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Chelsea Master Plan review process underway

Chelsea logoMembers of the Chelsea City Planning Commission and City Council members met in a joint work session Tuesday night to discuss strategies for reviewing and perhaps amending the city’s Master Plan, a process that takes place every five years.

Carl Schmult, the city planner and Christine Linfield, the city’s planning, engineering, zoning and community development director, explained that the Planning Commission was going through the document page by page and thoroughly reviewing it.

They said that if there is Planning Commission consensus that the documents should be amended, the final approval would be up to a vote of the City Council.

“We need to make sure that the Planning Commission and the City Council are on the same page,” said Planning Commission Chairmen George Kinzer, who is the lone member of the commission who participated in the previous Master Plan revisions.

If the commissioners decide major amendments are needed, they would meet with the City Council to discuss them, then hold a public meeting to get the community’s suggestions. Neighboring townships and county-wide planning organizations would be notified to get their comments as well.

Schmult called the Master Plan “a live document,” adding that if something comes up, it can always be amended.

At this point, the Planning Commission has held two work sessions about document.

“I’d think you’d be excited (about the process); you’re helping shape the community,” said Mayor Jason Lindauer.

According to meeting minutes from these work sessions, among the things that Planning Commissioners would like to see are updated demographics, more pocket parks, complete sidewalks and expanded pedestrian amenities and safety for non-motorized traffic.

Planning Commissioner Sarah Haselschwardt asked if cost was a factor in the process and City Manager John Hanifan said that $30,000 had been included in the budget if it was needed.

There was a general consensus of those present that the Master Plan should be an all-inclusive document with a generalized approach for all age groups.

The two groups plan to meet again when the Planning Commission is further along in its review of the document and you can download the plan here.

For more information about what happens during an update of a city’s Master Plan, click here and read an overview by the Michigan Municipal League.

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