The Manchester Enterprise
A Heritage Newspaper
Weekly Publication
Chamber briefed on regional efforts
SWWCOG ready to take next step in regional planning
By Edward Freundl, Staff Writer
PUBLISHED: April 12, 2007
Details of ongoing efforts to guide development throughout the area were the main topic of discussion at Monday's monthly meeting of the Manchester Area Chamber of Commerce.
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Village President Pat Vailliencourt told her fellow chamber members of a plan to consolidate zoning and planning responsibilities into a regional planning committee.
"We wanted to make sure chamber members were aware of it," she said. "It will have a very positive effect on us as businesspeople and residents."
The Southwest Washtenaw Council of Governments, of which Vailliencourt is chairwoman, has dedicated itself to revisiting a regional master plan the group developed several years ago but never fully implemented.
SWWCOG consists of representatives from the townships of Manchester, Sharon, Freedom and Bridgewater, the village of Manchester and Manchester Community Schools.
"A lot of work went into it but for the most part it is collecting dust," Vailliencourt said. "You could say we sort of wimped out in the end, and didn't believe in it enough to change our local plans."
The idea of consolidating services to save costs is gaining momentum among municipalities, and a threat from the state to impose its own mandates on local governments to do so is providing incentive for those that adopt a regional strategy.
Regional plans have the added benefit of being more defensible in court because zoning ordinances would be consistent across a wider geographic area.
"The state has made it clear there are incentives for communities that work together," Vailliencourt said. "People elected us to protect our homes, but also to protect the entire community.
"Nobody wants strip malls and unplanned development, and nobody wants us to look like other communities like Chelsea or Saline," she said.
Vailliencourt said that timing is "critical" to create a plan that all the local governments can live with to safeguard the future of the community.
At its meeting Wednesday, SWWCOG members were to vote on creating at the very least a framework for a regional agreement.
Such an agreement could form the basis for future regional cooperation, such as a single planning commission with jurisdiction over the entire area.
Several expressed concerns over the possible loss of autonomy of the local boards, but Vailliencourt noted that SWWCOG has local representation and any regional board that arises from it also would represent local interests.
In the end, her message came down to the fact that no progress can be made without some sacrifice and compromise.
"It changes the way we've always protected our turf, and it will either work or it won't," she said.
"The wheels move slowly — we have a solid regional plan; let's adopt it and see where it goers from there."
Edward Freundl is a reporter for Heritage Newspapers. He can be reached at 428-8173 or efreundl@heritage.com.
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