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--

METRO
Swmy. High 83, low 67.
Monday: Rain
Details, Page 2A

Left, Anna
Alpert holds
her children,
David, 3, and
Gilana, 7,
during
evening
services in
Temp!e B'nai
Israel in
Muskegon,
where the
Jewish
community is
celebrating
100 years in
the city.
Rabbi Alan
Alpert, Anna
Alpert's
husband,
conducted the
,services.

On Guard For 157 Years

,,

SUNDAJSeptember 18, i988
For home delivery call 222-6500_
75 cents :

~or Jews, a life ofcomproririse
Once ignored, small M,usk_egon minority celebrates centennial
BY DAVID CRUMM
Free Press Religion Writer

GEORGE WALDMAN/Detroit Free Press

It's a Friday evening in Muskegon,
the start of the Jewish sabbath, and 15year-old Amy Scolnik would rather
watch the Mona Shores High School
football game and go dancing than sit in
the temple for an hour, listening to
Hebrew readings with a handfui of
adults.
At dinner, she blushes crimson as
she talks with her parents, Robert and
Merle Scolnik, about skipping the service.
Her father is president of Temple
B'nai Israel in Muskegon, and he's in

the midst of an interview about a major when they say that. They don't think of
celebration marking the city's Jewish us," he says, pausing,
centennial.
"I don't say anything about it when
"This has been a problem all that happens. We don't make waves."
But this month, waves of public
through school," says Merle Scolnik.
With only 87 Jewish families in a attention will sweep over the tiny
metropolitan area of 150,000 people, Jewish community celebrating its 100
it's a safe bet that school events won't years in Muskegon.
More than 50 programs are schedbe scheduled around their needs.
uled, from a gala opening on Saturday
l\my is a junior varsity cheerleader with a solo concert by violinist ltzhak
and soon leaves for her game.
Perlman to a new exhibition of works
But the discussion reminds Robert by artist Marc Chagall in November to
Scolnik of a civic club whose meetings classes on Jewish heritage in the public
he attends; invocations often end with, schools. The program was planned
"in Jesus' name."
"They don't realize we're here See MUSKEGON, Page 4B

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                  <text>Collection of photographs, scrapbooks, programs, minutes, and other records of the Temple B'nai Israel in Muskegon, Michigan. The collection was created as part of the L'dor V'dor project directed by Dr. Marilyn Preston, and was supported by grants from the Kutsche Office of Local History and Michigan Humanities Council. Original materials were digitized by the University Libraries and returned to the synagogue.</text>
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                  <text>Digital objects were contributed by Temple B'nai Israel as part of the L'dor V'dor project.</text>
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                  <text>Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Allendale, Michigan</text>
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                  <text>Preston, Marilyn</text>
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              <name>Date</name>
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                  <text>Circa 1920s-2018</text>
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                <text>DC-08_Detroit-Free-Press-Centennial_1988</text>
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          <element elementId="39">
            <name>Creator</name>
            <description>An entity primarily responsible for making the resource</description>
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                <text>Detroit Free Press</text>
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          <element elementId="40">
            <name>Date</name>
            <description>A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource</description>
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                <text>1988-09-18</text>
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          <element elementId="50">
            <name>Title</name>
            <description>A name given to the resource</description>
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              <elementText elementTextId="786988">
                <text>"For Jews, a life of compromise"</text>
              </elementText>
            </elementTextContainer>
          </element>
          <element elementId="41">
            <name>Description</name>
            <description>An account of the resource</description>
            <elementTextContainer>
              <elementText elementTextId="786989">
                <text>Newspaper clipping from the Detroit Free Press of an article about Temple B'nai Israel's centennial celebration.</text>
              </elementText>
            </elementTextContainer>
          </element>
          <element elementId="49">
            <name>Subject</name>
            <description>The topic of the resource</description>
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                <text>Detroit free press</text>
              </elementText>
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                <text>Centennial celebrations, etc.</text>
              </elementText>
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            <name>Source</name>
            <description>A related resource from which the described resource is derived</description>
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              <elementText elementTextId="786994">
                <text>Digital file contributed by the B'nai Israel Temple as part of the L'dor V'dor project.</text>
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                    <text>GRAND RAPIDS

Pair honored as resistance fighters

,,

The Israeli government has honored a Grand Rapids
couple who worked in the Dutch resistance during World
War II and helped Jews flee the Nazis.
Adriana and Peter Termaat have been named recipients
of the Medal of the Righteous Gentiles for their work in the
Netherlands under German occupation.
The couple spent five years in the resistance movement
printing underground newsletters, forging ration and iden~
tificatlon cards and hiding people from the Nazis.
"So many times, your life hung by a thread," said Peter
Termaat, 72. Adriana Termaat, 70, said, "It's something you
never f et."

)

GRAND RAPIDS

Pair honored as resistance fighters

_
•

~

The Israeli government has honored a Grand Rapids
couple who worked in the Dutch resistance during World
War II and helped Jews flee the Nazis.
Adriana and Peter Termaat have been named recipients
of the Medal of the Righteous Gentiles for their work in the
Netherlands under German occupation.
The couple spent five years in the resistance movement,
printing underground newsletters, forging ration and identifi~tlon cards and hiding people from the Nazis.
So many times, your life hung by a thread," said Peter
Termaat, 72. Adriana Termaat, 70, said, "It's something you
never forget."
GRAND RAPIDS

Pair honored as resistance fighters
The Israeli government has hon~red a Gr~d Rapids
couple who worked in the Dutch res1;Stance dunng World
War II and helped Jews flee the Nazis.
. .
Adriana and Peter Termaat have ~n named rec1~1ents
of the Medal of the Righteous Gentiles for their work m the
Netherlands under German occupation.
The couple spent five years in the resistanc~ movef!lent,
printing underground newsletters, forging ratio~ and identification cards and hiding people from the N11;1s ..
"So many times your life hung by a thread, Sal~ Peter
• Termaat, 72. Adria~a Termaat, 70, said, "It's somethmg you
!i never forget."

,Y, APRIL 1, 1986

DETROIT FREE PRESS

$3 TO UNLOCK CAR

.Police propose

J

STURGIS - Police would charge $3 to unlock a car and
$25 to escort a funeral under a proposal by city officials.
Police Chief Lyle Hopkins and City Manager John Brand
have suggested a schedule of fees for services they consider
outside the Police Department's regular law enforcement
duties. Hopkins said about 20 percent of police time is spent
on non-police duties.
Hopkins and Brand said the fees woul~ increase re~enues, discourage unnecessary calls and mcreas~ police
efficiency. Hopkins said one car owner asked police four
times in one week to unlock his vehicle after he locked the
keys inside.
Last year police unlocked 729 vehicles, escorted 87
funerals and 1,515 money deliveries and answered 385
burglar alarms, 96 caused by malfunction~. The proposal
has been assigned to a City Council committee.
GRAND RAPIDS

Pair honored as resistance fighters
The Israeli government has honored a Grand Rapids
couple who worked in the Dutch resistance during World
War II and helped Jews flee the Nazis.
Adriana and Peter Termaat have been named recipients
of the Medal of the Righteous Gentiles for their work in the
Netherlands under German occupation.
The couple spent five years in the resistance movement,
printing underground n!wsletters, forging ratio~ and identification cards and hldmg people from the Nazis.
·
"So many times, your life hung by a thread," said Peter
• Tennaat, 72. Adriana Termaat, 70, said, "It's something you
i never forget."

�~;;..A~Y,~A;;_P;;_R;;_IL;;.1;;_,

1iiiiiiiiiiii9iiiiiiiiiiii86
. . . . .;;.DETR;;_OITii i i i i iFREii i i i PR;.;-ESS
i iE
,

$3 TO UNLOCKCAR

Ay, APRIL 1,

·.·Police propose f

GRAND RAPIDS

DETROIT FREE PRESS

$3 TO UNLOCK CAR ' .

1

STURGIS - Police would charge $3 to unlock a car and
$25 to escort a funeral under a proposal by city officials.
Police Chief Lyle Hopkins and City Manager John Brand
have suggested a schedule of fees for services they consider
outside the Police Department's regular law enforcement
duties. Hopkins said about 20 percent of police time is spent
on non-police duties.
Hopkins and Brand said the f~ would increase revenues, discourage unneceasary calls and Increase police
efficiency. Hopkins said one car owner asked police four
times in one week to unlock his vehicle after he locked the
keys inside.
Last year police unlocked 729 vehicles, escorted 87
funerals and 1,515 money deliveries and answered 385
burglar alarms, 96 caused by malfunctions. The proposal
has been assigned to a City C~ncll committee.

1986

·.·Police propose f
·

STURGIS - Police would charge $3 to unlock a car and
$25 to escort a funeral under a proposal by city officials.
Police Chief Lyle Hopkins and aty Manager John Br~nd
have suggested a schedule of fees for aervices they consider
outside the Police Department's regular la_w e~for~ement
duties. Hopkins said about 20 percent of police time 1s spent
on non-police duties.
Hopkins and Brand said the fees would Increase revenues discourage unneceasary calls and increase police
efficiency. Hopkins said one car owner asked police four
times in one week to unlock his vehicle after he locked the
keys inside.
Last year police unlocked 729 vehicles, escorted 87
funerals and 1,515 money deliveries and answered 385
burglar alarms, 96 caused by malfunction~. The proposal
has been assigned to a City Council committee.
GRAND RAPIDS

Pair honored as resistance fighters

Pair honored as resistance fighters

The Israeli government has honored a Grand Rapids
couple who worked in the Dutch resistance during World
War II and helped Jews flee the Nazis.
·
Adriana and Peter Termaat have been named recipients
of the Medal of the Righteous Gentiles for their work in the
Netherlands under German occupation.
The couple spent five years In the resistance movement,
printing underground newsletters, forging ration and identification cards and hiding people from the Nazis.
"So many times, your life hung by a thread," said Peter
Termaat, 72. Adriana Termaat, 70, said, "It's something you
never forget."

The Israeli government has honored a Gra~d Rapids
couple who worked in the Dutch resistance dunng World
War II an&lt;l helped Jews flee the Nazis.
. . ·
Adriana and Peter Termaat have been named rec1p1ents
of the Medal of the Righteous Gentiles (or their work in the
Netherlands under German occupation.
The couple spent five years in the resistance movement,
printing underground newsletters, forging ratio~ and identification cards and hiding people from the Nazis.
"So many times, your life hung by a thread," said Peter
Termaat, 72. Adriana Termaat, 70, said, "It's something you
never forget."

�</text>
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            <element elementId="50">
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                  <text>Adriana B. and Peter N. Termaat collection</text>
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                  <text>Termaat, Adriana B. (Schuurman) </text>
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                  <text>Termaat, Peter N.</text>
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              <name>Description</name>
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                  <text>Collection contains genealogical, personal, and family papers and photographs documenting the lives and interests of Adriana and Peter Termaat. The bulk of the materials are related to family history and genealogical research carried out by the Termaats, including research notes and materials about places in the Netherlands that were significant to the Termaat and Schuurman families, such as the city of Alkmaar.&#13;
&#13;
Other materials in the collection are related to the Termaats' experiences on the eve of and during the Second World War, especially the German occupation of the Netherlands and the Termaats' participation in organized resistance to the Nazis. Also included are materials that document the family's post-war life in the United States, including their public efforts to recognize, commemorate, and honor people and events significant to World War II.</text>
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                  <text>1869 - 2012</text>
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                  <text>&lt;a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/719"&gt;Adriana B. and Peter N. Termaat collection, RHC-144&lt;/a&gt;</text>
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                  <text>Netherlands</text>
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              <name>Publisher</name>
              <description>An entity responsible for making the resource available</description>
              <elementTextContainer>
                <elementText elementTextId="810184">
                  <text>Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Special Collections &amp; University Archives</text>
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..

MICHIGAN INDIAN DAY

3 DAY CELEBRATION
SEPTEMBER 28.2(lt30~
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER

28th:

HOSPITALITY:

SA'IURDAY

&amp; SUNDAY,SEPTFMBER

12 Noon
10: 30 am PARADE WILL
ASSEMBLE AT Fort &amp; Third
OOWNTOWN DETROIT.
PARADE WILL PROCEED OOWN
FORT ST. TO WOODWARD TO
END AT HART PLAZA.

&amp; 30th:

'rnADITIONAL POW l«JW

8:30 - Noon
At Parade Site
PARADE:

29

At Historic Fort Wayne
DANCERS &amp; 'rnADERS 'WEl.aNE

Honorarium to all dancers

I

TRADERS FEE:
$20 A DAY/ $ 30 WEEKEND ,
SATURDAY:
1pm - 5pm
.:~
7pm - 11pm
SUNDAY:

1pm -

5pm

Dinner 5 - 6

MINI POW l«JW:

AT HART PLAZA OOWNTOWN DETROIT
1:00 - 5:00 pm
{ SORRY NO TRADERS)

FEAST:

E""veryone Welcome!
At Historic Fort Wayne
( Jefferson &amp; Livernois)

AIH[SSION DAILY:

$ 3.00 ADULTS (13 and up)
2.00 SENIORS
1.00 CHILDREN
HFAD DANCERS: JB &amp; PHYLIS SCHUYLER

DANCE:

With D. J
$ 10.00 Drinkers
$ 5.00 Non Drinkers

PRIMATIVE CAMPIM; AVAILABLE

FOR K&gt;RE INFORMATION CALL: ROBERT PASSAGE, CHAIRPERSON MID@ {313} 754-7914
Or DETROIT INDIAN CmrER {313} 53~2966

I

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IT
Y
.
MICHIGAN INDIAN DAV CELEBFIA1ION·
,

FRIDAV:SEPTEMBER 23 1 1983

~ ~ -r R O:1:--

,-,o,,,..
M.C

DE"A N GCORGE

OPENDRUm:
'BLUE. LA l&lt;S:
SINGERS

'l(ED -EAGLE
SttJSERS

ALL NA1.!0N
SINGl:RS

TRADERS:
r.m&gt;IAN TRAl&gt;ERS Ot.lL'/ /

No IMPo~ra
.In
Sol(R'Y No FooD COAlcESSZo~

No FEES
(
BRrNS owtJ TASLES .,. CHAt.l(S
J:9B moRE x.1Lfot
ELArNE: s,s- q,a- 01.2.if
JOAN: 5l'1·37.3·'1,S6S

.-

.

CAROLYN: 5 11· 373- ,os¥
D.A.z.. c: .313- 'ffo3·/?/0

�COMe AND ceLeBRATe

CHI@
....__.....l
~AY

INDeTROIT, sePT.23,1983
STARTINGTl Me 4:00P.M WITH 'PARADe FROM
THe DeTROfT AMeRICAN IND JAN ceNTeR

DOWNWOODWARDTO HART PLAZA
FOR RIVeR FRONTPOW·WOW
~EVeRYONe weLCOMe/.l
.THIS 1S OURDAYCOMe SHABe ITWITtl
. _ -----.~GP- us• ...
El~

roR M0Re ,NFOcALL!,, 96.3-~~ ·

,,

=

POw-wow:tLAINe ANTONe 9~3-0124/ 531-19-43
"PARADe:ROse SILVeY

963-1712

PUBLICITY$ SPeAJ&lt;eRs:
COL\.eTre SCtl OTT 963-1711
LINDA LARO~ue 96.3- 012.6
ve-reRANS: CARY seveRT: :963-1711

'FLOAT s,

])AN C eRs,

INI&gt;I

CA'RS,

SPeAa-&lt;e~s., TR1'beJlS

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                    <text>IVJJLHJGAl\l INDJAN DAY
Friday September 23, 1988
Downtown Detroit
Parade &amp; Mini Pow~Wow
8:30 a.m.

- Hospitality
Central United Methodist Church
corner of Woodward &amp; Adams

10:30 a.m. - Parade will begin to assemble
on the service drive of 1-75 and
Woodward Ave.

12:00 Noon - Parade begins
2:30 p.rn.

- Mini Pow-Wow at Hart Plaza

6:00 p.m.

- Feast for Participants

With Support of:
Soonsored by: N.A.1.A. and the INDIAN COMMUNITY

NORTH

AMERICAN

INOIAN

ASSOCIATION

(313)

DETROIT COUNCIL OF THE ARTS
535-2966, Chairman. Robert Passage (313) 754- 7914.

Co-Chairman. Art Brant (313) 961-0679. Secretary Collette Schott (313) 256-1633

Compliments of DYNAMIC PRINTING &amp; TYPESETIING LTD. . 1764 Oxford St. E.• London. Ontario NSV 3R6

Ph : (5191 659 -3506

·-----------------------------------------------------------------------PLEASE DETACH AND RETURN TO ADDRESS BELOW
RGANIZATION: ................................................................................................. DATE: ......................................
DDRESS: ............................................................................................................................................................. .
:LEPHONE: ..........................................................................................................................................................
~ADE PARTICIPATION:

Yes/No

NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS: ............................................

Please ch.eek each category that applies to you and the number:
Float - - - - Marchers - - - - - Veterans - - - - - Oancers----ease return this form by September 1, 1988 to:
ir.hig:in lmfi,1n O:iy P:ir;,dr, Cc,rnmitt,,P., 7.7.77.0 Plymn11tli nc1 ., Or.trait. Mi. IH37.J9 . 1J7.7

J

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                    <text>Michigan Indian Day Celebration
Downtown Detroit
Parade &amp; Mini Pow Wow
Sept. 26 Friday
Parade 12:00 Noon
1-75 /Woodward
to Hart Plaza

TRADITIONAL
POWWOW
NO ADMISSION

Mini Pow Wow

Grand Entry
MINI - POW-WOW AT HART PLAZA

INCIAN CRAFTS ANO

AS SOON AS THE PARADE ARRIVES

TRACERS BOOTHS

BUFFALO FEAST AFTER POW-WOW
LOCATION TO BE DETERMINED

INDIAN TRADERS WELCOME - NO FEE
FOR MORE INFORMATION

(313)

ETHNIC FOOD
NO IMPORTS

256-1633

PUBLIC
WELCOME

313

963-1710 Detroit Indian Center

313

256-1633 Urban Indian Affairs

No Drugs or Alcohol in Pow Wow or Parade Area

&lt;.:)-

I.,_,,.", (......,,u,~·ilutct.._ l ·'

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Fifth Annual

HO.NOR OUR CHILDREN

row-wow

Sponsored By:

Detroit Indian Educational
And Cultural Center

Saturday

&amp;

Location:

Sunday, June 4th

&amp;

5th, 1983

Historic Fort W91'ne
Jefferson &amp; Livernois
Detroit, MichiBan

Grand Entry:

Sat. June 4 12:00 noon and
5:30 p.m.

