the foundation for a strategy that can be used in an on-going process of influencing growth and development over the short and long-term. This strategy consists of goals, policies and actions.

A goal is a statement that describes a desired vision of the Township's future. In this case, goals identify the desired results of an on-going land use planning program in general terms. The following statement is an example of a goal: "Retain and enhance the Township's scenic and rural character."

Policies are guiding principles that establish a mind-set for decision makers in a never ending process of accomplishing goals. The following statement is an example of a policy: "Township officials will work with developers to implement land development design standards that preserve scenic viewscapes, topography, wetlands, streams, and natural vegetation."

Actions are the strategic steps taken to implement policies and accomplish goals. The following statement is an example of an action: "Amend the township zoning ordinance to establish flexible open space and cluster residential land development regulations as a means of preserving natural and scenic resources, farmland, forestland, and open space."

If goals and policies are taken to heart by elected and appointed township officials, and if a commitment to taking each action is made, then the township will have taken the first step toward influencing the Township's future in a planned and strategic manner.

Participants in the planning process identified goals, policies and actions for a variety of subject areas. A complete listing appears below.

Planning & Community Development

Maintain an ecologically sound balance between human activities and the environment to retain and enhance the Township's quiet, scenic, and rural character.

Protect existing rural areas through preservation of open space and agricultural/forestry activity.

Preserve and protect scenic views of hills, valleys, farms, lakes and streams.

Guide development in a manner that is consistent with the natural limitations of the land to maintain the Township's rural character.

Encourage creative design and planning techniques which produce visual harmony while preserving special features and protecting vital natural resources.

Consider how the Township's planning policies, zoning ordinance, ordinance amendments, and rezonings may impact adjacent municipalities.

Investigate having some of the scenic roads within the Township designated as Natural Beauty Roads.

Review and update the zoning ordinance to be consistent with the goals of the Master Plan, including revised site plan review, site condominium and Planned Unit Development Standards.

Conduct a detailed inventory and analysis of scenic viewscapes.

Adopt zoning ordinance provisions to protect viewscapes from inappropriate and intensive development.

Adopt development standards that discourage the fragmentation of the farm and forestland resources.

Use this plan when reviewing land development project proposals, site plans, proposed special uses, and rezoning requests.

Establish formal procedures for discussing planning and zoning issues with adjacent municipalities on a regular basis.

Agriculture, Forestry & Open Space

Recognize the importance of agricultural lands within Banks Township.

Protect the economic viability of agricultural and forestry operations.

Preserve and protect open space.

Provide opportunities for farmers to capture the development value of farmland without creating scattered developments.

Permit low-density residential and recreational land uses on land marginally suited to farming and forestry.

Discourage the fragmentation of prime and unique agricultural land and prime forestlands into parcels too small to be economically used or managed for agriculture or timber production.

Provide for open space and cluster residential development as a means of preserving farmland, forestland, natural features and open space in the township zoning ordinance.

Pursue the use of innovative land use techniques to provide options for landowners to obtain partial equity from their land holdings while retaining the right to continue farming and other activities which require large tracts of farmland or open space; (purchase of development rights (PDR), and transfer of development rights (TDR) programs).

Allow for the establishment of Agricultural Security Areas in the Township to provide incentives for farmland protection and encourage zoning infrastructure decisions compatible with farmland retention, once enabling legislation is enacted at the state level.

Encourage the state legislature to pass enabling legislation for the local establishment of Agricultural Security Areas.

Identify and map large contiguous open spaces and scenic corridors.

Revise the range of permitted and special uses allowed in the agricultural zoning district.

Natural Environment & Recreation

Preserve, protect and maintain environmentally sensitive areas for the enjoyment of residents, visitors and future generations.

Protect and preserve scenic vistas, shorelines, sand dunes, wetlands, open space, public parks and wildlife habitat.

Protect irreplaceable water resources.

Limit the type, density and intensity of land development, based on the environmental constraints of the property.

Coordinate with public agencies and nonprofit conservancy organizations for the protection of land exhibiting special natural features.

Direct development to less environmentally sensitive areas, and away from active farmland, hydric soils, wetlands, and floodplains.

Encourage the establishment and maintenance of natural or revegetated greenbelt buffers along watercourses and water bodies.

Protect groundwater through planning and zoning which is consistent with the capacity and limitations of the land.

Establish design standards for the preservation of natural features, scenic viewscapes, topography, hydrology, natural vegetation, and open space.

Incorporate regulations for protecting water quality into the Township's zoning ordinance and other ordinances regulating land development.

Amend site plan review and approval standards to provide specific groundwater protection guidelines.

Modify current zoning ordinance site plan review provisions to provide for the incorporation and preservation of open space and natural features in the design and layout of all new development.

Public Services, Infrastructure & Transportation

Improve and maintain the Township’s transportation systems, community facilities, programs and public utilities to be consistent with the community’s needs and the ability to finance improvements in the most cost effective manner.

Work cooperatively with the Antrim County Road Commission to maintain a safe, effective and efficient road network in the Township.

Encourage the efficient use and maintenance of existing roadways and infrastructure.

Explore the consolidation of police, fire, and emergency services with adjacent townships to eliminate overlap in service and expenditures, and to improve service delivery.

Survey the Township's infrastructure and transportation network to identify needs for maintenance and improvements.

Prepare a capital improvements program to prioritize and schedule maintenance and improvement projects.

Initiate a forum for exploring common municipal services needs.

Adopt private road regulations.

Residential Development & Housing

Provide a broad range of housing that meets the varying economic, lifestyle, and family stage needs of the community.

Provide housing that is compatible with the character of existing residences in the vicinity.

Discourage residential sprawl and strip development.

Encourage open space and cluster types of residential development.

Explore alternative development measures such as neo-traditional community development to reduce housing costs, reduce traffic congestion, and provide more close to home employment opportunities.

Adopt zoning ordinance provisions to allow for the development of clustered residential housing in buildable portions of the Township, in order to protect open space.

Commercial Development

Promote a varied business environment and foster cooperation among area businesses to meet the needs of residents and tourists while preserving the natural environment and rural character.

Allow for commercial development consistent with the character of the community, and appropriate to current and future needs of residents.

Provide for commercial development which will not result in the creation of traffic hazards and other threats to public health, safety, and general welfare.

Accommodate commercial development in a manner that does not alter current patterns of development, nor adversely impact the Township's rural and scenic character.

Promote the development of small, commercial centers off major roads, rather than lot by lot commercial strips.

Discourage strip commercial development in the Township.

Adopt zoning regulations that provide comprehensive, flexible guidelines for signs, parking areas, access, landscaping, screening, lighting, and setbacks.

Industrial Development

Provide for non-polluting, light industrial development in a manner that does not damage the environment, spoil the scenic beauty of the area or overburden local roads, utilities, or other public services.

Provide for industrial development only in areas where it will not conflict with other agricultural, forestry, residential or public land uses.

Encourage the minimization of potential negative impacts posed by future industrial development on adjoining land uses.

Encourage development near existing industrial uses in areas served by adequate roadways and infrastructure.

Identify appropriate locations for small industrial parks.

Develop zoning ordinance design standards to minimize the impact of industrial land uses on surrounding non-industrial properties, such as open space, landscaping and buffering provisions.

Review and revise current industrial zoning district regulations to assure that the range of uses is appropriate based on the goals and policies established by this plan.

Introduction, Sec. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, Return to Information