In Genesee County, a local multi-jurisdictional planning effort known as the Southern Lakes Planning Initiative has been formed. The Southern Lakes Planning Initiative (SLPI) is a representative group of township trustees, city councils, planning commissions, school districts, drain commissioners, and lakes associations in southern Genesee and northern Livingston counties. The broad goal of this group is the improvement of communication between communities and with county and state entities with regard to future quality of life in the region. Issues such as threats to preserving land (natural and agriculture), rising legal costs, strained operational budgets, and lack of non-motorized transportation in the townships are all areas of mutual concern.
About Southern Lakes Planning
We serve as an umbrella to connect local activities across the region. We are committed to keeping Southern Lakes a Great Place. We do not desire to create a new organization but serve as a clearinghouse for local initiatives throughout the region. We believe working together benefits everyone, by linking groups together with similar interests, projects will leverage more funding and garner greater recognition.
We promote: Southern Lakes, a Great Place
Based on past research, the SLPI will continue to identify local assets that help identify the region. Outcomes of this include a short documentary, and student photographs. Future endeavors will promote unique features of each community to aide in economic development, historic preservation, and tourism.
Focus Areas
Shiawassee River Trail – cooperating with Headwaters Trails in Oakland County, the SLPI will identify key locations for signage along the Shiawassee River.
Beautification – cooperating with Keep Genesee County Beautiful, the SLPI will encourage master gardeners, and local beautification committees and commissions to attend trainings and promote a county-wide beautification effort
.Nonmotorized Transportation – cooperating with the Genesee County Metropolitan Planning Commission, the SLPI will work to incorporate trails into local parks and recreation plans as a first step to qualify for state funding for trail development. For more information on the Southern Lakes Planning visit www.oursouthernlakes.com
Contact :
Sara McDonnell
Project Coordinator
Center for Applied Environmental Research
University Outreach, UM-Flint smdonne@umflint.edu
(810) 767-7272
In the modified municipal zoning map, no zoning classifications were changed, however, the classes were homogenized into a single classificiation (ie. Different classes of single family residential were all keyed to the same color) to make interpretation of the many varied zoning ordinances between municipalities easier to comprehend.
A regional area plan developed through the SLPI will not limit the decision making by local government but, in providing goals and strategies that have been jointly approved, this decision making can be fully cognizant of the broad framework of regional issues.
For more information on the Southern Lakes Planning Initiative you can contact:
Sara McDonnell
Project Coordinator
Center for Applied Environmental Research
University Outreach, UM-Flint smdonne@umflint.edu
(810) 767-7272