Sunday, June 5 1:00 p.c.

CHILDREN

&amp;

ADULT CONTESTS

CAMPIOO AVAILABLE AT THE FOR!'

TRADER TABI.m AVAILABLE
ADMISSION:

Free to everyone

Bring your friends, faoily, coc, dad
and yourself to our Pow-wow • • • •
Jt)R ADDITIONAL INFORMATION PHONE:
(313) 898-0842 or 898-06?4
DETK&gt;IT INDIAN EDUCATIONAL AND CULTURAL CENTER

�</text>
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CAMPING AT
THE POW WOW
GROUNDS
LEAD DANCERS:
EVA ELBERT, INDIAN
EDUCATION SENIOR ,
PRINCESS AND
Tl
JERRY WAUCAUSH

TRADITIONAL
POW WOW
SPONSORED BY
DETROIT INDIAN EDUCATIONAL
AND CULTURAL CENTER

Jb)f~p
. - ,:?

'

AT
HISTORIC FORT WAYNE, DETROIT, MICHIGAN
JEFFERSON AVE. &amp;LIVERNOIS
CRAFTSPEOPLE AND PUBLIC WELCOMED
TRADER TABLES AVAILABLE AT $25 PER DAY
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: JUDITH A. MAYS, DIRECTOR
2750 SELDEN, DETROIT, MI
313/ 494-2442 OR 494-2427

d\~~~~~~

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8 ~ utfnd '&amp;tdlawl ~en~
IS SPONSORING

THE

ANNUAt
Honor our Children
SA?U?.I:AY &amp; Su!·Dfa.Y
Ju:;::::; 21 &amp;. 22, 19E6

Grounds o'Oen 10 : 00 a.:m .
Arts &amp; Cr ~fts fo r Sale**?ood**Traditional
Singing &amp; Dancing

PRIZI::S A1·:AED:=L:
Traditional &amp; fancy Dance c~~~cst e
13T Prize: $500,00
2:E) Prize: ~·.200. 00
3RD Prize: $100 .00
:,:en &amp; '.·:or..ie~ ?articipants

Sug~est e d Donation :

4·2 . oc

Adults

$1 . 00 Child

Chief Little Slk - Sac,inaw/Chippewa
Reserve, ;:t. Pleasant

Le ac. Danc er s:
Kim Oga , Chippewa , Detroit , KI
D. I . E. C. C. Senior Princess

'.:'radi tional Ground Elessincs f.,
Cerer::tonies

v.'ayne Clel and , :3hawnee
Ponti a c , I:I

Trader Tabl es Available
~.25. 00 week- end
t15.oc per d.ay

Recistration: $4 . 0C Adults
$2 , 00 Child

Overni.;ht Car.iping Available

EVERYONE WELCOME
Historic- Fort W.iyne
***GIVE- A-v:J..YS*** !

Jefferaon &amp; Uvemol1

Detroi~Mi

Fe ast fo r all Dancers

For Additional Information , please call 494- 2442 , 494- 2427 or S49- 4796 .
***?lease note t:.at the route to Fort ',:ayne will not be affected

bj,T

the Gr and Prix . ***

�</text>
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                    <text>. . ·:

,

..·

'

·.. .. ,,•· .
•:

~ --

ADL Creates~·Group · &gt;·-•· .·
To Support.-~es_c uers .·.
Th_e Michigan Office of the: · · tional director of the AntiAnti-Defamation League has
Defamation League, and the
created a Michigan Chapter _ : presentation •. of ADL's
of the Jewish Foundation For. · ·· Courage 'To . Care awards to
Christian : Rescuers. Linda·
Peter N. and Adrienna B/TorSoberman, president of the
maat; and to Ignacy, Helen ,
Michigan board of the ADL,
. and Cezary Chorazyczewski, · i
appointed Fran Gross
who saved Jews from the
(Linden) chair of the new
Nazis during the Holocaust.
group, which will hold a kick- . · The Jewish Foundation for :
off event 6 p.m. June 4 at the
Christian Rescuers provides
Holocaust Memorial Center.
monthly grants to over 700
A private viewing of the
needy rescuers in 13
memorial center will be
countries.
followed by a talk by
For ticket information, call
Abraham H. Foxman, nathe ADL office, 355-3730.

DETROIT JEWISH NEWS .

..,·..

·MAY 3 11991 .

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&#13;
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                    <text>Grand Valley State University
Veterans’ History Project
Grover DeVault
Cold War (Pre-Vietnam); Vietnam War
22 minutes 13 seconds
*Note: Times used in outline are with the time code on the tape
(00:49:18) Early Life
-Born in Plainfield, New Jersey, on August 20, 1929
-Grew up there
(00:49:45) Becoming a Chaplain
-Interested in the chaplaincy while in college
-Read about a Marine chaplain that had served in the South Pacific in World War II
-Part of C Company of the 50th Armored Division of the New Jersey National Guard
-Joined the National Guard while in college
-Promoted to the rank of corporal because he knew how to use a typewriter
-Went to college in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and Columbia, South Carolina
-Attended seminary at Philadelphia Faith Theological Seminary
-Started as American Baptist then moved to the Independent Bible Churches
(00:50:57) Stationed at Fort Belvoir
-Assigned to Fort Belvoir, Virginia
-Initially assigned to the garrison and had a chapel in the community
-Reassigned to DeWitt Army Hospital for a year
-Received training at Walter Reed Army Medical Center
(00:51:23) U.S. Army Polar Research
-Assigned to the U.S. Army Polar Research on Greenland
-Did two, nine-month periods on the island
-Helped with the construction of Camp Century under the ice cap
-Had a chapel carved out of the ice
-Conducted services at the North Pole for scientists stationed there
-Went to the Long-Range Navigation System of the Coast Guard
-Conducted services and brought them basic entertainment like board games
-Got to take pictures of a polar bear
-Befriended the Catholic chaplain during their time on that assignment
(00:53:50) Stationed in West Germany
-Stationed on the East/West German border with the 14th Armored Cavalry Regiment
-Stationed in West Germany for three years
-Served as the regimental chaplain at Fulda, Germany
-The 14th Armored Cavalry was tasked with defending the line in the event of a Soviet invasion
-Had to defend the line until the 3rd Armored Division arrived
-The 14th Armored would have been wiped out in the event of an invasion

�-General Creighton Abrams told Grover to report directly to him about the 14th Armored
-Abrams trusted the chaplains to be honest and direct about issues in the units
-Race relations were tense in Germany during his time there
(00:55:36) Tour in Vietnam
-In Vietnam, race relations were very tense
-Remembers a group of black soldiers had captured a military police lieutenant
-Grover negotiated for the safe release of the officer without a firefight
-Awarded the Legion of Merit for his actions
-Deployed to Vietnam after working in the Arctic
-Part of the 80th Support Group
-Operated out of Da Nang
-Worked with two mission agencies
-Went to Montagnard tribes to help record their unwritten languages
-Built a Catholic orphanage
-Ultimately built four churches and eight schools for the Montagnards
-Established a good connection with those tribes
-Placed a grave marker where four missionaries were killed
-Ten days before leaving Vietnam, a close chaplain friend of his was killed-in-action
-This chaplain was coming to visit Grover before Grover left
-On the way, his truck hit a landmine resulting in his death
-Grover went to the mortuary to identify the chaplain
-Passed out when he was told it was his friend
(00:59:45) Stationed at Fort Detrick
-Sent to Fort Detrick, Maryland, to recover from his tour in Vietnam due to PTSD
-Made lifelong connections while stationed there
-Stationed there for one year
(01:00:17) Getting Master’s Degree
-Sent to Union Theological Seminary in New York
-Studied there for 18 months
-Got his master’s degree in arts and education
(01:00:30) Stationed at Fort Hood &amp; End of Service
-Sent to Fort Hood, Texas
-Started there as the post chaplain
-Became the religious education director
-Completed his service as the 13th Sustainment Command (COSCOM) chaplain
-Had civilian workers working for him while at Fort Hood
-Retired after his service at Fort Hood
(01:01:53) Life after Service
-Taught at a college in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, for six years
-Worked as a minister at a church for six years
-Got involved with Cadence International and Malachi Ministries
-Providing troops with a “home away from home”
-Returned to Lancaster

�-Did ministry and mentoring
-Started the State Police Chaplaincy which grew to have 48 chaplains
-He was a first responder at the West Nickel Mines School Shooting in the Amish community
-Arrived on the scene when the shooter killed himself
-Met a man whose granddaughter had been killed in the school, but didn’t know it yet
-Worked as a liaison to that community after the shooting
(01:04:38) Reflections on Service
-Totally broadened his outlook on life
-Made him more faithful
-Made him more understanding of other people
-Improved his relations with other races
-Taught him to cherish education
-There were a few disappointments, but none enough to ruin the entire experience
-The training he received at Walter Reed was indispensable
-Stayed involved with the chaplaincy after he left the Army
-Started scholarships at colleges for chaplains
-Part of a chaplains’ association
-Marvelous experience working with other chaplains
-Had strong and impactful mentors
-Wife was involved with the chaplaincy as a civilian
-She loved the military and helped with some of his duties as a chaplain

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                <text>Grover DeVault was born in Plainfield, New Jersey, on August 20, 1929. He originally served in the New Jersey National Guard with C Company of the 50th Armored Division before joining the regular Army as a chaplain after studying at Philadelphia Faith Theological Seminary. Grover served at Fort Belvoir, Virginia, as the garrison chaplain and at the DeWitt Army Hospital for a year. He served with the U.S. Army Polar Research at Greenland and helped with the construction of Camp Century, and also went to remote outposts to conduct services. After Greenland, he served in West Germany with the 14th Armored Cavalry Regiment at the Fulda Gap. He was deployed to Vietnam and in Vietnam served with the 80th Support Group. While in Vietnam, he worked with the Army and mission groups to help the Montagnard tribes. He returned to the United States and served at Fort Detrick, Maryland, for one year then studied at Union Theological Seminary. He completed his service at Fort Hood, Texas.</text>
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                    <text>Young Lords
In Lincoln Park
Interviewee: Patricia Devine-Reed
Interviewers: José “Cha-Cha” Jiménez
Location: Grand Valley State University Special Collections
Date: 2/10/2012

Biography and Description
English
Patricia Devine-Reed was the leader of the Concerned Citizens of Lincoln Park (later called the
Concerned Citizens Survival Front of Lincoln Park), the first group to protest urban renewal plans on the
grounds that Puerto Ricans and African Americans were being displaced from their homes and priced
out of the renewing neighborhood. Ms. Devine-Reed successfully recruited José “Cha-Cha” Jiménez to
attend one of their meetings with the Department of Urban Renewal in 1969. The meeting proved to be
important for many reasons. Mr. Jiménez took a group of about 35 youth into this meeting. When they
saw a display detailing the displacement of Puerto Rican and poor people from Lincoln Park and heard
the realtors and developers from the Lincoln Park Conservation Association describe their plans for the
neighborhood, they were furious and spontaneously thrashed the entire urban renewal building. The
resulting destruction closed down the building for several months.
Ms. Devine-Reed also helped to organize the broad-based Lincoln Park Poor People’s Coalition (Mr.
Jiménez became its president) to try to save the poor from being forced out of their homes in Lincoln
Park. An artist and curator, Ms. Devine-Reed continues to advocate on behalf of women, civil and
community rights in Chicago.

�Spanish
Patricia Devine-Reed era una de los líderes del Concerned Citizens of Lincoln Park (después se
cambiaron a los Concerned Citizens Survival Front of Lincoln Park), que fueron el primer grupo en
protestar los planes de reconstrucción ciudadana en parte de que los Puertorriqueños y Afroamericanos
iban ser desalojados de sus casas y luego subieran el precio de la renta de las nuevas residencias. Señora
Devine-Reed felizmente recluto a José “Cha-Cha” Jiménez para uno de los reuniones del Department of
Urban Renewal en 1969. Las reúnes probaron ser muy importantes por muchas razones. Señor Jiménez
tomo in grupo de jóvenes a esta reunión. Cuando vieron la muestra de cómo desalojado de los
Puertoriquenos y pobres de Lincoln Park y escucharon como los agentes y promotores de Lincoln Park
Conservation Association describieron sus planes para el vecindario, los jóvenes estaban furiosos y
revolcaron el edificio en donde estaban haciendo la reconstrucción. Esto resulto en cerrando el edificio
por unos meses por la destrucción.
La señora Devine-Reed también ayuda los pobres que están desalojados de sus casa en Lincoln Park, con
la organización, Lincoln Park Poor People’s Coalition en donde el señor Jiménez era presidente. Una
artista y conservadora, Señora Devine-Reed continua soportar los derechos de mujeres, el civil y la
comunidad en Chicago.

�Transcript

JOSE JIMENEZ:

Can you tell me how you feel (inaudible)?

PATRICIA DEVINE-REED:
JJ:

Okay, so --

(inaudible) anything.

PDR: My name is Patricia Divine-Reed. I was privileged to be in Lincoln Park in the
1960s and early 1970s, and to have met Cha-Cha Jiménez and the Young Lords
during that time. I came to Lincoln Park as a full-time resident in 1964, after I
had graduated from college. I had attended Alverno college in Milwaukee,
Wisconsin, but during the four previous summers, I had also lived in Lincoln Park
with a organization, Young Christian Students, whose [00:01:00] mission it was
to awaken students to issues of social justice, the need for change, how
Christians impacted that, and so on. So, I was working with young Christian
students. When I graduated, I moved full-time to the Lincoln Park neighborhood.
It was a very exciting place. There was every imaginable European Ethnic group
lived in the community; Irish, Germans, Polish, there were gypsies in the
community. A large -JJ:

What year was this?

PDR: The Puerto Rican, 1964. Large Puerto Rican section of the community. In the
south end of the neighborhood, [00:02:00] there were low-income African
American families, that was just north of Cabrini-Green. And there were lots of
students there. Some hippies, but it was a opened community, where everyone
could live, everyone could express themselves. And a very exciting place. In the

1

�mid-’60s, as we entered into the later ’60s, ’66, ’67, there were some obvious
changes that had started to take place in the neighborhood. The eastern part of
the neighborhood was growing more and more wealthy, and many of the people
who had lived there before [00:03:00] no longer could afford to own their homes,
to rehabilitate their homes, to pay the taxes. On the main streets, there were a
lot of large apartment complexes that were -- that had tenants, tenants of all
kinds, families, single people, students. And many of those buildings, the owners
were absentee landlords, and they had stopped renovating the properties. So,
there were changes taking place. It wasn’t always clear exactly what was
happening. But there were also changes taking place all over the world. This
was a time of great questioning of upheaval throughout the world. There were
[00:04:00] independent struggles taking place, and the whole Southern
Hemisphere, Africa, South America, Central America, India, all over the world
there were independent struggles taking place.
JJ:

Okay, so all these things are going on all over the world, so how were you feeling
about these things?

PDR: Well, I had been raised to believe that everyone should have a fair shake in life,
that -- that people should love everyone, that everyone needed to have equality
and justice and adequate food, clothing, shelter, [00:05:00] independent voice in
their own lives. So, I was feeling excited about new possibilities for the human
race.
JJ:

In Lincoln Park here?

2

�PDR: Throughout the world, in Lincoln Park, in the whole United States, there was a
Civil Rights movement that was going on in the United States. There was a large
student movement. There was a movement against the war in Vietnam, very
large. The people were speaking out everywhere for their own independence,
and own self-determination. So, it was a time that the old way of life was being
challenged, and new possibilities for people were opening [00:06:00] up. In
Lincoln Park, the changes that we saw taking place seemed to be very -- initially
seemed to be very much a part of the old way of life. Those who had were
getting more, were moving into the neighborhood, were moving out people who
had lived there all their lives had small businesses, sent their children -- raised
their children through the schools, and so on. And they could no longer keep up
with the tax payments and the renovation that was being required. I really
became aware, though, of what the specifics of the situation were, I believe it
was summer, 1966. Maybe it was -- excuse me, winter, 1966. Maybe it was ’67.
[00:07:00] I had become involved with a church in the neighborhood, Parish of
the Holy Covenant. And they had opened a storefront in the 2500 block of
Lincoln Avenue, the north part of Lincoln Park, so that the church would have a -be much more involved on a day-to-day basis in the lives of the people in the
community, whatever the issues happened to be. There was -- so my early
engagements, I learned that there was a larger organization of churches, the
North Side Cooperative Ministry, that included all the mainline churches in the
area. [00:08:00] And one of their main struggles was against a new program that
had come to the area, and that was Urban Renewal. Urban Renewal was a

3

�program that had been put in place after World War II. It was federal. The
legislation had been written by Truman and Julian Levi from the University of
Chicago. He had been on the board of the University of Chicago. And the goal
was to bring a stronger financial base to urban cities, and also around institutions
in the city. So, the University of Chicago, I’d become very worried, because the
University had been become surrounded in the Woodlawn neighborhood by an
African [00:09:00] American community, and they wanted to make certain that
things were safe and secure for university students, professors, and so on. And
also, that land would be available for expansion of the University. So together
with Truman and the City of Chicago, Mayor Daley, they put in place legislation
that would enable development to take place in the city. Well, the problem with
the legislation that was put in place was that it was development to the
advantage of institutions in the city, not large numbers of people that lived in the
city. So the first Urban Renewal Program that took place happened down around
the University of Chicago. And there was [00:10:00] a large movement from
Woodlawn Organization against the program, because what it meant was, that
through a semi-legal body, the Conservation Community Council, plans could be
developed that would remove large sections of people and make way for
development by the University. It might be housing, it might be expansion of
University buildings. But it was not to the advantage of the people that were
living there. So the Woodlawn Organization was the first one to take on this
whole notion of Urban Renewal. The second area of -JJ:

And they were in favor of urban renewal?

