Washtenaw County Comprehensive Plan

Official Policy
August 2004

The Ann Arbor Area Chamber of Commerce supports the Comprehensive Plan For Washtenaw County.  Washtenaw County is growing rapidly and all information available indicates continued growth.   A comprehensive plan that provides guidance on key regional issues, that can be used as a tool by the county’s 28 municipalities, is needed.   

The proposed Comprehensive Plan addresses major countywide issues—housing, economic development, land use, transportation, quality of life—and provides local municipalities with an important planning resource.  These countywide issues significantly impact the business community and the cost of doing business in Washtenaw County.  Our main concern is that the plan focuses primarily on land use—more attention is needed to transportation and infrastructure issues before decisions are made.

We support of the Comprehensive Plan For Washtenaw County and encourage the individual local governments within the county to use the plan as a framework to update  local master plans.   The proposed plan achieves the following: 

• Washtenaw County’s population is expected to grow by 27% or 88,000 residents to 410,000 by 2020 with a need for 38,500 additional housing units.  The proposed plan makes recommendations as to how this additional housing can be accommodated countywide.
• Promotes higher density development to reduce the consumption of land for development.
• Encourages future development of infill sites in already existing urban and suburban areas.
• Encourages infill development in surrounding county villages.
• Recommends planning for and developing new activity centers  at select highway interchanges.
• Encourages rural residential development that does not overburden the rural road network and is sensitive to rural character in location and design.
• Encourages the preservation of farmland and support of farm infrastructure and markets. 
• Has a goal to protect and preserve the natural resources of Washtenaw County through a comprehensive approach to water management and preservation of natural features.
• Encourages the economic development of the County along with the integration of land use, transportation and utility facilities.
• Recommends developing a strategic plan and investment program for a transportation network that meets the needs of growth and protection of the environment.
• Recommends using the development of water and sewer services to meet the future needs but consistent with land use objectives and environmental goals.
• Recommends managing solid waste in s sustainable fashion for current and future generations.
• Recommends increased intergovernmental cooperation.
• The Washtenaw County Comprehensive Plan is consistent with the Governor’s Land Use Task Force Report.
• the County’s Plan is consistent with the land use policies of the Ann Arbor
  Area Chamber of Commerce.

 The Ann Arbor Area Chamber of Commerce greatly appreciates Washtenaw County’s efforts on the Comprehensive Plan.