PLANNING AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT SERVICES L. Brooks Patterson – County Executive Land Use & Environment MICHIGAN

PLANNING AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT SERVICES

L. Brooks Patterson – County Executive

Land Use & Environment

MICHIGAN

1. KEY WORDS & CONCEPTS

Presentation Outline

2. IDENTIFYING UNIQUE VALUE

4. PLANNING PROCESS

3. MISSION & FOCUS

KEY WORDS & CONCEPTS

KEY WORDS

Economy

Community

Environment

Community

Economy

Environment

CommunityEconomy

Environment

CommunityEconomy

Environment

INTEGRATION

CommunityEconomy

Environment

BALANCE

Support Distinct Communities

Promote Economic Vitality

Conserve Environmental

Resources

MISSION

Community Development

Economic Development

Environmental Stewardship

PROGRAMS




PROGRAMS

MISSION & FOCUS

Environmental Stewardship Program

“Prepare and communicate a vision, information, plans, and options

which promote and facilitate proactive, locally-driven conservation of Oakland County’s natural environment

while supporting sustainable economic growth, development, and redevelopment.”


Land Use

Historic Preservation

Downtown Revitalization

PLANNING UNIT SERVICE AREAS




• Ground Water QualityWell Head ProtectionGroundwater Recharge

• Surface Water QualityWatershed ManagementWetland Protection/Mitigation

• Natural Area ConservationCommunity GreenwaysWildlife Habitat

• Trails/Recreation Lands/Open Space

Trails/Path NetworksUrban Open Space

• Brownfield RedevelopmentContaminated site clean-up

• Community CharacterView from the Road

COUNTY ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES

Oakland County Planning & Economic Development Services

2

Springfield Oaks County Park

Fragmented

LandscapeIntact Landscape

You need to take a systems approachto natural resource preservation.

Natural Areas & Ecosystems

LOWLANDS

UPLANDS

Linkages

Environmental Stewardship Focus Areas

ContextSensitive

Design

ContextSensitive

Design

Water Resources

Water Resources

Greenways Vision Plan

Work GroupShared Interest & Vision

Multi-Community Initiative

FOCUS AREAS

Agencies & Interest Groups

- Parks & Rec. Depts.- Watershed Councils- Land Conservancy- Drain Commission- Road Commission- Detroit Edison- SE MI GreenWays- Chambers of Comm.- Business Communty- ETC.

Community & Agency/Interest Group Representation

1. Develop a countywide alert map/ vision plan outlining opportunities, planning process, tools and techniques and funding sources. (Development Guidelines)

2. Community presentations. 3. Special topic seminars.

5. Assist to establish workgroups.

8. Ongoing support & assistance.

6. Community assistance projects.

7. Community master plan updates with a greenways action plan.

4. Update of county web site.

Work Program ActionsENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP

(Tracking Measurable Results)

SUPPORTING & TRACKING RESULTS

INVITING PARTICIPATION

COMMUNICATING OPTIONS

DEVLOPING A VISION

9. Develop tracking mechanism.

OAKLAND COUNTY


Natural Areas

Natural Areas TrailsTrails

IDENTIFYING UNIQUE VALUE

Our Natural AdvantageOAKLAND COUNTY MICHIGAN

ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP PROGRAM

P A R T N E R S I N S U S T A I N I N G

Our Natural AdvantageOAKLAND COUNTY MICHIGAN

ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP PROGRAM

P A R T N E R S I N S U S T A I N I N G

Sustaining Oakland County’s Natural Advantage


1

Oakland County is rich in natural resources. The county has been blessed with over 1400 lakes (more than any other county in the state), is home to the headwaters of five major river systems, and has over 89,000 acres of park and recreation lands. The rolling landform left by receding glaciers some 14,000 years ago has given birth to special natural areas, some unique to the entire state and beyond.

This special natural setting is a primary reason for the substantial growth and development which has occurred over the past 50 years. Now we are confronting the question of balance and sustainability in maintaining our “Natural Advantage”.

The public’s health has direct ties to our natural environment. Our natural environment also serves as a cornerstone of our excellent quality of life. We have available to us a great diversity of natural and manmade environments in Oakland County. From the cosmopolitan city, to historic town centers, to abundant lakes and rivers, to rural and natural country settings, we have it all. This diversity has offered us a great range of choice and the freedom to live in a setting which matches our desired lifestyle. These elements of diversity and choice must be retained in order to sustain our quality of life advantage in attracting a skilled workforce that supports our economy.

As growth proceeds through the far reaches of our rich natural setting it is clear that we need to plan for the future in order to retain the best from our past. Four important areas of focus offer ample opportunity to steward our natural resources and integrate them with the built environment. These areas include: 1. the conservation and restoration of our water resources, 2. the identification, preservation, and restoration of our special natural areas, 3. the development of a linked trail/path system to provide access to this rich natural environment from the doorsteps of our neighborhoods, 4. the maintenance of community character through design and management of the ”view from the road”. The following environmental stewardship work program outlines initiatives in each of these four focus areas.

Working with communities, agencies, business interests, and citizens , our goal is to build awareness and invite participation in a stewardship process. A process aimed at taking the actions necessary to maintain our environment, our quality of life and the health of both our citizens and our economy.

Oakland County - A Unique Natural Setting

Oakland County Glacial action blessed Oakland County with a unique combination of landforms, lakes, rivers, and streams.

18,000 years ago the northern half of North America was buried by a giant ice sheet 18,000 years ago the northern half of North America was buried by a giant ice sheet several miles thick. This ice flowed right over Michigan, carving out pre-existing several miles thick. This ice flowed right over Michigan, carving out pre-existing river valleys into the Great Lakes basinsriver valleys into the Great Lakes basins.………..……….