4

�PDR: Not the Woodlawn Organization. The Woodlawn Organization was opposed to
[00:11:00] urban renewal as it was taking place down in Woodlawn, because it
meant that many people would be forced to move without having anything to say
about it. The next area that was to be developed in the city was the area on the
near west side, which was primarily an old, Italian community and a newer
African American community. That was to make way for the University of Illinois,
which at that time was at Navy Pier, but they wanted to create this whole
University complex on the near west side of Chicago. And that meant, again,
that sections of land that were owned by families would have to be confiscated
by the city to make way for the building of University of Illinois, [00:12:00] or the
state, in this case. Florence Scala was the woman for the Italian community, the
new west side, that began organizing people in opposition to the building in the
expansion of the University. And they have massive movement of people. But
you could see -JJ:

What do you mean massive? (inaudible)

PDR: -- large numbers, large numbers of people that came to -- tried to keep their
homes, tried to get adequate value for their homes. And businesses, it was a
thriving community, tried to make, instead of the renewal that was taking place,
just to the benefit of the University [00:13:00] that money would be made
available for people to renovate their homes, to renovate apartment complexes
for decent living for tenants of all kinds. But as -JJ:

Were there demonstrations, too? Or no demonstrations?

5

�PDR: There were demons-- oh, they demonstrated. They were very vocal, yes. They
were an inspiration to many communities. But as we can see now, the University
of Illinois is the property owner in a large, large area that goes from -- the
University itself goes from Roosevelt up to Jackson, in some places, and it goes
all the way west from Halsted to Ashland. So Halsted to Ashland is a mile.
[00:14:00] So it’s at least a mile square, and in some cases goes east of Halsted.
Some of the buildings are east of Halsted. Very little housing left there from the
old Italian community, the African American community, the owners of the
buildings that were renting to African Americans, Latinos and Italians -- all of that
has been wiped out. Many churches and other institutions tried to hold out for a
long time, but eventually, they also gave in. Maxwell Street, the owners of the
property on Maxwell Street, a wonderful, wonderful open-air market, primarily
stands owned by the Jewish community, they held out for a long time, but
[00:15:00] eventually, Maxwell Street also went by way of the University. This
happened over quite a number of years, but it was happening at the time I was
living in Lincoln Park. And the pastors of churches had become very concerned
about what was happening and what the future was for people in the community.
The first action that I became involved in was at a -- it was a demonstration
outside of the offices of Lincoln Park Conservation Association in the winter. I
believe it was January, 1967. Lincoln Park Conservation Association was
supposed to be [00:16:00] a neighborhood association, like the old -- like Back of
the Yards Neighborhood Council, the Alinsky Organizations. But it had become
a homeowners’ association, but not representing all homeowners; not the small

6

�homeowners, not the working-class homeowners, but those who had quite
adequate financial resources and wanted to see the community around them
develop into a more wealthy area. Lincoln Park Conservation Association had
completely thrown their hat into supporting the Urban Renewal Program as a way
to upgrade financially the community, not as a way [00:17:00] to improve the
quality of housing for the people living there. Remember, I said it was a very
diverse and very exciting ethnic area, racial area, all ages. And it was clear that
as the community became wealthier, that was no longer going to be the case.
So in, I believe, January of 1967, there was a demonstration by the North Side
Cooperative Ministry, and many other members of the churches in opposition to
positions that were being taken by Lincoln Park Conservation Association. A
short time after that, a new organization was formed, Concerned Citizens of
Lincoln Park, and the main goal [00:18:00] of Concerned Citizens was to
represent the common people of the neighborhood that were not being
represented by Lincoln Park Conservation Association, so it included the
homeowners, the shopkeepers, all the ethnic groups. And they were in coalition
with the churches and with an organization in the southern part of the
neighborhood, Neighborhood Commons, that was actually a corporation whose
goal was to develop low income housing for people in the southern part of the
neighborhood. I eventually became the principal organizer for Concerned
Citizens of Lincoln Park. So we organized everywhere. Wherever there was a
[00:19:00] threat that a particular area was going to be the next area that the city
or realtors were going to try and capture, there we would go to organize. So it

7

�might be tenants, it might be homeowners, it might be a commercial strip. And it
became clear that actually, Concerned Citizens and the churches were a little
behind the eight ball, that the plan had pretty much already been set by the
Lincoln Park Conservation Association and the City of Chicago. Then we
learned also that the only way this program came [00:20:00] to the neighborhood
was that institutions had to join with the city to bring the Urban Renewal Program.
And the institutions that were in support of the program were Children’s Memorial
Hospital, DePaul University, and McCormick Theological Seminary. Their goal
was to create a area around their institutions, which would be conducive to their
staff, to their students, to a different kind of population that existed in the
community, which was the ethnic family population of the community. So not
only was it Lincoln Park Conservation Association [00:21:00] that became the
organization that we were confronting, challenging about what they were doing,
but it was also these institutions. Legally, the statute required that there be a
paralegal or semi-legal body that would approve the plans for our community.
That body had to include the institutions, include people from the City of Chicago,
some residents from the community, Conservation Community Council included
all of those people, but none of them represented the low income and middle
[00:22:00] income families and ethnic groups of the community. It included only
the institutions and the wealthy of the community, the eastern side of Lincoln
Park, closer to the lake. The primary position taken by Concerned Citizens of
Lincoln Park is that we want renewal for the people who live here, not for a whole
new population of people. We’re not opposed, we’re not opposed to houses

8

�being upgraded for people who live here, we’re not opposed to new housing for
African American and Puerto Rican and Mexican and Polish families. We want
the neighborhood to be upgraded [00:23:00] for the people who live here. That’s
the right of everyone to live in decent housing with decent stores, decent schools,
good transportation, access to the amenities of the lake, and so forth. But that
was not what the plan was of those who were in control of the planning process.
Monthly, there were meetings at the Conservation Community Council. So for
each meeting, we would organize residents to attend whose living circumstances
were being considered at that meeting. It was sometime [00:24:00] in late ’67 or
1968 that I was working with a group of tenants in the 20- and 2100 blocks of
Halsted Street, west side of the street. There was the Conservation Community
Council was considering a plan to demolish the buildings there. We were
organizing tenants to come and speak for themselves about improving that
property, rather than demolishing it, and improving it for the people who lived
there. One night, I recall we were -- another organizer, Dick [Vision?] and
myself, we were making posters out on the sidewalks, and it was a [00:25:00]
summer night, in front of the buildings in the 20 hundred block, and there were
young guys who had a hotdog stand right on the corner there at Halsted and
Dickens. And we started talking to them about what we were doing, and asking
them to join us in making these posters because their -- this month, their homes
might not be threatened, but they would be next month or next year, if the plan
continued to move forward of Lincoln Park Conservation Association, and the
Conservation Community Council. We were out there many nights, actually,

9

�working with residents, and one night I met a young man named Cha-Cha
Jiménez. He was very sharp, [00:26:00] very bright. Had -- I think he had just
come out of jail on some charge, and he said that he -- he told us that he was the
leader of the Young Lords gang. I said, “Well, I don’t care, you (audio cuts out)
and start fighting for your people because they’re going to meet the same fate as
the people in these buildings right here.” I said, “You know, people in the
buildings want you to help them, but they’re afraid of you, and you don’t want -you’re afraid of them because you say they don’t want you on the corner. You
need to join together. This is time to join together, not to be separated. Cha-Cha
was -- he challenged what we were saying, “Why should [00:27:00] we do this?”
But eventually he came to see that fighting for any one group in the
neighborhood was a way that he could secure the future for his own Puerto
Rican brothers and sisters. They had been in the community since the ’50s, and
were growing, large Puerto Rican community in the southern part of Lincoln Park.
Their future in the community was threatened, just as that of all the other ethnic
groups in the community. So eventually Cha-Cha joined with us. I remember
one of the first meetings that he agreed to go to, it was a [00:28:00] Conservation
Community Council meeting. I’m not even sure exactly which proposal was
being considered at that meeting. It may have been for the 20-block, 100-block
of Halsted. And he brought with him other members of the Young Lords
Organization. And at some point in the meeting, I believe it was just after the
vote by the Conservation Community Council to support the demolition of the
property, they, as young people do, were very angry, and got up and started

10

�throwing chairs. It was something that all the civilized people were very
surprised at. I mean, [00:29:00] we had been demonstrating very nicely, and
there had been, you know, everybody acted very proper because the churches
were behind the opposition movement, and so on. But now we had these young
people. And their whole style of operating was much different than that of the
churches. But the police were called, and they were arrested. But it set in
motion a very important liberation struggle for the community that went on for -JJ:

What, exactly, do you remember of that day for this kind of a -- but I don’t think
they were -- police didn’t arrest people that day, it was another day that they
arrested (inaudible). But what do you remember --

PDR: What I remember is the chair throwing, and everybody from all sides [00:30:00]
were just stunned.
JJ:

Who was in the audience?

PDR: Well, there were -- these meetings were -- by this time, many people had started
to come to the Conservation Community Council meetings because it meant their
future. You know, where were they going to (dog barking) -(break in audio)
PDR: Sure.
JJ:

Okay, so what do you remember of that meeting, that Community Conservation
Council meeting?

PDR: Well, Cha-Cha came with, I don’t know, 10 to 15 guys that night. This was really
their first involvement. They -- in fact, I was surprised he brought so many.

11

�JJ:

Ten or fifteen, or fifty or sixty? Wasn’t it something like that, now? [00:31:00] Or
a little larger amount in terms of people?

PDR: You had 50 or 60?
JJ:

I thought that we (inaudible).

PDR: Oh, I don’t think you had that many.
JJ:

Okay. All right.

PDR: But anyway, it doesn’t matter the number, what -JJ:

How many do you think came? How many do you think came?

PDR: I don’t know. Fifteen, twenty.
JJ:

Fifteen or twenty? All right. All right.

PDR: Yeah. There were a lot of people at the meeting. They had charts out, the
Conservation Community Council had charts out with the plans that had already
been decided, or were being proposed, to date. They still had different sections
to vote on, and so on. I [00:32:00] remember Cha-Cha looking at it, and the
areas where his family lived and where most of the Puerto Rican family lived in
the new proposal, they were not going to be there anymore. So he took that time
to educate his guys and say, “Look at” -- you know, “Where are we in the future?”
So it really became a time when he used to do political education with the other
young people that came with him. The proposals, as I said, I don’t remember the
exact proposals that were being voted on at that meeting. Each meeting they
voted on a section of the community, and what was to happen. And there was
already a proposal that had been laid out by the institutions, [00:33:00] the city,
and Lincoln Park Conservation Association. None of the people from Concerned

12

�Citizens had been involved in making these proposals. They had done this all in
closed doors, and so on.
JJ:

Whose office was that?

PDR: It was the Urban Renewal office. There had been an office specifically sat up to
manage the Urban Renewal Program and operation, so it was a political office. It
was the City of Chicago office that we were meeting at. The Young Lords raised
the issue about representation. Actually, representation was being raised by
many. The North Side Cooperative Minister was raising the issue, in fact, had a
whole [00:34:00] slate of people that they wanted to be included on the
Conservation Community Council. As the issue of representation was raised,
Cha-Cha raised the issue of, where are the Puerto Rican community on this
Conservation Council? And things happened very fast. And all of a sudden,
chairs were flying. And it was -- everyone, everyone was stunned on all sides,
because this wasn’t the way the “proper people” did business. But it woke folks
up to the fact that [00:35:00], you know, this is a new day. And people are not
gonna let somebody else speak for them, plan their lives for them. But we’re
going to determine our own life, our own future, have our own voice. This is our
own community. We’re gonna stay here. If there’s any development that takes
place it has to include us in the decision making. It has to be done for us, as well
as others in the community. It was -- I think the meeting ended very quickly.
There were no decisions that were made after that. They wanted folks out as
fast as possible. And --

13

�JJ:

Now you were -- you said people were [00:36:00] standing outside. Were people
afraid? Were some, like -- were your people afraid of the Young Lords, or other
(inaudible)?

PDR: I think -- well, clearly people from the city were afraid, and Lincoln Park
Conservation Association, because what was being challenged was their position
of leadership. I don’t think anybody from the churches that were from the North
Side Cooperative Ministry or Concerned Citizens of Lincoln Park -- they were
stunned because it was a different way of doing business. But I don’t think that
they were afraid. They were happy, as a matter of fact, that there were additional
voices that were coming into participation in the community around this issue.
What was at stake, according to the proposals, was moving [00:37:00] out 80 to
100,000 people, working class people, poor folks, owners of small stores, senior
citizens, all their lives and whose homes weren’t up to the standard that they
expected in the renewal program. So there was a lot at stake. And there was
also a lot at stake for those who sought profit from urban renewal, the real estate
companies -- billions were to be made from the new developments that were
proposed. So any challenge to that was frightening to those who had developed
the plans to that point. [00:38:00] I think the churches which had joined together
to challenge the renewal plans were churches that saw that everyone had to
have the opportunity to speak for themselves, to be independent, to have decent
food, clothing, shelter. So they weren’t afraid of this new movement, but they
were in support of it. And in fact, a short time later offered housing to the Young
Lords Organization; [00:39:00] Armitage Avenue, United Methodist Church. The

14

�Young Lords were offered housing by Reverend Bruce Johnson. So, I mean,
that’s just a sign that the churches were in support, for the most part, of what was
happening.
JJ:

So this meeting takes place, and you go back to the Concerned Citizens of
Lincoln Park, and North Side Cooperative Ministry was there also. So now what
were -- how did they feel about the -- was there -- did it impact them, or --?

PDR: No, they were very much -- it impacted them, yes. Yeah, it impacted them
because -- but in a positive way, it’s a growing movement for -- to maintain a
diverse multicultural, [00:40:00] multi-income community.
JJ:

Because they didn’t [answer that?], there was a Lincoln Park Poor People’s
Coalition? Can you (inaudible)?

PDR: But that came about much later.
JJ:

Okay. What came next, what came next.

PDR: Yeah. You know, I don’t know if I remember all of the -JJ:

Timeline?

PDR: The timeline, yeah.
JJ:

Okay.

PDR: I remember major things that happened. I remember the day-to-day of
organizing.
JJ:

Well, two days later, there was an arrest, right? Or not an arrest, but there was
an action at the Chicago (inaudible) police station. What was that about?

PDR: Well -JJ:

Two days later. (inaudible)

15

�PDR: -- Young Lords had been arrested. Cha-Cha had been arrested, and other
Young Lords had been arrested. And while there was no -- [00:41:00] they
initially weren’t charged with anything, they had been picked up by the police.
And we had a demonstration outside, and some of us went inside the police
station. I remember that Reverend [Reed?] was always a spokesperson. And
the churches -- none of you were jailed at that time, were you? You were
arrested, but -JJ:

There were two warrants after that charge. No one was arrested.

PDR: Nobody was arrested? Nothing?
JJ:

There were two warrants and I was taken to the lock-up, and then I was
released, and then there was a group outside that we -- [00:42:00] they were
outside.

PDR: But again, that was -- I mean, the police should have had no reason to pick up
the Young Lords at that time. But everything in Chicago was connected to the
Daley administration. Remember, this was a city office where the demonstration
had taken place two nights before. The Conservation Community Council was
the paralegal body, operating out of the Urban Renewal office, the city office.
Daley -- or those who connected with him gave the word, and the Young Lords
were arrested two days later. Picked up. Picked up two days later. So
[00:43:00] anybody who was available went at a moment’s notice over to the
police station to provide support outside the station, and several people were
allowed in the station. And that really was the mantra, the style of things from

16

�then on, that if anybody was attacked, instantly we would mobilize a support
group to provide support, to raise bail money, to provide legal support.
JJ:

How did you work with the Young Lords after that? After those meetings, there
were other meetings, there was --

PDR: There were lots of meetings. Lots of meetings. Things happened very fast. And
the next two years, the next two years all seems [00:44:00] to flow together. I
worked very closely with Cha-Cha many, many, many, many nights, talking about
what the specific issues were related to the Urban Renewal plan, what it meant
for groups, working class people, poor people to speak for themselves, to no
longer be oppressed by traditional systems. And it wasn’t something unique, it
was happening everywhere in the United States and around the world that
people were speaking for themselves. It just happened to be that this situation
was an issue of land and housing, and where people lived, and whether or not
they could continue to live in the houses that they lived in. And it [00:45:00]
pointed to the future. You know, these issues were to be issues of people for,
you know, generations to come. It was almost impossible working with the
Young Lords to separate the issues of Lincoln Park from the issues of Puerto
Rican independence, and self-determination of people that I remember studying
Mao Tse-tung’s “Little Red Book” with Cha-Cha, and going over line by line,
studying the works of -- studying things that SDS was putting out that were being
put out through the [00:46:00] Civil Rights movement. This was the year that -JJ:

Were there newspapers or tabloids, or what? How were you studying -- did you
have a newspaper?

