Department of Planning & Community Development
Schoolcraft Area US-131 Planning Committee
Meeting Notes - February 26, 2003
I. Introductions
The meeting came to order at 7:04 p.m. We took time to introduce ourselves to each other. A list of attendees is included as Attachment 1.
II. Meeting Orientation
John Sych gave a quick overview of the meeting, leading into the evening's agenda.
III. Community Roundtable Discussions
A. Purpose
B. Schedule and Location
C. Format
D. Facilitators
E. Publicity
F. Other Items
(The individual discussion items merged a bit during the conversation, so no distinction will be made herein.)
John Sych began by discussing his vision for the community roundtable discussions (CRDs). He feels that it is imperative that we look beyond our discussions to get community input. We need to get people to talk and ask questions, and we need to be able to answer as many of those questions as can be answered at this point in the planning and consensus-building process. We should provide a history for those not familiar with the issues, and ask the people to share their vision for the US-131 corridor. John Sych prepared a press release, and Matt Crawford and Darrell Harden issued, along with John Chapin, John Sych, and Don Ulsh, a letter to the entire South County community, which would be printed in the Commercial-Express. These documents are included as attachments 2 and 3.
The group discussed the benefit of mixing the backgrounds of committee members who share moderation duties at a table, to ensure that a variety of scope and opinion is presented. We discussed the benefit of getting public input regarding not only the corridor principles, but also general feelings about the future of the US-131 corridor.
The CRDs will last approximately one hour. There will be a 10- to 15-minute introduction by John Sych, with the remainder of the time devoted to community discussions.
IV. Next Steps
A. After the Community Roundtable Discussions
When the discussions are complete, members of the committee will submit summaries of their roundtables to Darrell Harden by April 1. He will compile those reports into a single document, and submit that to John Sych by April 16.
V. Adjournment
There being no further business, the meeting adjourned around 8:00 p.m.
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Attachment 1
List of Attendees
| Committee Members |
| Moderator |
John Sych |
| Prairie Ronde Township |
John Chapin |
| Village of Schoolcraft |
Tim Brown
Darrell Harden
Loren Warfield |
| Village of Vicksburg |
Matt Crawford |
| |
| Interested Persons - Other Government Agencies |
| Kalamazoo County Road Comm |
John Byrnes |
| |
| Interested Persons- Local Residents, Business Owners |
| |
Barbara Buckham
Marilyn Buckham
Ron Harding
Kenneth Potts
Pam Schug
Evi Swager |
| |
| Media |
| Kalamazoo Gazette |
Jill Benfell |
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Attachment 2
Press Release
| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
Contact: John C. Sych |
| Thursday, February 27, 2003 | Senior Planner |
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(269) 384-8115 |
COMMUNITY INPUT NEEDED FOR FUTURE OF US-131 IN SCHOOLCRAFT AREA
Kalamazoo, MICH. - Residents, business owners and local officials are encouraged to attend two community roundtable discussions on the future of US-131 in the Schoolcraft area of Kalamazoo County. The community roundtable discussions will be held on Thursday, March 13, 2003 and Wednesday, March 19, 2003 at the Schoolcraft Middle School cafeteria. Each roundtable will be from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. The Schoolcraft Area US-131 Planning Committee will facilitate the roundtables.
According to Darrell Harden, Schoolcraft Village Manager and member of the Committee, the purpose of the roundtable discussions are "to find out from the community what its vision is for the future of the US-131 corridor from U Avenue to the south County line. With state budget woes and competing transportation priorities, the realization of that future may be far off, so the Committee also wants to hear from the community about what should be done right now."
"US-131 is an integral part of the transportation system for Kalamazoo County and all of southwest Michigan," says John Sych, Senior Planner from Kalamazoo County and facilitator for the Committee. "The efficiency and safety of the highway is imperative to residents, businesses, and visitors to the area."
The Schoolcraft Area US-131 Planning Committee was established in effort to build community consensus on this important issue for the entire south County community. The Committee is comprised of three representatives each from the Villages of Schoolcraft and Vicksburg and the Townships of Prairie Ronde and Schoolcraft for a total of 12 representatives. The representatives were appointed by each governing body, best reflecting the needs and position of the municipality, and include at least one representative from the governing body.
To date, there have been seven meetings of the Committee. The Committee recently adopted a list of corridor planning principles for the future of US-131 corridor. It is the intent of the Committee to have a consensus statement to the Michigan Department of Transportation by early summer.
Both roundtables are free and open to the public. No registration is required. For more information please contact John Sych of the Kalamazoo County Planning & Community Development Department at (269) 384-8115 or by e-mail at jcsych@kalcounty.com. Also, for more information on the Schoolcraft Area US-131 Planning Committee, visit the Kalamazoo County web page at www.kalcounty.com/planning/us131.htm.
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Attachment 3
Letter to South County
Dear South County Residents,
On March 13 and 19, we are asking you to come together with us to share your input and vision regarding the future of US-131 and the South County area.
For the last several months, the Schoolcraft Area US-131 Planning Committee (SAUPC) has been meeting to discuss the issues surrounding US-131 and its potential relocation. Four municipalities - Prairie Ronde and Schoolcraft Townships and the Villages of Schoolcraft and Vicksburg - are represented on the committee, which is moderated and supported by John Sych from Kalamazoo County Planning and Community Development. Each municipality has appointed three representatives who in their opinion best characterize the needs and interests of the community.
Already, SAUPC members have adopted a set of guiding principles to shape our discussion as we move toward our ultimate goal - community-wide consensus regarding the US-131 corridor. The principles we adopted are as follows:
- Minimize impact on farmland by utilizing a minimal amount of new right-of-way and following existing property lines and existing rights-of-way.
- Maximize accessibility and efficiency of farms and farm operations.
- Improve east-west connection between the Villages of Schoolcraft and Vicksburg, which may be achieved by developing VW Avenue as a Class A road, eliminating conflicts for emergency access, and maintaining access to US-131.
- Continue rural/small town character with room for natural growth.
- Continue existing US-131 corridor as primary business route and direct development along its existing roadway through such measures as planning, zoning and access management.
- Minimize impact on existing travel patterns.
- Minimize impact on residential property.
- Develop a collective, permanent agreement among the community and the Michigan Department of Transportation for the next 20 years.
In order to achieve that consensus, though, we need the input of the community. This is your community, and we want - we need - your input and your vision for the community as a whole. Your input will help us as we gather information together to help shape the future of the US-131 corridor and South County.
With that in mind, we are holding two community roundtable discussion sessions, on Thursday, March 13, and Wednesday, March 19. The sessions will be held at the Schoolcraft Middle School cafeteria, and will last from 7:00-8:00 p.m. The sessions will begin with a 10- to 15-minute discussion of the history of discussions regarding US-131 and the SAUPC, and then representatives to SAUPC will lead informal small-group discussions, geared to give you a significant opportunity to share your vision and give your input. After the roundtables, we will compile your answers and prepare a report, which we will make public.
Please come out either March 13 or March 19, and share with us your vision and input regarding the future of US-131 and the South County area. We are working together to seek the very best for the entire South County area, and we need you to be a part of it.
Sincerely,
John Chapin, Trustee, Prairie Ronde Township
Matt Crawford, Manager, Village of Vicksburg
Darrell Harden, Manager, Village of Schoolcraft
John Sych, Senior Planner, Kalamazoo County Planning and Community Development
Don Ulsh, Clerk, Schoolcraft Township
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