The Lakes to Land Initiative is a a joint venture between a number of townships in Benzie and Manistee Counties to plan their collective and individual futures, funded by a grant from the C.S. Mott Foundation and the State of Michigan. The initiative will provide technical and financial resources to each township as it writes and/or revises its own individual master plan. Under Michigan law, a master plan is the legal basis for a township’s land use planning and zoning. The hope of the project’s organizes is that the the townships will work together to figure out ways that they can cooperate to achieve their shared goals.

You can read more about the initiative at its website here.

Today and tomorrow information sessions will be held to explain and answer questions about the initiative and the proposed process as follows:

Tuesday, May 23 – 7:00 p.m. – Onekama Consolidated School Cafetorium

Wednesday, May 24 – 7:00 p.m. Frankfort-Elberta Elementary School Gym

The townships taking part in the initiative are Arcadia, Bear Lake, Pleasanton, and Bear Lake Townships in Manistee County and Blaine, Gilmore, Joyfield, and Crystal Lake Townships in Benzie County, as well as the City of Frankfort.

BUT THESE ARE NOT THE IMPORTANT MEETINGS TO ATTEND. THE VISIONING SESSIONS NEXT MONTH ARE WHAT’S IMPORTANT.

One of the first steps in drafting each community’s master plan will be the holding of a community visioning session during the month of June in which citizens will be asked to discuss their vision for their township and the region through a series of exercises. WE BELIEVE THAT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO ATTEND AND ACTIVELY PARTICIPATE IN THE VISIONING SESSION HELD FOR YOUR COMMUNITY.

The community visioning sessions will be held for each township as follows:

Arcadia – Tuesday, June 12, 2012 – 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Pleasant Valley Community Center, Arcadia

Joyfield – Wednesday, June 13, 2012 – 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Blaine Christian Church, Arcadia

Crystal Lake Township – Thursday, June 14 – 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Frankfort/Elberta Elementary School, Frankfort

Gilmore – Thursday, June 14, 2012 – 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Old Life Saving Station, 1120 Furnace Ave., Elberta, MI

Pleasanton – Monday, June 18, 2012 – 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Bear Lake School, Bear Lake, MI

Blaine – Tuesday, June 19, 2012 – 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Blaine Township Hall

Bear Lake Township – Thursday, June 21, 2012 – 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Bear Lake School, Bear Lake, MI

A multi-township make-up session for those, including summer residents, will be scheduled for early July.