17

�PDR: We had a newspaper, Concerned Citizens of Lincoln Park had a newspaper,
which we tried to put out monthly. It was a lot of work. And it carried the stories
of people who, in the community, who were on welfare. Some businesses that
were being forced out carried the stories of senior citizens who were harassed
during the Democratic Convention in Lincoln Park in the part itself, but they were
residents of the community. So it carried the plans [00:47:00] that -- the new
plans that the Conservation Community Council was putting out. Proposals for
housing, new construction as well as renovation of buildings that were already
there, it presented the -- what groups like Neighborhood Commons were doing in
the southern part of the neighborhood. So there was a lot of information about
local things happening in the community. There were also newsletters that were
put out by Neighborhood Commons. The churches were constantly issuing
information about what was going on, not just about housing, but all of -[00:48:00] things interrelated. The health issues interrelated. There was a
growing welfare rights organization. There was a growing relationship between
African Americans in Cabrini and the areas just north of Cabrini, and south
Lincoln Park. So all of these things impacted each other. Yes, we studied these
with Cha-Cha. But also, many other things that were being published. The Civil
Rights movement was continually issuing information. And then of course, ’68
was a year where many [00:49:00] things happened. There was the murder of
Martin Luther King, Jr. There was the murder of Bobby Kennedy. The very vocal
rising up of the Black Panther party, especially in Chicago, and Maywood in West
Side of Chicago. There was a Democratic Convention that took place. That very

18

�clearly impacted the Lincoln Park neighborhood. Of course, the mayor did not
want the people demonstrating, and then there was a split in the opposition
movement to the Democratic Convention. [00:50:00] SDS split. And a group
called the Weathermen split off. And their position was, we need to go into the
neighborhoods and organize people in the neighborhoods, and expose Mayor
Daley and the city for what they’re doing in the neighborhoods. And I recall
having a conversation at that time with Cha-Cha about this, and what did he think
about it? And he said, “Oh, if they do that, they’re just going to come and arrest
us. The police will say that we were the ones that did it because it’s our
neighborhood, and arrest those that they’ve always arrested before.” It was
during that time that another young group formed called the Young Patriots,
because they were the sons of many of the people who were involved with
concerned [00:51:00] citizens, who were from -- who lived in the northern part of
Lincoln Park, but who were from Appalacian Community. So they had been
there for some time. But the young people were also harassed by the police.
And they said that if anybody from the outside comes and demonstrates during
the time of the Democratic Convention, they’re going to arrest us. The heat is
going to come down on us. And so while we should have been in support of the
opposition to many of the things that were happening at the Democratic
Convention, the movement in Lincoln Park was, in some cases, opposed to the
demonstrators. And we [00:52:00] had our own actions planned for the
Democratic Convention. We had planned to showcase what the city, Lincoln
Park Observation Association, the institution was doing in Urban Renewal by

19

�having a major march to the Urban Renewal office during the Democratic
Convention. And we did. We had at least 300 people. It was, in some cases a
celebration; we had a lot of ethnic music, we had ethnic flags and colors, we had
big Paper Mache heads, and it was in one way a -- (phone rings)
(break in audio)
PDR: Okay, well, I was talking about the demonstration we [00:53:00] had during the
Democratic Convention. And one of the things that we tried to make certain was
that outsiders, Weather Underground, and any others that were trying to
demonstrate in our community would have nothing to do with our demonstration,
because they did not represent us. Their presence was a threat to especially
young people in the Lincoln Park community, Puerto Rican community, the
southern white community, African American community. Clearly, Cha-Cha, the
Young Patriots and Fred Hampton were saying no, we don’t want you coming to
our community during the Democratic Convention, or ever, to demonstrate,
because it’s going to come back on us. They’re [00:54:00] going to say, “You did
this,” especially since the young people had begun to be political. The young
people from the community. And they were a threat to the new proposed way of
life in the community. So yeah, the -JJ:

I believe there was a countermarch, or something like that, between the Young
Lords and the Panthers, or --

PDR: Well, we had the march to the Urban Renewal office. That was a large march.
And it was very celebratory. There were lots of banners, colorful banners, ethnic
music, drums, and people playing guitar. We had, as I[00:55:00] said, the Paper

20

�Mache heads of Urban Renewal. So it was -- it was a time for us to really
consolidate, the churches, the community groups. We all consolidated and
joined together. It was probably the first time that we really had a action that
brought together all the different parts of the growing coalition in the community.
So yeah, I wouldn’t say it was the countermarch, I would say it was THE action.
But every night, every night during the Democratic Convention, I remember
patrolling -- [00:56:00] a large group of us patrolled the streets in the community.
I remember being out with Dick Vision and several others to make certain that
the police were not going to arrest anyone from the Young Lords and other
young people in the community. And, yeah, every night, we were out there
patrolling.
JJ:

’Cause these were the days of rage, actually. That’s what they were calling
them.

PDR: Yes. Yes. That’s what they called “the days of rage.” And there was already so
much anger by this, Mayor Daley and the City of Chicago, that we just couldn’t
allow anything more to come down on people in the neighborhood. [00:57:00]
Cha-Cha, you have a much better memory of the timeline of events than I do.
JJ:

You were kind of skipping around, but let’s -- can you kind of explain what was
going on with the whole McCormick situation, before the McCormick tip over,
what was going on? I’m talking about the McCormick Theological Seminary.

PDR: The McCormick Theological Seminary, Children’s Memorial Hospital and DePaul
University were the three community institutions that joined together with the City
of Chicago and realtors to bring Urban Renewal to the community. So they had

21

�become an enemy. Now there were many people inside of McCormick
Theological Seminary, especially students [00:58:00] who had decided to place
their allegiance with members of the community. So there were some
professors, and many students. After all, McCormick was a theological school,
theological institution that said that they were training people for ministry, and
that they supported justice and equality for all people. So they were the most
obvious contradiction as far as the three institutions went. They said one thing,
yet they were operating in a totally different way. So it was [00:59:00] really the
Poor People’s Coalition led by, at this point, the Young Lords Organization,
determined to try and break McCormick, to get them to come to support of the
Poor People’s Coalition. We had support inside by some students, and we had
support by some professors. So on one hand, they were the weakest institution.
On the other hand, they had these contradictions that were going; they said that
they were training people for ministry, and yet were acting in an opposite way.
So there was a decision to -- and this was not something that was unusual
[01:00:00] in those days, there were many instances across the United States
where movements would capture land or buildings and hold it as a way of
strengthening their position. So that’s what happened at McCormick Theological
Seminary.
JJ:

There was a meeting the same night as the takeover that took place at your
office, you were meeting on some kind of decisions, where some information had
been brought to the meeting about the -- I mean, what was the information that
was being brought to the meeting?

22

�PDR: You know, I don’t remember.
JJ:

I mean, it was sort of like McCormick didn’t say anything, they might want to
endorse something they’d planned, or, what do you call that? I know there was a
meeting. I don’t know --

PDR: I remember the meeting. I remember the meeting. I don’t remember [01:01:00]
what the specifics were, though, on the endorsement.
JJ:

Who was there? Who was at the meeting?

PDR: There were people there from the Poor People’s Coalition from throughout the
Lincoln Park.
JJ:

Do you have the names of (inaudible)?

PDR: I remember Neil Shadle was there. He was the Neighborhood Commons, along
with Dick Brown. Reverend Reed was there.
JJ:

Was Dick Simpson or any of those people there?

PDR: Dick was there, yeah. Dick was there. I think from the Young Lords, Luis Cuza
was there.
JJ:

I was there once.

PDR: Yes, you were there. But I don’t remember the specifics. But there were parallel
[01:02:00] decisions being made all over the -JJ:

Were meetings going on with McCormick during that time to try to get them to
invest money for housing, or --?

PDR: Yes. We had been having meetings with McCormick to get them to endorse a
housing corporation for, we called “Poor People’s Housing Corporation.” And
there was really no money backing up the development of plans. We had been

23

�trying to get McCormick to support that development, and also, to act [01:03:00]
on what they said that they were about, as an institution. Generally, to get
McCormick to support the movement against what we came to call “Urban
Removal.” What had they refused to do, I don’t remember the specifics. I don’t
remember the specifics. But what I do remember was that McCormick was in the
weakest position because they were acting against what they said they stood for.
We had strong support inside the institution from students, and students really
were the ones that opened the doors to us so that we could go into the institution
[01:04:00] and claim it as ours for a week, we held it for a week.
JJ:

What do you mean, “claim it as ours”? What took place?

PDR: We made an encampment inside the administration building of McCormick
Theological Seminary. We refused to move until McCormick agreed to certain
demands. If they had agreed to the demands before we ever went into the
Seminary, we wouldn’t have expanded the demands. But once we were in there,
we agreed to increase the demands. One demand was, we [01:05:00] asked for
a million dollars to be put into a fund for low-income housing in the community for
the Poor People’s Housing Development Corporation. We asked for $500,000
for many other things, for a free people’s legal clinic that was in the community
and was representing people whenever it appeared that they had been unjustly
arrested, brought up on trumped charges, and so on. So money for the free
people’s legal clinic. We asked for money for the welfare organization that was
developing in the community for the [01:06:00] daycare center that was to be run
by the Young Lords Organization Medical Clinic, to be run by the Young Lords

24

�Organization. After a week, McCormick agreed to many of the demands. We
compromised. Five hundred thousand instead of a million dollars for the Housing
Corporation. A little lesser money for the legal clinic, I think it was $100,000 for
the legal clinic. And I am not sure of the exact amounts now for the health
center, for the -JJ:

Twenty-five thousand for the --

PDR: Twenty-five thousand?
JJ:

Yeah.

PDR: - for the child care center, [01:07:00] and for the welfare organization. But it was
-- I think one of the things that was significant about that action was that so many
of the students and actual -- the professors that were part of McCormick actually
worked with us through the -- worked with the Poor People’s Coalition through
the entire week negotiations beforehand, afterwards continued to work with the
organizations that were funded through McCormick, set up many forums,
educational forums about housing, about healthcare, [01:08:00] about people’s
independence movements, and so forth. It was -JJ:

Independence for Puerto Rico --

PDR: Independence for Puerto Rico, but also when I say “independence movements,”
I’m talking about the Civil Rights movement, all the movements for justice and
equality. Remember, there were women’s struggles that were going on, many
struggles that were going on. So a coalition -- so a coalition -JJ:

So the women’s struggle was also part of the movement that was going on in
Lincoln Park.

25

�PDR: Yes. Yes. So a coalition developed between the Seminary and the larger
coalition in the community. That, I think, was even more than the monies that
came [01:09:00] out of it, that that coalition and the support that began to be
generated from McCormick. Eventually, this wasn’t at the peak of the struggles
in Lincoln Park, but eventually McCormick left Lincoln Park and moved to Hyde
Park near the University of Chicago.
JJ:

Before we go there, were you inside the takeover -- when the takeover was
taking place, were you inside the building?

PDR: Of course.
JJ:

Okay, so what was going on inside?

PDR: There was very disciplined -- everyone that was there was very disciplined, was
very focused on the issues of the community. There were educationals that were
taking place for all of those who were inside about what the issues [01:10:00]
were on housing, on healthcare, on welfare. There were teams of people that
were voted to do the negotiations with the administration of the Seminary.
Everyone who was inside was very serious, was very disciplined, respected the
building, was respectful of the administration of the Seminary. We clearly had a
different view, but nevertheless, there was an atmosphere of respect. Education
[01:11:00] and empowerment of everyone who was there. It was, I think, of all
the actions, it was a time for real empowerment of especially communities that
had been cut out of power. Young Lords, I think it was the primary
empowerment action that took place for the Young Lords Organization. There
were many situations, but that, I think, was the primary one.

26

�JJ:

Was there any cultural events any other, besides just -- were they just kind of
discussing different things? Was there any music or anything --

PDR: Oh, yes. One of the things that marked -- and for me, marked a difference
[01:12:00] between the other kind of organizing events I had been -- everything in
Lincoln Park that we did was cultural. We had music and bright colors and
banners. People did art and sang. It was a time to use the arts to organize, to
celebrate, to educate, to, you know, really bring people together and get them a
sense of power and dignity.
JJ:

Now the Young Lords came from a gang, a street gang, that’s kind of clear that
that’s where they came from. In fact, there was several youth groups in the
community. And they kind of used the name, the gang, anyway, to their
advantage, when they were being put down. But as they became [01:13:00]
more political, you saw the transition come and take place. They didn’t take time
to study before they [came out?], they just kind of went right from the beginning
to the political movement. How did people react to that? Were they afraid of
them? Or how did they react to the Young Lords? I mean, I’m sure that
everything they did was not correct, there were some mistakes made, but how
were people in generally been -- like in McCormick and some of the other
[outside of that?], how did people feel about the Young Lords? Were they afraid
of them, or --?

PDR: Well, at McCormick, I think they were afraid -- it was clear that their building had
been taken over. I mean, that was frightening. This is something new.
Something challenging the authority of the seminary leadership, [01:14:00] yes,

27

�you know, that was scary to those at the seminary. And then here are these ragtag young people that are not -- don’t do everything in the proper way.
Nevertheless, education had taken place already before they went in there, every
meeting was -- you know, there’s a book learning and then there’s hands-on
education, experiential education. And both were taking place, but taking place
very rapidly. Not in the school setting, but, you know, as I said, every night I
remember long into the night, having educated discussions [01:15:00] with ChaCha and others.
JJ:

Where did you sleep? Where could you sleep? Did you sleep, or --?

PDR: I’m talking before we get to the Seminary, before we get to the Seminary. And
then all the meetings at the Urban Renewal office, at Concerned Citizens office,
at the Young Lords’ headquarters -- meetings were taking place all over, all the
time, many. And these were experiences for educa-- were educating the Young
Lords very, very rapidly. By the time we get to the Seminary, there was quite a
sophisticated understanding of what was happening in that community.
[01:16:00] And there were some people that had joined the Young Lords, like
Luis Cuza, that were college educated. And Luis continued the education on a
daily basis with the Young Lords. They were being educated by the attorneys
who were representing them on various issues, for various events and actions.
So education was constantly taking place. But yeah, they were -- if you’re power
is challenged, I don’t care who you are, you take a step back. You’re afraid.
You, you know, want to react strongly. I mean, you [01:17:00] don’t just accept
somebody challenging your position. And that’s what was happening at

28

�McCormick. But during the week that we were inside the Seminary, there was
continual education that was taking place. And as you asked, cultural activities.
Yes, cultural activities. And people slept in the administration building. We slept
in the -- there was a lounge there, and people slept wherever there was a place
to sleep.
JJ:

What about food? Where did get it?

PDR: We went -- we had groups that were going outside and getting food, and we had
people bringing food in to us, and so forth. I remember, I left -- those of us who
were -- [01:18:00] some of us were more mobile.
JJ:

So some people (inaudible) --

PDR: Because we were white and -- (laughs) So some of us could move in and out
more easily.
JJ:

Where was the police in all of this?

PDR: The police -- well, actually the Seminary, I think, wanted to handle most of it
themselves. They didn’t call the police, which was a tribute to the Seminary. I
mean, they could have locked us all up for a long time. But again, and this was
our correct assessment about going into the Seminary, rather than to DePaul
University or to Children’s Memorial Hospital, that the [01:19:00] Seminary
claimed that they were training people for ministry, and that they supported
justice and equality for all. And so now there’s a group of people that’s
demanding that they act on that. And they chose not to call the police, because it
would really show up the contradictions. And they negotiated. It took several
days for them to agree to negotiate with us. But they negotiated, and as I said,

29

�our demands increased from what they had originally been. But we also agreed
to compromises in terms of how much money. [01:20:00] And I think that the
Seminary also -- the Seminary leadership also realized that this was time -- that
these were critical issues in the community. Everything that we were asking for
was a very serious and critical need among people in the community. And, you
know, it may have taken them a few days, but that’s all it took them to make
agreements with us. Later, I learned from a pastor that they put some other
things in place that most of us weren’t even aware of. They set up a fund for the
Puerto Rican community to study [01:21:00] at the Seminary, if they chose to.
And there were young Puerto Ricans that took advantage of that, and one
became a pastor. I don’t know, there may have been more, but one I know
became a pastor as a result of that. So, you know, they went a step further than
some of the things we’d even been demanding.
JJ:

So it impacted them, the students, (inaudible).

PDR: The students, the students were definitely impacted. And I think it probably
impacted their ministries down the road. I mean, I don’t have contact with any of
the people that were students at the Seminary at that time. But it would be very
interesting in these interviews that [01:22:00] you’re doing if you could -JJ:

Touch base.

PDR: -- yeah. If you talk to some of them, if we could find them, locate them. I think
that other significant things that took place with the Young Lords and really
helped to build the movement were the murder of Bruce and Eugenia Johnson.
And the murder of Manuel Ramos.

30

�JJ:

Let’s start with the murder of Bruce Johnson and Eugenia Johnson. Could you
just talk about what happened?

PDR: Well, Bruce -- or, one morning the children of Bruce and Eugenia Johnson were
found [01:23:00] wandering on the street outside the parsonage. The parsonage
was next door to the Armitage Avenue church, Armitage, and Dayton -- am I
right?
JJ:

I just -- they had another parsonage, I think it was on Seminary or Kenmore, or
something like that. I’m not sure of the street. That’s where it actually took
place. Because the parsonage we were using was part of the church for our
office (inaudible).

PDR: Yeah, but the children were found wandering outside the parsonage of the -JJ:

The church?

PDR: No no no no no, not the parsonage of the church, but where the family was living.
JJ:

Where they were living.

PDR: Yeah.
JJ:

I think it was --

PDR: And actually there were several parsonages over there.
JJ:

Right. I think they lived at the Seminary, come that time.

PDR: Yeah. Well, it turns out that Bruce [01:24:00] and his wife, Eugenia, had been
murdered in their bed, stabbed countless times. It was a very bloody situation.
And the police, of course, were called in to be -- and an investigation began. But
an investigation was never -JJ:

I think they were discovered by the mailman, or something like that, or --?

31

�PDR: By one of the neighbors.
JJ:

Oh, was it one of the neighbors?

PDR: The neighbors found the children.
JJ:

Okay.

PDR: I know mailmen may also have discovered them, you know, I’m not sure. But I
know one of the neighbors found the children wandering outside and went to
their home and [01:25:00] found them. And I don’t know about the mailman, he
may also have. But it was a horror and a shock to everyone. You know,
immediately, people said that it happened because they had allowed the Young
Lords Organization to use the church as their center for organizing and
operating, and so on.
JJ:

Some people said that the Young Lords may have done it. Some people say
they (inaudible).