Illinois

Tennessee

Wisconsin

Missouri

Indiana

Michigan

Ohio

As this ice sheet retreated, the basins were filled with As this ice sheet retreated, the basins were filled with meltwater forming the Great Lakes!meltwater forming the Great Lakes!

15,000 years ago15,000 years agoHere is a closer look at how glaciers melted in Oakland County ……….Here is a closer look at how glaciers melted in Oakland County ……….

Moraines

Moraines

Saginaw Lobe Huron Lobe

Erie Lobe

Outwash

14,500 years ago14,500 years ago

Moraines

Moraines

Saginaw Lobe Huron Lobe

Erie Lobe

Outwash


Lake

Mau

mee

Moraines

Moraines

Saginaw Lobe

Erie Lobe

Outwash

Ice Contact Glacial Lake


Lacustrine Silt and Clay

Lacustrine Sand

and Gravel

End Moraine

Outwash

End Moraine

A Valuable Natural SettingA Valuable Natural Setting

A band of rolling topography stretches across the county from northeast to southwest, creating the wealth of natural amenities which have made the county so attractive as a place to live, work and play.

Shiawassee & Huron Headwaters Resource Preservation Project Area

Birmingham

Royal Oak

Rochester

Holly

Milford Pontiac

North Detroit River

Rivers, Lakes & Stream Systems

Rivers, Lakes & Stream Systems

High

Low

Low

High

High

High

High

High

High

Rouge RiverRouge River

Clinton RiverClinton River

Huron RiverHuron River

Shiawassee RiverShiawassee River

Flint RiverFlint River

Surface Waters

Major River System Corridors

Lakes, Rivers & StreamsLakes, Rivers & Streams

Watersheds & SubwatershedsWatersheds & Subwatersheds

Note extensive wetlands in southeastNote extensive wetlands in southeast

Recreation/Open Space Lands

Recreation/Open Space Lands

Each dot represents 10 people

1990 Census

AreaPopulationAreaPopulation

Each dot represents 10 people

1990 Census

CountyPopulationCountyPopulation

1990 Growth Line

1990 Growth Line

Urbanization S.E. MichiganUrbanization S.E. Michigan

1965-2020

SEMCOG

Urbanization Forcast Oakland County

Urbanization Forcast Oakland County

1965-2020

SEMCOG

CountyGrowthCountyGrowth

Urbanized 1995

Lower Density Urbanized 1995 to 2020

Higher Density Urbanized 1995 to 2020

Source SEMCOG Forecast 1996

Oakland County’s population is forcast to grow by up to 200,000 people by the year 2020

CountyGrowthCountyGrowth

Urbanized 1995

Lower Density Urbanized 1995 to 2020

Higher Density Urbanized 1995 to 2020

Source SEMCOG Forecast 1996

1990 Growth Line

1990 Growth Line

2020 Growth Line

2020 Growth Line

Oakland County’s population is forcast to grow by up to 200,000 people by the year 2020

RelativeTopographyRelativeTopography

1990 Growth Line

1990 Growth Line

2020 Growth Line

2020 Growth Line

CountyContextCountyContext

• Combined Wetlands & Water Features and Major Roads & Subdivision Streets

2020 Growth Line

2020 Growth Line

1990 Growth Line

1990 Growth Line

View Looking West From Wixom to Milford Township

• Ground Water QualityWell Head ProtectionGroundwater Recharge

• Surface Water QualityWatershed ManagementWetland Protection/Mitigation

• Natural Area ConservationCommunity GreenwaysWildlife Habitat

• Trails/Recreation Lands/Open Space

Trails/Path NetworksUrban Open Space

• Brownfield RedevelopmentContaminated site clean-up

• Community CharacterView from the Road

COUNTY ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES


2

PLANNING PROCESS

In order to conduct a thorough analysis it is important to assemble as much pertinent information as available. Assemble a base map with as many of the items listed below as possible.

Checklist Items – Information Gathering: Recreation Lands Trails/Paths/Routes – existing and proposed. Natural Features Lakes, Rivers, Streams, Wetlands Historic Sites Schools/Churches Surface Topography/Slopes Views and Vistas Utility Corridors Town Centers/Convenience Centers Road Network Land Uses

1. Have you…. developed a base map with pertinent information?

The regular use of trails/paths are dependent, in part, upon the proximity of the population served and the ease of access to the system. Population centers may reside within the municipality to be served or beyond it’s borders in adjacent communities. Local land use and master plans identify existing and potential populations within each municipality.

Checklist Items – Population.

Existing residential populations Proposed residential populations

2. Have you…. identified existing and future populations locations to be served by the trail/path system?

Map Sets

Community Master Land Use Plan

Resource ConservationThrough Community Planning


1. Have you?

• Identified the types of natural resources & open spaces important to your community’s future including;

Natural Resource Conservation through Community Planning


Wetlands

Woodlands

Surface waters & Flood Plain

Prime Farmlands

Slopes

Natural Area

Natural Area ecosystems.

Oakland County's Green Infrastructure Visioning ProjectPreserving 'Our Natural Legacy'Oakland County's Green Infrastructure Visioning Project focuses on identifying an interconnected network of green space that conserves natural ecosystem values and functions, guides sustainable development, and provides associated economic and quality-of-life benefits to our communities.

Oakland County Environmental Stewardship

OAKLAND COUNTY PLANNING & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT SERVICESL. Brooks Patterson – County Executive

Trail/Path Planning Process

Draft

oakgov.com/esPlease visit us on the web at:

Thank You

Documents

PLANNING AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT SERVICES L. Brooks Patterson – County Executive Land Use & Environment MICHIGAN