PDR: I have never heard that.
JJ:

You have never heard it.

PDR: I have never heard that.
JJ:

So it was -- what you heard was that people thought they’d be -- or they gave
them permission to begin.

PDR: Right. And there were different things. [01:26:00] Some people said it was some
folks from Lincoln Park Conservation Association, other people members of the -it might have been members of the congregation that were opposed to his giving
the Young Lords space. The United Methodist Church never really did a
thorough investigation. And the police did not do a thorough investigation of

32

�what happened. Everything sort of ended. It was closed. But the death caused
the movement to increase by -- dramatically overnight. There were [01:27:00]
masses of people at the funeral, spilling out of the church upstairs, downstairs, in
the streets. Massive demonstration. So the death was not something that
caused the movement against Urban Renewal to stop, it caused it to grow. And
it also brought greater support for the Young Lords Organization as well.
JJ:

How did they feel then, where Bruce Johnson was part of that same movement,
because the Young Lords actually got taking over that church, right? There was
a takeover of the church?

PDR: There were -- most people felt that Bruce had given the [01:28:00] space to the
Young Lords.
JJ:

Okay. So he actually was a supporter of the Young Lords.

PDR: Yeah.
JJ:

Okay.

PDR: There was primarily a Cuban congregation that was members of the church at
the time, it’s an older European congregation. And it had been on the edge of
doing some creative things, supporting issues and addressing issues in the
community, and so forth before this, and continued after that.
JJ:

Wasn’t that a member of the North Side Cooperative Ministry?

PDR: Yes, he was.
JJ:

So he was also (inaudible).

PDR: They were -- yeah. He was -- the Armitage Avenue church had been a member
since the previous pastor had been there, Gerry Forshey, I think, was there

33

�immediately before. Yes. [01:29:00] And he was in support of the movement for
decent housing for those who lived in the community. My husband, later became
my husband, Jim Reed, they had the -JJ:

The Reverend Jim Reed?

PDR: The Reverend Jim Reed had the sermon at the funeral service for Bruce
Johnson, and talked about this as a symbol of what this whole movement meant
in the community. This is a short sermon, as his sermons always were, and very
[01:30:00] powerful. Lifted Bruce and Eugenia up for their support of the struggle
in the community. So take over maybe from your perspective, but he also, from
other people’s perspective, gave the space to the Young Lords to operate.
JJ:

And actually, the very next day we were already seeing that there was a
cooperation between the Young Lords and the church.

PDR: Yeah.
JJ:

We were seeing that the very next day. It was --

PDR: There were members of the church that supported it, and others who didn’t.
JJ:

Right.

PDR: But that -JJ:

And he could have called the police, and he didn’t. I mean, he refused to call the
police, and the Young Lords even the congregation (inaudible)

PDR: Right. Right. But the death of Bruce and Eugenia [01:31:00] caused great
consciousness of large numbers of people to grow overnight. You said, “Well,
we didn’t have education” -- all of these events brought dramatic leaps in
education overnight. And, I mean, part of it was the times, and the demands of

34

�people everywhere for first voice, people speaking for themselves. The Native
American community was demanding it. The African American community was
demanding it. Now the Puerto Rican community is demanding it. People all over
demanding first voice, speaking for our self, self-determination. And in this case
it was self-determination around housing ownership, [01:32:00] quality of
housing, quality of the community. So overnight when Bruce and Eugenia were
murdered, people in all the surrounding communities had a consciousness
awakening. Initially, my contact was with young Puerto Rican men, but when this
event happened, I remember all the young women that were partners, wives,
friends, just hangers on, and the Puerto Rican community coming out, getting
political consciousness, starting to take action, supporting their guys, [01:33:00]
doing things independently. The whole movement for childcare and for
healthcare that was raised at McCormick was raised by young women. So there
was just this incredible political awakening that I say took place overnight -- it felt
like that, you know. But weeks, months, things were happening very, very fast.
The neighborhood’s West division, I remember there was a period of time when
Obed Lopez didn’t really have too much to do with what was happening in
Lincoln Park. But with these events, especially when Manuel Ramos was killed,
Obed joined his forces together [01:34:00] with those -- and West Division and
Lincoln Park joined forces together.
JJ:

What do you remember of the Manuel Ramos issue, the case, Manuel was killed.
Manuel was killed. Do you know what was taking place with the membership

35

�and all that? I mean, what do you (inaudible) -- in the community, how did they
respond to his death?
PDR: They were angry. It was an anger -- it was different Bruce and Eugenia. That
was shock. This was just a deep, deep hurt and anger, not just among young
people but among their parents and, you know, it was -- it took things to a new
level. And [01:35:00] the march -JJ:

Were you at the church, or at the funeral?

PDR: I was at the funeral.
JJ:

Can you describe that? I mean, how did they --

PDR: What I remember more than the funeral was the funeral march.
JJ:

Okay.

PDR: You know, I believe we had 10,000 people. Maybe more. People came out of
their houses to say, “Enough’s enough.”
JJ:

And he was killed by an off-duty police officer, James Lamb.

PDR: Yeah.
JJ:

And so he was killed by an off-duty police officer, [01:36:00] but that had been
happening to the Puerto Ricans, and it was --

PDR: It was a common experience, right.
JJ:

That’s where we wanted to bring that up then.

PDR: Right. Yeah, the older generation, Puerto Rican generation came out, as well as
-- there were people from other communities that joined. The Italian community,
the people from all walk-- from all the ethnic joined in. Of course, the main was
the Puerto Rican community, but it was a family affair, family protest, you know,

36

�“We’re not taking this anymore.” And I think when that march took place -- up to
this point, the City of Chicago wasn’t really frightened. Mayor Daley [01:37:00]
wasn’t (audio cuts out), I think this frightened him, because it was very large and
it represented families, and it represented the men of the Puerto Rican
community as well. And connections were also made with many other
communities. The march itself was -- the other marches that we had had, the
events that we had had with music and banners and so forth were uplifting. The
Manuel Ramos march, I remember to be a solemn, much more solemn and
serious affair. [01:38:00] I’m getting tired.
(break in audio)
PDR: But the movement on Lincoln Park is just something that had to be done. I
mean, it was a situation that presented itself, the utmost inequality, extreme
oppression, the thought of moving out, 70,000, 100,000 poor and working class
people to be replaced by people who had wealth and influence. I recall a
meeting at Waller High School, which is now Lincoln Park High School -JJ:

(inaudible)

PDR: And at that time, we had to meet at the school, because it could hold [01:39:00] a
thousand people. And by that time, the movement in the community, both for
and against Urban Renewal, had grown to such a point, so many people were
involved, so many people had positions on things that we had to have, if you
could imagine a community needing in a place that housed a thousand people.
And I recall at one point saying, in the last few years, 70,000 people have been
moved out. And people from Lincoln Park Conservation Association booed me.

37

�And I said, “It’s a matter of simple mathematics. You go down Larrabee, Vine
Street, all the streets in the neighborhood that have been bulldozed, you know
how many buildings were on each street. You know how many stories were
[01:40:00] in the buildings. Just those kinds of things alone, just start adding the
figures up, and you come to these numbers. I said, “Just mathematics and
science, that’s what it is. Plus all the buildings that have been renovated that
families have lost, that were large, and families that are there now. So the whole
movement for people owning and controlling their land and their housing was
something, to me, that my background, being raised as a Catholic and living as a
Christian, that said people have to have a voice in their life, have to control their
lives, have to determine what happens to [01:41:00] themselves.
JJ:

This was --

PDR: So Cha-Cha says that I was an inspiration, to me it was just something that had
to be done, that when you see a situation of extreme injustice like that, you’ve got
to stand up and take action. And that’s what I’ve tried to do my whole life. So I
would say that this is a young man that saw the same thing I saw, and was
hungry for information. I had a few jumps on him, I had seen the plan, and I had
heard other people talk about what was going on, and I had joined the movement
for just housing, you know, a year or so before he had. All I was doing was
conveying the same information that I received [01:42:00] from others. So it was
a matter of passing on information to enable people to determine their lives and
futures.

38

�JJ:

But it’s interesting, you didn’t just see the -- it’s a question of housing or urban
renewal, it’s always a question of voice? Is that what you’re saying?

PDR: A voice, self-determination, that everybody -- everybody has a right to determine
their own life and future. Or should have a right.
JJ:

And you didn’t see the community as having a voice? Is that what you’re saying,
or --?

PDR: No, a voice -- the majority of the people in the community did not -JJ:

What do you mean by “a voice”?

PDR: A voice means that you have a right to speak for yourselves about where you
live, how you live, how much you pay for your housing. That had to have been
taken away from people [01:43:00] by a plan that had been put together
independent of the people who lived there.
JJ:

A plan that had been put together --

PDR: By the City of Chicago, by the institutions that bought Urban Renewal there, by
those who were going to make a great profit from it, realtors. We used to talk all
the time about Rubloff, and Draper &amp; Kramer were the big profit makers off of this
situation. And I’m sure there were many, many others. But -JJ:

Draper &amp; Kramer, they were big developers in Lincoln Park also?

PDR: Draper &amp; Kramer and Rubloff were the two big ones that were vocal and out in
front at the time the organizing was going on in the ’60s and early ’70s, yeah. I’m
sure there were many others, but those were the two at that time.
JJ:

Now this was [01:44:00] a plan that was devised in -- at City Hall. What was the
benefit to -- how did you see the benefit to the political machine at that --?

39

�PDR: Well, the Urban Renewal Program, if you remember, was developed -JJ:

It’s --

PDR: -- after World War II to -- as a way to -- right after the war, people moved out of
cities and moved to suburbs. There were a lot of suburbs burgeoning all around
Chicago and around cities all over the country. And so there’s a way to bring
people back to the city to create a tax base that could pay for -- or a larger tax
base that could pay for all [01:45:00] the needs of a city. What better place to do
that than in the most desirable areas of the city, along the lake. I don’t know if
you remember, we used to talk about -- they want to do this because it’s near the
lake, it’s near transportation lines, it’s near downtown. So this was one of the
areas that was seen as prime real estate, prime real estate for a wealthier
community that would help to increase the tax base for the City of Chicago. So
this was conceived in downtown, inside closed doors. And I’m sure nobody
thought there was gonna be the uprising of the people [01:46:00] against the
plan. Who would even know about the plan? It was a secret plan, it was
something that only the institutions and those that were gonna benefit knew
about. But thankfully, there were some ministers and others that had a
conscience that started telling the larger community about what was going on.
JJ:

Okay, so now you’re looking at the Young Lords, and a movement at Lincoln
Park, and the Concerned Citizens of Lincoln Park. And who -- I mean, many
people think that that’s just a small isolated movement. But, I mean, it was just
like more -- a lot of people don’t know who was involved in it, wasn’t there
different people that were involved, in this Young Lord’s movement?

40

�PDR: Well, first of all, I mentioned [01:47:00] that there was the North Side Cooperative
Ministry. Now that was -- represented all the mainline churches.
JJ:

What was in the church?

PDR: The Catholic churches, the Methodist churches, the Presbyterian, Episcopal,
Baptist, Lutheran. [David Dore?] was the president at that time; I forget which of
the churches he was at. But working class people go to church. So it was really
representation of large sections of the community, many of which were going to
be put out of the community because they could no longer afford -- it might have
been the rehabs, it might [01:48:00] have been the taxes. It might have been the
fact that, you know, the area they had their small business was planned for a
different kind of business development. So the parishioners, which represented
thousands of people, were going to be removed from the community. There
were sections of people that were not represented by the churches. But tenants,
the people that lived in the three and five flat buildings along all the main streets
in the community, in many cases they were “unchurched,” so Concerned Citizens
of Lincoln Park started organizing those people. And it was, again, a wide
mixture [01:49:00] of people. There was, as I said, Appalacian that lived on
certain of the streets. Gypsies -- nobody could organize the gypsies, they were
not organizable. But, they did -- I recall there was one area where we had set up
a block corporation for people to put money into their own block to rehab. The
gypsies on that block participated. That was the only place I know that they did.
But that was up north as well. And then, of course, the Puerto Rican community,
represented through initially the Young Lords, but then families joined forces as

41

�well, in the southern part of the community, [01:50:00] there was an African
American community that was represented really by Neighborhood Commons,
although Neighborhood Commons was more diverse as well. There were many
Puerto Rican families that participated with Neighborhood Commons Association
as well.
JJ:

Some of the businesses? What about the Tap Root Pub I heard -- what was that
about?

PDR: The Tap Root Pub was on Larrabee Street. Harley Budd was the owner of the
Tap Root Pub. He was very much engaged in trying to keep businesses in the
community. He had a business on Larrabee Street. The plan called for the
demolition of all properties along there. In fact, some of the houses were tenants
still there, really didn’t have a voice. I recall there were two [01:51:00] buildings
that they started -- they brought the bulldozers, too, while people were still living
in the houses. They woke up in the morning and there were bulldozers there. Of
course the families had to move out very quickly. And I believe the Red Cross
helped with the placement of the families in those buildings. But Harley Budd
held out for the Tap Root Pub. Eventually, his building went also. One of the
things that happened with the business -- with homes and businesses is that -JJ:

What do you mean he held out?

PDR: He -- all the other buildings around him were torn down. But the Tap Root Pub
stood as a symbol of his defiance that he, as a business owner, had a right to be
there, and [01:52:00] actually, his business built during those years. It was very
successful. But eventually, he also gave way, too. I’m not sure if they gave him -

42

�- for him, no money was adequate to replace his business. But what eventually
happened, I’m not quite sure. I lost contact. The plan was to build townhouses
in that whole area there along Larrabee Street, for blocks. And the land stood
vacant for quite a number of years. Well, that was also the land, that Poor
People’s Development Corporation made a proposal on. [01:53:00]
JJ:

What happened at City Hall with that? Do you know?

PDR: It never got to City Hall, it was at the Conservation Community Council level.
There were two corporations that submitted plans for -JJ:

Can you recall the other corporation?

PDR: I don’t remember the name of the corporation, but I do remember that we brought
in research about the other corporation. They had not developed properties in
the City of Chicago. But they had developed on lands in other communities. And
one of the communities was Aurora, where I had grown up. And there was a city
dump to the south of where I had grown up that had been covered over. Before
the land [01:54:00] had adequate time to settle, this company had built on the
land. People invested their whole life savings in buying the homes that this
company had built housing on. And within a year or so, there were gaps in the
foundations a foot wide. These were all working class people that had -- this was
it. This was their life that they had put into purchasing these properties. So we
brought that information to bear, as well as testimonies from some of the people
who lived in the buildings, in the homes. But they were given the contract to
build, [01:55:00] rather than Poor People’s Development Corporation.

43

�JJ:

And Poor People’s Development Corp, what about Ira Bach? Was he part of the
Poor People’s Development Corporation?

PDR: Ira --?
JJ:

Bach?

PDR: No.
JJ:

He wasn’t? He used to be the head of the Department of Urban Renewal before,
something like that. Did he support a plan, or --?

PDR: No.
JJ:

Oh, he didn’t? Okay.

PDR: No. The architect that did -JJ:

Howard Alan.

PDR: Howard Alan. Thank you. I should not forget that. No, he was a staunch ally.
JJ:

Howard Alan?

PDR: Yeah.
JJ:

Yeah. Where does he come from? I know he’s still on Armitage, but how did he
--

PDR: Is he still on Armitage?
JJ:

Yeah. I didn’t (inaudible), he’s still in the same place. [01:56:00]

PDR: Really?
JJ:

Yeah. I’m going to interview him after this thing. He went to our camp
(inaudible). He’s very much in support of the Young Lords.

PDR: Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.
JJ:

I don’t know how he (inaudible).

44

�PDR: He was recommended to us through -- I don’t remember now. But he -- I mean,
he didn’t just appear. He had been working with us on housing issues.
JJ:

Housing issues.

PDR: Yeah.
JJ:

But it’s okay, (inaudible).

PDR: No no no, when you interview him, I would like to -JJ:

Touch base with him?

PDR: Yeah.
JJ:

Okay, (inaudible).

PDR: Good. Good. I’m glad that you’re in touch with him.
JJ:

Any last thoughts, and then we’ll stop.

PDR: The last thoughts are that this [01:57:00] movement, as large as it was, could still
be broken by the City of Chicago, because we weren’t -- there had been lots of
people’s movements in the United States. But they weren’t land-based
movements in cities. This was a whole new development. It was happening not
just in Chicago, but in St. Louis, and many other places around the country. We
weren’t sophisticated enough to -- we knew that we had to connect with other
movements for independence. So we joined forces in the Rainbow Coalition with
the Black Panther party, and the Young Lords movement grew, expanded
[01:58:00] to New York, a Young Lords party in New York City. But the housing
movement, we really needed to join forces with people all over the United States
that were fighting the same fight that we were fighting for control of the land that
we lived on. But we weren’t sophisticated enough. We didn’t know the power of

45

�the federal government to break the movement by declaring everybody
communists. We didn’t know the power of the City of Chicago to arrest
everyone. And when that didn’t happen. to start flooding the community with
drugs again, heavy, heavy drugs.
JJ:

So you feel that (inaudible)?

PDR: Oh, yes. Yes. Yes.
JJ:

And you’re worried, and you think that -- is it your basis?

PDR: What is my -- what is my basis? [01:59:00]
JJ:

Your basis for that, yeah. Where do you get that from?

PDR: When you were in jail and others were in -- then when you went underground,
the young people that were left in the community were high all the time. And, I
mean, I had seen it early when guys were shooting up on the corner of Halsted
and Dickens. And now here it is again, and it wasn’t just a matter of depression,
because, you know, the leadership is temporarily not visible. The accessibility to
drugs was very great. And it wasn’t [02:00:00] just there, it was in -JJ:

(inaudible)flooded with drugs

PDR: It was in all the communities where there had been strong political movements, it
happened.
JJ:

In the United States?

PDR: Oh, I’m talking Chicago. I don’t know about the others, but I’m sure it happened
to other -JJ:

In all the communities that were active with drugs between --

46

�PDR: Yeah. Yeah, yeah. And so, you know, there was the -- there was lack of
sophistication. We had -- didn’t build into what we were doing, security to protect
the leadership, to transition to new leadership, to -- we didn’t know. It was new.
We were ignorant. We didn’t have national coalitions established. We weren’t in
a [02:01:00] position to have, you know, federal legislation, in opposition to the
federal legislation it was operating in the neighborhoods at the time for Urban
Renewal, how we -- so the lessons to be learned, as I have thought about this
over the years, if they can kill a movement as large as the movement was in
Lincoln Park, and on people’s issues in the City of Chicago at that time, after
King’s death, then the message to people now is, you have to have coalitions
with everyone who is engaged in the same struggle, nationally, internationally.
[02:02:00] It’s our -- still, even in this age of technology and so on, people are
strong in numbers. And we have to continue to build new leadership, new
leadership, new leadership.
JJ:

So, what you’re trying to say is, besides whatever we need to be doing, it was
(inaudible). You’re also saying that you feel that what we did in Lincoln Park,
was that a defeat, or was --

PDR: No. I think it was a victory in that we trained -- we brought to consciousness
thousands of people. We lost the struggle in that community for [02:03:00]
quality housing for poor and working-class people. But we -- but a
consciousness was built among thousands of people, about what their rights are,
about the fact that they, if they choose, can have the power to speak for

47

�themselves. That they can join together with other people to make change. So
that was significant. And that was a win.
JJ:

A win. So the win was, we gave them a voice.

PDR: Yeah.
JJ:

Okay. So I will end it right there. The voice.

END OF VIDEO FILE

48

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                    <text>Kristie DeVlieger
3/28/20
We were part of the way into Illinois, a few hours into our trip to San Antonio on the second,
when my notifications began going off. It was the group of other attendees for AWP, upset about
messages seen on twitter that the conference was maybe being cancelled. Since we were already enroute, we decided we would be attending either way; we had taken the time off, booked the hotel, and
already driven through two states. It is exactly a two day drive to drive from Holland, MI to San Antonio,
TX.
The drive was exhausting, but uneventful. It was like many of the other road trips we had taken
before. We’d take turns driving. The driver selects the radio selections. We gave in every early on
Tuesday morning, sleeping in our VW Jetta on the side of the road.
We arrived in San Antonio mid-morning on the third, noticing how many trees there were in
Texas. Early in the morning through Arkansas I had counted almost 100 white tailed deer on the sides of
the highway. We checked into our hotel at noon, a few hours later. We finally got some food, trying
What-A-Burger.
We walked along the Riverwalk several times over the week, quickly gaining knowledge of
where our hotel was in relation to the conference center, the mall with the only liquor store downtown,
and the Alamo. It was impossible to miss the loud, continuous noise of the birds in San Antonio. They
sang and called to one another from dawn until late in the evenings.
I’ve always thought of Texas as dry, like a desert, with trees dotting the landscape in the
distance. So it was a surprise when it was more like Tennessee or Georgia. And there was water
EVERYWHERE. Logical, considering the state’s proximity to the ocean, but baffling to my midwestern
mind.
As we walked along the Riverwalk, we discussed drinking in the bars. It seemed like it would be
glamorous, drinks at the Hard Rock Café, right along the water.
3/29/20
On Wednesday, the fourth, we headed to the convention center at noon-ish. I had been advised
that the registration could take a while, but when we arrived, the registration area was completely
empty aside from the workers. In 5 minutes I had registered, picked up my badge, bag, and program. I
peeked at the book fair, but there didn’t seem to be anyone setting up. Disappointed, we headed to the
Alamo.
It was the commemoration of the Battle of the Alamo, so admittance was free. I looked forward
to this in advance and was both interested and disappointed to see that it was undergoing restoration.
After all this time, the Alamo’s limestone substrate was dissolving. Placards around the interior detailed
discoveries the restoration team had found, like Civil War soldiers’ inscriptions and the remains of
windows that no longer existed.
We ended up driving around San Antonio, looking for thrift stores. I needed a cardigan, it was
colder than I had expected, and that was the only thing I hadn’t packed. The first one we found was only
as wide as a hallway, but we were successful at the second one, picking up a gigantic grocery sack of
vintage matchbooks from around the country for only $5. We had asked locals if they were concerned

�Kristie DeVlieger
about the state of emergency that had been declared, but no one was worried. When we went to the
grocery store though, it was a mad house, filled with people frantically buying all of the boxed dinners
they could find, shelves empty of certain items.
3/30/20
Thursday the fifth was when the conference properly began and I spent my time applying
makeup before I headed to my first panel. The panel was headed by Dinty Moore, on persona. I found it
enlightening and relatable; I too struggled with which persona to speak in. I then attended a panel on
podcast creation. I don’t have an interest in podcasts, but as a quickly growing market and with my
interest in digital humanities, I thought it may be something I would do someday. I walked away with
many “reputable” examples of podcasts. My favorite panel of the conference was the NBCC’s panel on
writing book reviews. I didn’t really think about how other people were doing it professionally—I had
always just written mine to share my opinions on the books I was reading.
While there were stations for hand sanitizer everywhere at AWP, nobody was wearing masks. I
saw people that were afraid to shake hands, but that seemed to be the extent of the concern that
attendees had regarding COVID-19. I felt like there were more people worried about it online than there
were that had showed up.
We rounded out the day by attending the first of our off-site readings at the Cherrity Bar, where
we met the three other GVSU students who attended. As we showed up they were reading, and we
caught only the end of the showcase.
3/31/20
Friday the sixth was a harder day to get up and face, but I did. I felt like I went from panel to
panel, only to find that each was either cancelled or too full to attend. I attended an MfA panel and the
Q &amp; A with Louise Erdrich.
Later that evening I attended the AWP dance party. We had gone downtown and finally had a
drink down along the Riverwalk, checking out a basement bar that had a dedicated Ms. Pacman console.
I couldn’t pass it up, and we slowly drank while I played a few rounds. Don had passed out early that
evening, so I decided to check out the last hour of what was supposedly a pretty wild event.
Attendance at the dance party was modest, small groups of people dancing to ‘90s dance hits. I
ordered an $11 drink, then sat at an empty table and watched. As the dance closed, I stepped out and lit
a cigarette before following the sidewalks back to my hotel alone, with the chirp of the Corvids.
I was told the conference was smaller this year. All but two of the attending professors had
cancelled. We sailed around the conference like ships, adrift. I watched people afraid to hold handrails,
open doors. Amidst it all, spring had begun to bloom in SA, fragrant hyacinths blooming everywhere.
4/1/20
Saturday the seventh was a day of panic. Checkout appeared a day early, alarmingly so, as I was
in bed. Quickly we packed our belongings into the car, racing towards the conference’s last day. We
parked in the mall’s parking garage then registered for the public book fair.

�Kristie DeVlieger
Side-by-side we approached the moment I had waited a year for: the AWP Bookfair. It has such
a large footprint- even this, the last day, when every third and fourth table seemed to be empty already.
We tackled half of the fair, then stepped out for Jimmy Johns before returning. As we returned we could
see booths beginning to pack up, offering free copies of their journals to anyone who wanted them. No
one wanted to have to bring them home. we ended up collecting 4 bags of swag, literary journals, and
information. While at the bookfair we had run into one of my former classmates, who was hosting an
offsite reading that we later chose to attend.
After we had left the bookfair we debated on whether to attend some of the other off-site
readings or whether to just begin heading home, early. We decided to visit the Japanese tea gardens, a
tourist attraction that wasn’t really nearby, but which had been recommended by another one of the
attending students. We walked through its picturesque gardens, taking selfies just like the dozens of
other couples and families. We went off the beaten path and climbed along a dirt trail to discover a feral
cat colony, and I tried in vain to pet one.
I hadn’t wanted to check out anymore readings. We had attended a few of them, nearly always
ducking out of the bar after a few minutes and heading to the next one. I felt like readings were just as
awkward as they always seemed at home; clumsily standing in front of others trying to pace yourself as
you read your material. But this reading was different from the other ones. It was informally hosted,
with just a small group of attendees, maybe 7 other people, who all read as well. I think that it was my
favorite event of the entire week.
4/5/20
The transition from traditional format classes to remote learning was one that was difficult for
me. I had just gotten back from AWP in Texas when the decision was made, so I was grateful for the
brief break. In Texas it had seemed like the only people truly concerned with COVID were the organizers
of the conference, so it was surprising to me when classes were so abruptly cancelled and then
restructured.
Initially I took the time to clear space in my home and set up a desk to work at. I had hoped that
by collecting everything in one area and having a dedicated space it would help improve the chances of
actually getting work done. At the least it would keep me from losing all of the files and notebooks that
went with my coursework. Fortunately I had already picked up the books I needed from the library
before break, so I had the research project materials I needed for finals.
I didn’t realize how much I would miss seeing people who were not living with me but that was
the first thing I missed about attending on campus. The second was the library itself; this time where I
am forced to work at home has made me realize that my working style is very extroverted and I prefer
to work in an environment with other people.

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                    <text>Grand Valley State University
Veterans’ History Project
Richard DeVos
World War II
55 minutes 26 seconds
(00:00:02) Early Life
-Born in Grand Rapids, Michigan on March 4, 1926
-Went to Christian schools in the Grand Rapids area through high school
-Except for one year at a public school
-Graduated from Grand Rapids Christian High School
(00:00:48) Start of the War and Awareness of It
-He was at his home in Grand Rapids when Pearl Harbor was attacked
-A neighbor kid told him that Pearl Harbor had been bombed
-He, and his family, wondered what that meant for him in terms of involvement
-The closer that he got to being eighteen years old the more real the war seemed
(00:02:39) Enlisting in the Army Air Corps
-When he turned eighteen he enlisted in the Army Air Corps
-He took his Army physical in Detroit and was approved for service
-He was accepted into the Army Air Corps before graduating from high school
(00:02:47) Basic Training
-After graduating from high school he reported for basic training
-Took a train to Fort Sheridan, Illinois
-He, and one other man, was the only recruits on the train
-At Fort Sheridan he was issued a uniform and given more physical exams
-The barracks at Fort Sheridan were very stable because the fort was a permanent base
-Didn’t spend a lot of time at Fort Sheridan, just went there for processing
-From Fort Sheridan went to Sheppard Field, Texas for basic training
-It was a permanent base with wooden buildings; it was also a clean and well-kept base
-At Sheppard Field was his first introduction to being indoctrinated into military living
-Daily routine was wake up, get cleaned, get dressed, and then report for marching and training
-During basic training he also learned how to use and maintain a rifle
-A large part of basic training was learning to be disciplined and to follow orders
-He trained with men from all over the country
-All in all basic training was an enjoyable experience for him
-Got to meet interesting people
-He adjusted easily to military living
-Among all the men there was an intense feeling of patriotism
-Knew that they were fighting for democracy and for human rights
-Never felt that basic training was all that difficult
-Never felt threatened, pushed, or abused by the training or the instructors
(00:09:33) Glider Mechanic School
-He had originally wanted to be an Army Air Corps cadet to become a pilot
-Early on he was washed out because the Army said that he had tuberculosis
-In all reality he feels that the Army just didn’t need any more pilots

�-Looking for any reason, real or imaginary, to wash out cadets
-After completing basic training he was assigned to glider mechanic school
-Learned about how to maintain a glider as well as woodworking skills
-He took the glider mechanic school at Sheppard Field
(00:11:22) Glider Camp in North Carolina
-After completing the mechanic school he was assigned to a glider camp in North Carolina
-Part of his job was to aid in the training of glider pilots for the Normandy Invasion
-The majority of the glider pilots were cadets
-They had been approved to be pilots, but just not for engine powered aircraft
(00:14:27) Downtime in North Carolina
-Went to church on Sundays
-Played softball on a team
-Visited town in the evenings
-He was too young at the time to drink, so he wasn’t able to go to bars
-He forged strong bonds with the men that he served with in North Carolina
(00:15:27) Deployment to the Pacific
-From Winston-Salem, North Carolina he was sent to Salt Lake City, Utah
-From Salt Lake City he was sent to an outgoing base near Portland, Oregon
-At the time of his deployment he had no idea exactly where he was being sent
-As he prepared to ship out the war ended
-He thought that he would just be discharged
-On the contrary the Army still needed personnel for post-war duties
-He boarded a Liberty Ship and left the U.S.
-It was crowded, messy, and there was always a fight to be on the deck
-On the way to their destination there was an issue with the food
-Stopped in Hawaii for thirty days
-Stayed in Schofield Barracks
-Received more training while in Hawaii
-Remembers that the beaches were poorer than Michigan beaches
-Got a chance to explore Hawaii while he was there
(00:18:57) Assignment to the Island of Tinian
-From Hawaii they sailed to the island of Tinian
-En route crossed the International Date Line and there was a small ceremony for that
-He never really felt like he was a part of group, always felt like an individual that was in a group
-Never ran into any acquaintances from Michigan during his deployment
-Upon arriving at Tinian he didn’t know much about the island
-After they arrived they boarded trucks and were taken to their barracks on the island
-The barracks had tin roofs and were temporary, but they weren’t bad
-On the island they had access to a movie theatre and a clubhouse
-Spent a lot of time playing cards and ping pong
-Later he became a truck driver on the island delivering food to the various mess halls
-The island had an airfield that ran the length of it
-This was the airfield where the Enola Gay B-29 took off to bomb Hiroshima
-For the most part everyone was just waiting for their chance to go home
-Towards the end of his time on Tinian he was assigned to count material being sent out

�(00:23:38) Returning to Tinian
-Long after the war he revisited Tinian after a business trip to Guam
-The island still has an airport and receives commercial flights regularly
-There is a memorial for the servicemen who fought and died taking the island
-Saipan is the next island over and is thriving, along with Tinian
-There are hotels on Tinian now
-He felt a lot of nostalgia coming back to visit Tinian
(00:24:50) Downtime on Tinian
-On Tinian they had a wonderful chaplain who performed regular church services
-He played on his base’s baseball team
-They played against the other teams on the island and won the championship
-His position was first base
-He had a lot of time to read
-There were no ideal beaches for swimming
-One Sunday he and a few other men found a decent beach and had a cookout there
-Always had access to spiritual services when he was in the military
(00:27:56) Conditions on Tinian
-The weather was nice, but it rained a lot
-Remembers having to wear ponchos to be able to watch movies
-Most of the animals on the island were gone, or at least not present
-Mosquitos weren’t a problem because of the location of the island in the Pacific
(00:29:48) On the Philippines Pt. 1
-From Tinian he was sent up to the Philippines
-His job was to help get supplies loaded onto ships that were going back to the U.S.
-It was basically a place to go to wait for a transport to take him home
(00:30:13) Coming Home Pt. 1
-From the Philippines went up to Yokohama, Japan
-There was an issue with polio on the ship
-Had to stay there until they got an iron lung for the ship
(00:30:45) On the Philippines Pt. 2
-He was stationed at Clark Field on the Philippines
-The living conditions were good
-There was one instance where they were shot at by Filipino insurgents
-The engagement wasn’t too dramatic though
-Slept in tents
-They were all mostly waiting for a ship to take them home
(00:32:02) Contact with Family
-He was able to write his family consistently
-He kept in contact with his future business partner, Jay VanAndel throughout his service
-He received mail from his family and Jay regularly
-Telephones were not readily accessible
-If you wanted to call home you had to make a costly long distance call
(00:34:39) Coming Home Pt. 2
-When he got home he went into business with Jay
-Prior to him coming home Jay had already come home and gotten things started
-He had met Jay in high school and they decided to start a business after the war

�-Even throughout their service both men had been determined to get a business started
-He and Jay eventually founded the successful, international business, Amway
(00:37:13) Reflections on Service
-He feels changed by his service
-He had seen the world and felt matured because of it
-After his service he had trouble staying in college
-Feels that his service had taught him enough already
-After the Air Corps he was ready to get his life and his business started
-Didn’t want to waste time in college
-Feels that his experience in the military was a wonderful one
-Feels that he had been fighting for a worthy cause
-Fighting for the survival of democracy and the U.S.
-Feels that our enduring patriotism is due to our victory in WWII
-He believes that the men who fought on the frontline are the most valuable of our veterans
(00:43:51) Miscellaneous Details
-His fondest memories are of playing ping pong on Tinian
-He has maintained one close friendship with a man that he met who was from New Orleans
-He remembers working a temp job at a flour mill in North Carolina
-Only worked there for one night and then quit
-Affirmed that he didn’t want to do that work for a living
-Remembers one Italian man who insisted that he was a chef
-Remembers that there was a partially built hospital on Tinian
-It had been planned to be a fall back hospital for the invasion of Japan
-Shows how grim the invasion could have been had the bombs not been dropped
(00:48:14) Personal Message
-Feels that America is worth fighting for
-Feels that when we are attacked we need to take the fight to the enemy
-That there are certain times when we must take the initiative
-Believes that we need to fight to protect our rights from those who would take them away
-If we want to have freedom, then sometimes we must fight to protect it
INTERVIEW ENDS AT 00:52:50

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                    <text>Grand Valley State University
Veterans History Project
Milton DeVries
(00:34:34)
(00:00) Background
• Born in 1918
• Father worked in a flooring factory
• Mother died when he was six years old
o Moved in with an aunt and uncle in Jenison, MI
o Went to Sand Hill
• Moved back to Wyoming after his father remarried
• Graduated from Grandville High School in 1936
• Worked in the factory, with his father, until it closed in 1937
• Worked “odd jobs” from 1937-39
• Hired at General Motors in 1939, and worked in material handling
(02:35) Joining the US Army
• Drafted
• Went to Fort Custer, Battle Creek, MI in April 1941
o Worked in “pits” – maintaining a shooting range
• Went to Camp Beauregard, LA from Fort Custer
o Underwent basic training
o Member of Company F-127th Infantry Regiment, 32nd Division
� Mostly new recruits in company
� Most members were from Cheboygan, WI
o Assigned to do “grunt work” – picking up cigarette butts
o Was a newer camp, with tents used as room and board for recruits
(06:00) Training
• Simulated war
• Weather was hot and rainy – similar to weather in Pacific Theater
• Stayed from May 1941 until early-1942
o Was sent to Massachusetts
• October 1941 – largest US army operation until that point
o Was captured, and was a POW for a few days
• Used World War I-era weapons and equipment
• Soldiers had to walk
• Went to Alexandria when he had weekend passes (08:05)
o Describes Alexandria
o 20-30 miles away from camp
• Was a regular infantryman
o Trained in rifle department

�(09:35) Pearl Harbor
• Troops had to be ready to mobilize quickly
• Stayed in Massachusetts until February or March
• Was scheduled to go to Europe on the SS Normandy
o Normandy burned
o Sent to help Gen. MacArthur
• Sent to San Francisco
o Prepared to be shipped out to Pacific Theater
o Was a strange experience, because Mr. DeVries had never left MI
(11:37) San Francisco and Australia
• Stationed in Fort Ord
o Issued new equipment
o Stayed for a month
• Shipped to Australia
o Felt “fortunate” to be assigned to submarine watch duty
� Did not have to wait for lunch
• Got sick when he saw other soldiers getting sick (14:04)
o Describes how other soldiers got sick
• Landed in Adelaide, Australia in late-April, 1942 (15:00)
o Was originally supposed to land in Sydney, but the Japanese found out
about the landing
o Stationed in Australian camps
� Camps were vacated, because Australian troops were in Egypt
o At first ate Australian food, such as mutton
� Many men threw it away
� Later bought bread from local farmers
� Some men were able to get eggs
o Stayed in Adelaide for three to four months
o Went into town whenever he could
� Describes Adelaide as a “nice” town
o Did not do much training
• Left Adelaide for Brisbane, Australia (18:18)
o Troops had to vacate trains each time they approached a “state” border,
because the railroads were privately owned
o Underwent training, by American officers, in Brisbane
(19:57) New Guinea
• Went aboard a Liberty Ship – arrived right after Thanksgiving
• Landed in Port Moresby
o Describes it as a small town with “just a few buildings”
o Japanese would bomb at night, but no casualties were suffered
• Went to Japanese air field after it was captured by the 126th Infantry
o Troops ordered to scatter after landing, to avoid being bombed
o Lots of jungle surrounded the air field
o Some trails were found around the air field

��
�

Japanese set up gunners on the trails
US soldiers encouraged to walk through the jungle

(22:45) Encounters with the Japanese and battle
• Scheduled for action on Christmas
o Rivers slowed the infantry down
o DeVries was in the last boat that the Japanese let cross the river, before
firing upon other boats
o Joined by 30-40 men
• DeVries “didn’t really see the Japanese”
o Troops were ordered not to fire
o His company was never directly attacked by the Japanese, at this point
• Joined the siege of Buna mission in January 1943
o Japanese troops were well-fortified, causing US soldiers to attack Japanese
soldiers from close-range
o Except for a possible mortar, there was no artillery or air support
o No support from Australian troops
o Got “fire” from Japanese in tall grass on 2 January 1943 (27:58)
� One of DeVries’ friends was killed
� DeVries was shot while trying to throw a grenade
• Went into shock
• Was pulled back across the river, and taken to an aid station
o Stayed 10 days
o Had to have intestines sewed up
� No pain killers
� Could not drink – given a wet rag to chew
on
o His incision tore open on 14 or 15 January
� No doctor was available at the aid station
� Was taped and sewed up
• Landed in Port Moresby on 16 January
o Stayed in a hospital tent
o Later boarded an Australian hospital ship
• Went to Sydney from Port Moresby
o Stayed in a hotel-turned-hospital until 1 May 1943
(31:15) Return to the US
• Went back to US from hospital
o Left when he was able to walk
o Rode on a boat with Australians who were to be trained in Canada
• Landed in San Francisco, and stayed in a hospital
o Was transferred to a hospital in Battle Creek, MI
• After the hospital stay, he went on a two-day tour of giving Bond-Selling
speeches in Detroit
o Talked about his experiences in the war
o Spoke mostly to workers at the plants in Detroit

�•

o Was well-received
o Returned to Battle Creek after the tour
Discharged on 16 August
o Got his job back at GM 30 days later
� Another worker left for the military, so took over his bookkeeping
job
� Worked at GM for the next 30 years
o Got married following his discharged

(34:34) Reflections on his experience
• Had nightmares for several months after he was discharged
• He had drastically aged, physically, during his time in the service
• Feels that he grew up a little bit in the army
• Believes that “you can survive with pain.”
• Feels that the Japanese soldiers were in the war for the same reason that he was

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                    <text>Grand Valley State University
Veterans History Project
Richard Devries
(00:32:31)
(00:15) Background Information
•
•
•

Richard was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan and went to Saranac high school
He enlisted in the Army in 1960 and became part of the mortar crew for the National
Guard
Before enlisting, Richard had previously lived on a farm

(1:20) The Army Reserve
•
•
•
•
•
•

Richard chose this area because he had a few uncles in the reserve
He learned better discipline in training
They traveled to Missouri for training in the summer and it was very hot
Training was not too difficult for him because he had previously ran in track in high
school and played baseball
He had no combat experience
He had been in training during the war in Vietnam but had never been called to duty

(3:05) Army Title
•

Richard worked on a mortar crew and helped plot coordinates

(3:30) Worst Experience
•

His worst experience while in the service was when he got poison oak in California and it
took a very long time to go away

(4:00) Richard had been awarded a sharp shooter badge
(4:20) Activities
•
•
•
•
•
•

While in California they were allowed to have the weekends off
Many of the men would go to town on the weekends to hang out
Richard was often homesick and wrote many letters
If you do what you are told, then you will be treated well
He went to church every Sunday morning and it always made him feel better
He did not keep a journal or a log of his experiences

�(7:50) Friends in the Service
•
•
•
•

The men from Michigan hung out with others from Wisconsin
He does not have many pictures to remember his experiences
He was pretty good friends with everyone he worked with and the officers as well
Some men in the service he worked with passed out after running for too long

(9:45) The End of his Service
•
•
•
•

He was discharged around 1965, or about 42 years ago, but it is hard to remember
He then worked for 32 years at Steelcase
It was easy for Richard to get back into his normal routine
He made three really good friends while he was in the service

(12:15) Experience in the Service
•
•
•
•

Richard realized that you can’t control wars and that they are predictable
He still attends some reunions
The service taught him to appreciate what he left behind
All the armed forces are very important and they help support our free country

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                    <text>William James College Interviews
GV016-16
Interviewer: Barbara Roos
Interviewee: Michael DeWilde
Date: 1984
Part: 2 of 2

[Barbara]

When you speak, you know, it all makes sense except it sort of doesn't because
you started out in one frame of mind and then changed to another by the end of
the tape. Do you have a comment on that? Did you feel a [inaudible] of anything?
Do you know what I mean?

[DeWilde]

I'm not sure, like I said, it's been a long time since I’ve thought articulately about
William James.

[Barbara]

Yeah.

[DeWilde]

What was your sense of the change?

[Barbara]

Well, I guess, I'm not really asking a question, don't worry about it. It's just that
when you started talking, over the process of twenty minutes, the school seemed
to have become more, well it did become [inaudible], but it also became more
valuable, in the way you were talking.

[DeWilde]

I think it… well, it was valuable and that's just the…

[Barbara]

I guess you can record anytime. Record anytime.

[DeWilde]

Say more.

[Barbara]

I was talking to them [inaudible]…

[DeWilde]

I guess, I really do feel a strong ambivalence about its continuation. That the
spirit, the [inaudible], the rhetoric which was prevalent, strong, and had
something to do with the practice of the place when I first got there, seem to be
diminishing and weakening and that was taking its toll on everybody. And it’s not
that the faculty were any less committed. I didn't sense that they were less
committed. I felt that there was just less understanding and less interest in
understanding what it was that the place was going to be about… what it was
about, what it had been about. But at the same time, feeling a strong
commitment to alternative education, to alternative pedagogies, and that I don't
know how you get back to that given this tenor of the times and all that.

�[Barbara]

Okay, I guess my real final question is something about… my presumption and
my personal program in life is that alternative education keeps cycling, and you
keep hopefully learning a little more each time and doing it better the next ten
years when it cycles up again and you get an opportunity to participate. Do you
have any views on what we could do better or what we did wrong? Or was it just
the tenor of the times? Which is so amorphous, it just frustrates me [inaudible].

[DeWilde]

[Laughter] Yeah. The tenor of the times was actually a bit before my time. I'm
more a child of the seventies, I suppose. So, I understand, you know, times being
tolerant of experimentation, alternativism and things like that. But I can't get a
handle on when people say this a gestation period or if people say, “Well it's
going around, it's coming around again.” I don't know what that means. It doesn't
make sense to me. I don't see that. I don’t see it coming around. It doesn't look
like it's coming around. I mean, perhaps it will. What it did well, it seemed to me,
was this [inaudible] attitude… was manifest an attitude of genuine commitment to
educating the individual as a whole. Educating the individual to be an individual.
To a commitment, not just to learning a lot – any number of disciplines – but to
be Socratic and to teach individuals about themselves. It sounds a little corny,
but I think when it worked and when it was doing… when William James was
being William James, it did that and people experienced that, and it was real.
You could see the consequences in the people you talked to; that you knew
when somebody was from William James and when they weren't.

[Barbara]

But what could it, in the next era, what could it better do? Because you’re also a
Grand Valley professor. You also didn’t get enough.

[DeWilde]

Well, I was…

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                    <text>William James College Interviews
GV016-16
Interviewer: Barbara Roos
Interviewee: Michael DeWilde
Date: 1984
Part: 1 of 2

[Barbara]

Anytime you want to start. You could talk about where your education failed you,
and where it worked for you, or whatever you want to talk about.

[DeWilde]

Maybe I should do a thumbnail sketch first and go from there. Yeah. My name is
Mike DeWilde, I was at Grand Valley… I was at William James from seventyseven to eighty-one and came originally to do Arts and Media. And took about
two classes with the Liberal Arts people and I never did get around to Arts and
Media. I've since gone on to do a couple of years of graduate work in Boston and
I’ve just come back visit.

[Barbara]

Are you sorry you went to James?

[DeWilde]

There were a number of interesting… it was a roller coaster ride and I tend to
view it more dispassionately now than I did when I was there, of course. But I
think I have a sort of love/hate relationship with it that when it worked, it worked
very, very well. And I felt that the collegiality that people talked about was
happening and was possible, and that it was very inclusive, and you could do
what you needed to do and you could do that with support. And when it was bad,
it was very bad and there was no such thing as collegiality, and that the rhetoric
was just that. Not just rhetoric but empty rhetoric, and that it was perhaps not
unlike Christianity in that it kept vision alive of something very grand, yet was
unable to structure itself in a way that could reach any sort of possible fulfillment.
So that it did some empowering and gave people some confidence, but when it
didn't work, all the empowering and confidence were not helpful because it
wasn't…you weren't being educated.

[Barbara]

Can you speak about it in terms of specific experiences? In other words, classes,
or tasks, or something, you know? What were the variables? When did it work
and when didn't it?

[DeWilde]

So long since I've thought about that. Trying to think of… I think for me, I ended
up doing a lot of independent study my last couple of years, with a couple of
different people. When I got here, I was very gung-ho, I did all the committees,
and history of the college, and what was William James about, and it was very
exciting and I was very involved. Through, I think a certain disillusionment with
perceiving the unable to do advance sort of work in classrooms and there wasn't

�the possibility. The kind of students that were filling classrooms, and this is the
classes I was taking my last couple of years here, it was just impossible to do
any sort of advanced work that faculty was teaching to, if not lowest common
denominator, then certainly a very common denominator. And that was very
frustrating, so I was doing a lot of independent study and working with a small
community of friends who were all looking beyond college to work or graduate
work and with two or three faculty people. And those were the relationships that I
really treasured. It was no longer so much the relationship with the school as an
institution as it was with those individual folks and spending a lot of time in
people's offices talking, you know, putting bibliographies together. And that sort
of thing became the focus of my education which once I got to [inaudible] and
Harvard, both worked for me and against me. I knew how to interact with those
people, I knew how to ask the right sorts of questions. I didn't have the kind of
basic nitty-gritty skills. I didn't have a lot of the broad general education that a lot
of my colleagues had. I didn't have CIV 101 and all that sort of thing that was
picked up through primary sources and through reading other revolutionaries and
counterculture people. And it was… so I think my perspective was somewhat
different. I found it very hard to find a community – I think, well, probably until I
got to Harvard – that was interested in broad questions, that was interested in the
underpinnings of an institution, that was interested in the assumptions upon
which institutions were based, that was at all interested in challenging
methodologies and pedagogies and it was very hard to fight that. I had a couple
of faculty people in graduate school who at times would yell at the classroom:
"This is religious education, why are you people allowing yourself be to graded?”
And of course, I was right there at the forefront, I said "Of course, you know,
that's absolutely ridiculous!" At the same time there was a resignation and I
wonder sometimes if it wasn't at James too, among the students, if not among
the faculty. That, well, we are playing a bit of the game, that you do get graded,
and money is important, and this is nice and its safe, and I can do what I want for
a while. But essentially what I need to get out of it is a career skill because my
performance and how much money I make is finally going to be of importance.
It's very hard in a few years in an alternative college isolated in western
Michigan, I think, to erase protestant, capitalist work ethics and all that sort of
thing. And I don't think there were enough students. I think William James worked
very well for a relatively few people. Because of the discipline involved and
because of the assumptions made about students, that students would take
responsibility for such a large part of education; because it was difficult to get the
faculty because of committees and meetings; because the place spent half of its
waking life defining itself. There was… if you weren't in class talking about
alternative education, then you were on a committee talking about alternative
education. And how to present yourself and what the image was. The changes
that took place in William James from – in the four years that I was there – are
not unlike the changes that I see in the skyline in Boston. They've taken what's…
it's charming, it's livable, it's old world… let's just say that about William James.

�But and it dumped a lot of concrete and steel on it and the changes have been
dramatic in a few short years. And William James got dumped on a lot in the…
when I was there. I think it existed one year after I left, as a separate entity. It got
dumped on by students who didn't understand alternative education, who weren't
interested in philosophy or the theory behind alternative education. It got dumped
on by burned out faculty. And it got dumped on by the institution. And there are
times that… that pissed me off an awful a lot at the time because I'm committed
to alternative education. I mean, I keep an eye out toward what Goddard is doing
and what Evergreen is doing, because that's important to me because I never
would've made it through college if it hadn't been for a place like William James. I
can survive at Harvard taking tests when I'm there – I’m not there right now, but
when I'm there, when I go. I can survive there because they're secure enough as
an institution to let people do different sorts of things. You can… you don't have
to do regurgitation. I mean they're not, for all the other nasty things you can say
about them, they're not insecure. There's an intellectual freedom there. Which
certainly gets interpreted and gets manifested differently than it did at William
James. But there's a kinship, nonetheless, I think. And if it's elitist, then it's elitist.
[Barbara]

Excuse me, can I ask you a question?

[DeWilde]

Yeah.

[Barbara]

You're going along beautifully, but you said, something I've heard from most
students, and I want you to explain it: "I wouldn't have survived at another
institution." What do you mean by that?

[DeWilde]

High school was a very, very bad experience. I was the editor the paper and had
to deal with lots of censorship issues. And I was not necessarily the part of a
clique. I was not the genius math type and science type and the people who are
on the four-year college prep program – I wasn't that. I wasn't among the people
who are going to be janitors, you know, for the rest my of life – that was clear.
But there seemed to be no place to go. There were some of us just in the middle,
and there wasn't anybody addressing people who are profoundly dissatisfied with
education but couldn't be shipped on one hand into vocational school, or shipped
into… you know, and that's [inaudible]. I don't mean to sound pejorative about
those but those were looked at pejoratively, certainly in the high school I was at.
But there was a certain number of people you had to get rid of, there were certain
people that were going to go on and do professional stuff, and then there were a
few of us who said: "Wait, the whole thing is wrong.” Your premise… start by
rejecting the premise and then have nowhere to go because there isn't anybody
there who's equipped with dealing with premises. So, I went to a community
college for a year and just looked through the catalog and anything that said
alternative or non-graded, I went to that. I had no idea what alternative meant or
any of that, but it certainly sounded right. If it was an alternative to what I had

�experienced so far then I had to go on and do that. And through them heard of
William James. And, I don't know, I had trouble with authority. I mean, there was
no way I was going to… I knew that I, you know, in a dorm situation, in a typical
college dorm where people are… I just didn't feel like I was interested in the
kinds of things that those folks were interested in. And that may again be elitist,
and I just have to plead guilty I suppose. But, doing tests and multiple choice,
and regurgitation and reading nothing but secondary sources, and all my
assumptions about what I would be doing at a major university, and getting lost in
shuffle, and that sort thing, was not all appealing. So that William James was a
beacon and when I read all the catalog and the rhetoric, you know… this place is
run by God, you know? That was the feeling from the catalog. Certainly, that
impression changed quickly, also. It's clear to me, without the freedom to pursue
the interests that I had, and without the support. That was most amazing thing to
me when I got here was that if you were serious, if you seem to be able to think
at all, people took you seriously. And people were tolerant, people were forgiving,
and supportive. And it all worked – especially faculty and students across the
board. When I first came here, I was absolutely astounded. People who had
been here for four years, and who knew far more than I did, were taking me
seriously when I talked. And this was the first time that had happened. So, I
began to take myself seriously and began to take your sources seriously, and
you begin to do more serious work. I think that's what made it possible for me to
not just survive through four years of college, but to cherish it. And I think that
even if it's not William James… and I say sometimes, I'm ambivalent about the
closing because I don't know when I left how many people it really was working
for. But the idea and the ideal seem to me absolutely necessary. Because I'm
sure that there are younger people, like myself, who, again, are outside the
clique, and outside the mainstream, and have fewer and fewer places to turn.
There are fewer William James; there are fewer alternatives altogether culturally.
Certainly, you can see it in Boston, as the crowd grows more homogeneous all
the time. And so, I don't know if I feel, at this point, more angry or sad. My
commitment, right now, is to… I'm working as a carpenter and there's a
commitment there. And when I go back to school my commitment is to my
graduate work. But I don't see myself shaking the William James. It's not like
giving that up, I've not become reactionary about it. I'm still committed, like I said
to that idea and that ideal. And even if it only works for relatively few, there have
to be options like that… that vision. Same way I feel about Christianity. You
know, even if it doesn't always work, that vision has to be kept alive. Because
that's an important part of who we are, it's an important part of Socratic method.
[Barbara]

Can I stop you for a minute because it’s about to run out of tape? That's totally
lovely. Would you go on for about another five minutes? Is that all right? Do you
feel that? I have a question.

[DeWilde]

Sure.

�[Barbara]

If my crew shows up. [Inaudible]

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~f;:~·~·

DEWITT CHARTER TOWNSHIP
i-~-_CS)l\1fREHENSIVE
DEVELOPMENT PLAN
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WW Engineering &amp; S

�DEWITT CHARTER TOWNSIDP
COMPREHENSIVE DEVELOPMENT PLA~
19 91 ·
TOWNSHIP BOARD
Robert Zeeb. Supervisor
Diane LaMacchia. Oen:
JoAnn Slabonek. Treasurer
Douglas Hammond. Trustee
Charles Stcdron. Trustee
~obert Ancel. Trustee
Eric V. Peter.son. Trustee

Charles Rademachel4'

PLANNING COMMISSION
Max Calder. Cbaiiperson

Wayne Miller-•
Joseph Wrzesinski
Robert Ancel
DmisSchafer
Ruth Scott
M. Sandra Shaw
Paul Seeger
Roland Rhead
Charles Rademacher*

Earl Whitlock*
Ted Tycocld*

Jeffaick*

-~........

i

-~a.;.,._
1.
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•

TOWNSHIP STAFF

Ryan w~ Superintendent
Raynold St. PiCIIC. Building and Zoning Administrator
Prepared with the Assistance of:
WW Engineering &amp; Science. Inc.

Govemmental Services Dmlion
SSSS Glenwood Hills Palkway SB
Gmnd Rapids. Ml 49512'

��TABLE OF CONTENTS
(Cont'd)

Urban Growth Staging
Existing/Committed Urban Areas
Primary Stage Urban Growth Areas
Secondary Stage Urban Growth Areas
Rural Transition/Agricultural Preservation
Implementation
General
Existing Urban Arca
Primary Stage Urban
Secondary Stage Urban
Rural Transition/Agricultural Preservation

33
33
35
35
36
36
36
36

37
37

APPENDICES
Basic Studies
Regional Setting
Physical Features
Topography and Drainage
Soils and Environmental Limitations
Surface Waters &amp; Wetlands
Important Fannlands
Population Characteristics
Housing Charac1eristics.
t.
Population Projections
Community Facilities and Utilities
Existing Land Use Patterns

Citizen Opinion Survey

A-1
A-1
A-1
A-2
A-4
A-4
A-6
A-8
A-9
A-10
A-12
A-15

LIST OFT ABLES
Table·1
Table2
Table 3
Table4
Table 5
Table6
Table7
Table 8

Estima1ed Cwrcnt and Projected
Housing Type and Population Distribution
Residential Land Planning Needs
Projected Land Needs VCl'SUS Existing Zoned Land
Historical Population Change
Housing Units by Type
Population Projections
Residential Land U sc Oassifications
Industrial Land Use Oassifications

9
10
11
A-7

A-8
A-9
A-12
A-14

�\

TABLE OF CONTENTS
(Cont'd)

LIST OF MAPS
Map 1 Future Land Use Map
Map 2 Urban Growth Staging
Map 3 Environmental Limitations
Map 4 Important Farmlands
Map 5 Sanitary Sewer System
Map 6 Water Distribution System·

32
34
A-3
A-5
A-11
A-13

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I

INTRODUCTION
DEWITT CHARTER TOWNSHIP
COMPREHENSIVE DEVELOPMENT PLAN

The fundamental purpose of the Comprehensive Development Plan is to allow the Township to
set down in a comprehensive manner the goals and objectives for its physical development. The
Township Planning Act, Public Act 168 of 1959, as amended, specifically gives Township
Planning Commissions the authority to prepare and officially adopt a Comprehensive Plan.
Once prepared, officially adopted and maintained, this Plan will serve as an advisory guide for
the physical conservation of certain areas, the development of other areas desirable living
environments for present and future township residents, and for the development of still other
areas for viable commercial and industrial purposes.
Because of the constant change in our social and economic structure and activities, the Plan must
be maintained through periodic review· and revision so that it reflects contemporary trends while
maintaining long range goals.
The Pl~ will be effective to the degree that it continues to:
• reflect needs and desires of the people;
• realistically interpret the existing conditions, trends and the dynamic economic and social
pressures for change; and
• inspire cooperation among the various public agencies, developers, and the citizens of the
Township toward achieving common goals.
The Comprehensive Development Plan provides:
1.

A comprehensive means of integrating proposals that look 20 years ahead to meet future
needs regarding general and major aspects of physical conservation and development
throughout the Township;

2.

An official, advisory policy statement for encouraging orderly and efficient use of the
land for residences, businesses, industry, and agriculture, and for coordinating these uses
of land with each other, with streets and highways, and with other necessary public
facilities and services;

3.

A logical basis for zoning, subdivision design, public improvement plans, ~d for
facilitating and guiding the work of the Township Planning Commission and the
Township Board as well as other public and private endeavors dealing with the physical
and development of the Township;

4.

A means for private organizations and individuals to determine how they may relate their
building and development projects and policies to official township planning policies.

L

c:MS#l~Udp/am

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89267

�SUMMARY OF EXISTING CONDITIONS AND TRENDS

The conclusions and observations that follow are presented as an overview of the conditions,
both natural and manmade, which must be considered in updating the long-range plan for the
development of DeWitt Township.
ENVIRONMENTAL LIMIT ATIO NS
Certain undeveloped areas of the Township are characterized by poor soils, high water tables,
wetlands, and flood hazards which make intensive development undesirable and, in some cases,
unfeasible. Still other areas are characterized by soils and other natural features that can
accommodate limited development, but in order to suppon urban and suburban development
concentrations, public improvements such as sanitary sewer and storm sewers and public water
supplies are necessary to ensure public health and environmental quality. Such environmental
limitations ·need to be taken into consideration in the establishment of development policies and
public improvement priorities.

NATURAL RESOURCES
The Looking Glass River and the overall drainage network is an invaluable asset from an
environmental standpoint as well as for the visual character that it provides to the community.
This natural drainage network and its associated floodplains, wetlands, and vegetation shot1ld be
protected from over development. Much of the undeveloped portions of the Township contain
soil that is highly productive and very valuable for farming purposes. These areas are under
increasing pressure to develop in both rural residential and suburban residential fashions.
LAND USE TRENDS AND ISSUES
1.

The majority of new construction within the last ten years has been residential in nature
with only relatively small increases in the commercial/industrial tax base.

2.

There is demand for a variety of residential types and densities. Over the last ten years,
new conventional single family residential dwelling units increased by the highest
numerical amount (268) followed by manufactured (mobile) homes (197), multi-family
dwellings Oa5), and duplexes (33). While conventional single family homes are .
expected to remain as the largest category of dwellings, the trend has been for the
majority of new home construction to be of the typeS other than conventional single
family dwellings.

3.

The majority of new single family home construction and new commercial development
has been in the nonhwest portion of the Township, near the Ol}' of DeWitt and within
the DeWitt school district.

�4.

The southern portions of the Township are generally well served by an existing sanitary
sewer system that can be readily used to support new development. Most of the pressure
for development is, however, being felt in areas where the sanitary sewer collection
system is less developed. Public water only serves a portion of the Township and is
needed to support existing as well as future development.

5.

The US-27 commercial corridor is characterized by existing and emerging areas of traffic
congestion and traffic conflicts. Leap frog, strip development has resulted from previous
over-zoning and the new commercial development trends brought about by the
construction of the 1-69/US-27 interchange.

6.

The southern portion of the Township continues to be disadvantaged due to several
conflicts of use, such as the negative noise impacts of the Capital City Airport and other
commercial and industrial use encroachments on residential development.

7.

lJte vast majority of community facilities are located in the southern portion of the
Township and are geared to that geographic vicinity. Because the majority of new
development is gravitating to the northwest, some duplication of services in support of
increased demands appears inevitable.

8.

Because of the dispersed nature of development within the Township, traffic on local
roads is fairly dispersed, but collector roads are becoming increasingly congested. Street
maintenance and the upgrading of collector streets in support of new development has
become a major public expense and issue as existing residents oppose new developments
on the basis of the additional congestion that development will bring.

I
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2

�PLANNING DIMENSIONS

Planning dimensions are statements which become the basic framework for the development of
the comprehensive plan. For plans to be meaningful and valuable in guiding future growth and
development, they must first represent the needs and aspirations of the communities' citizenry
and, second, must be realistic within the communities' financial capability. This is assured by
the use of planning dimensions which set forth both the qualitative and quantitative requirements
of the community for the planning period. .
Planning dimensions include goals, policies, population projections, and statements about future
needs. In preparing these planning dimensions, the previous Comprehensive Plan was relied on,
as well as analysis of more recent conditions and trends and factual background relating the past
and present development of the Township. These studies were of value in determining the
physical limits and opportunities of future development. All of this data is reflected in the
following planning dimensions.
In addition, the Township conducted a propeny owner survey in the attempt to gain insights into
the thoughts and feelings of residents on a wide range of development related issues. The survey
was mailed to every property owner in the Township and the response rate was over 30 percent.
The results of the survey have been used in formulating the goals .and policies contained in this
chapter. A summary of the survey is found in the appendix.
GENERAL GROWTH POLICY

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It is recognized that DeWitt Charter Township is an integral ·part of the Lansing Metropolitan
area. Many interrelationships exist and these, most imponantly, include land use, transportation
(including the freeway system and major highways) recreation and employment centers. Past
and future development of the Township has been and will continue to be greatly influenced by
these various relationships. The Township therefore realizes that it cannot plan for its future
development in complete isolation of the needs and growth trends of the balance of the area.
Within this general framework, however, the Township also realizes that it is a separate
community obligated to plan for its future in accordance with needs and desires of the local
residents. The following statements form an overall growth policy based on recognition of both
the Towns~ip's area wide responsibilities and responsibilities to the residents and land owners
within the Township.

* While the Township recognizes the need to accommodate future growth and
development, it is not the desire or goal of the Township to encourage development for
the sake of development alone.

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89267

�*

The Township recognizes that the loss of such attributes as neighborhood integrity,
farmland and open space to development are irreversible losses to local residents and in
the case of farmland, the region, state, nation, and to future generations. I! is therefore
the intent of DeWitt Township guard against land use conflicts, to promote the
preservation of farmland and the conservation of important open space areas such as
floodplains.

* All development, existing and proposed, should be assessed based on its intensity and the
availability of the services and facilities necessary to assure the continued protection of
the environment and the health, safety, and welfare of the community.

*

Future development shall be assessed on its economic impacts, its ability to promote
efficiency of service, and its ability to maintain or improve the value of adjacent
properties.

In the formation of the Comprehensive Development Plan, various policies and plan alternatives
have been evaluated on the basis of how well they will contribute to the achievement of the
. Township's long-range planning goals. Following is the General Development Goal and the
policies established for DeWitt Township.
·
GENERAL DEVELOPMENT GOAL

Through an ongoing compreh~nsive planning and growth management process, influence the
rate, type, location, and timing of growth and development in order to achieve a logical,
efficient, and balanced pattern of development that takes into consideration the natural
developmental limitations of the area and minimizes disturbances to the natural environment,
while creating a more diversified tax base capable of support community facility and
infrastructure needs.
In addition to the above General Development Goal, the following goals and policy statements
are focused on the major functional components of the community. They are intended as the
basic framework on which the Comprehensive Plan is developed.
• It is the goal of DeWitt Township to protect the natural environment of the area in order
to ensure a high quality living environment for current and future residents;
• It is the goal of DeWitt Township to preserve important farmlands, especially prime
farmland, for agricultural uses;

L

• It is the goal of DeWitt Township to provide an adequate level of public services and
facilities to protect the public health, safety and welfare, and to ensure a high quality of
life for residents;
• It is the goal of peWin Township to encourage the majority of new development to
locate in areas where public utilities can be most efficiently and cost effectively
provided;

c-.MS#l/Dniildplan

�• It is the goal of DeWitt Township to encourage high quality commercial development to
locate in appropriate strategic areas;
• It is the goal of DeWitt Township to achieve a balanced variety of neighborhood,
community, and regionally oriented facilities that will meet the shopping and service
needs of the community and nearby metropolitan area populations without unnecessary
duplication; ·
• It is the goal of DeWitt Township to promote the redevelopment of under-utilized
commercial land along the US-27 corridor.
• It is the goal of DeWitt Township to allocate appropriate land areas for new industrial
development while minimizing land use conflicts in order to achieve improved local
employment opponunities and more diversified tax base. ·
• It is the goal of DeWitt Township to provide a balanced range _of affordable housing
· types at varying densities while maintaining or improving the character of existing
neighborhoods.
• It is the goal of DeWitt Township to ensure the capacity and function of the-existing
anerial and collector streets and to minimize the conflicts between their functions by
regulating land use, building setbacks, and driveway openings, and where appropriate, by
requiring the development of front or rear access service drives.
• It is the goal of DeWitt Township through its on-going planning, cooperation with state
and county agencies and capital improvements programs to establish priorities for ongoing maintenance, and the construction of necessary addition~ to the street network.
• It is the goal of DeWitt Township to provide an adequate level of public services and
facilities to protect public health, safety, and welfare, influence the rate, location, and
timing of development and promote a diversified and logical pattern of residential
development.
• It is the goal of DeWitt Township to provide parks and recreation facilities that are in
tune with the needs and desires of all age groups of residents within the Township and
through land use planning and regulation ensure the preservation of important natural
features for use as open space.
• It is the goal of DeWitt Township to enlist the support and involvement of Township
residents to achieve community goals and educate the public regarding the benefits of .
growth management and the variety of Township governmental issues.
In response to the above goals, these .policy statements relate specifically to the major functional
components of the Community.

Agricultural Preservation Policies
• Promote the enrollment of land into the Fannland and Open Space Preservation Act
(Michigan Public Act 116) in areas planned for long-range agricultural use.
• Discourage large
land.
c;MS#l.JDnrilldplpl

scale development on soils

which •

classified as prime a,rietutuml

�• Avoid the extension of water and sewer utilities within agricultural areas as a means of
discouraging non-farm uses in such areas.
• Discourage the fractionalization of farmland brought about by scattered rural housing
development.
• Assess agricultural lands on the basis of their use as a means of assuring that the value of
the land is not artificially inflated thereby promoting the economic viability of fanning
operations.
• Promote the coordination between zoning and other land use controls relating to farmland
and property tax assessing measures.
Residential Land Use Policies
• Provide all types of residential development, ranging from large low density units to high
density multi-family uses to satisfy housing needs,
• Maintain residential growth in neighborhoods where necessary community services,
including police protection, fire protection, water, sewer, and schools, can be most
economically provided.
• Discourage premature subdivision of vacant lands unless a specific demand is evident.
• Do not locate residential areas within floodplains of rivers and streams or in any other
locations which present hazards to the safety or health of residents.
• Stabilize property values by protecting residential areas from the encroachment of
incompatible land uses.
• Encourage the upgrading and improvement of residential dwelling units showing signs of
deterioration.
• Discourage the pattern of scattered, rural housing in areas of important and prime
farmland.
In consideration of the area's natural soils limitations to accommodate on-site septic systems
without the danger of pollution to groundwater supplies, it is ·the policy of DeWitt Township to
limit the density of all future residential developments that locate in areas that cannot be
economically provided with public utilities.
Commercial Land Use Policies
• Group related and compatible businesses together in suitable and properly located areas.

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• Discourage commercial developments in areas along major streets where inadequate lot
depth is provided for turning movements because of the conflicts that develop between
through-traffic and commercial traffic.
• Locate highway service areas to serve motorists without creating traffic congestion or
harming adjacent properties.

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89267

•

��• Ensure the capacity and function of existing roads and minimize conflicts between
through traffic and local traffic by regulating land uses, building setbacks, driveway
openings, and where appropriate, encouraging the development of front or rear access
service drives.
• Coordinate the road system with those of adjacent communities to ensure an economical
and functional system.

Public Utilities, Facilities and Services
• Provide the necessary public utilities and services to accommodate the growth of the
Township's population while minimizing costs to the tax payer through proper planning.
• Locate public facilities in relation to the population they serve:

POPULATION PROJECTIONS
Population projections presented in the Appendix indicate that by the year 2010, there may be an
increase of up to 8,000 residents in the Township. Because of variable economic conditions, it is
difficult to predict whether these projections will stem from steady growth or sporadic periods of
high growth and stagnation as has occurred over the last two decades. In any case, the
population projections serve as the bases for determining the various amounts of land that can be
expected to be developed over the course of the 20-year planning period.

RESIDENTIAL LAND USE NEEDS
Based upon the earlier analysis of the existing residential makeup of the Township and a
projection of housing demand at the current mix, it is estimated_that the projected population will
result in the following additional demands in the various types of housing:

llnib
Single family homes
Multiple family homes (dwellings)
Manufactured homes

1,814
280
615

The following tables present these projections and associated estimates of projected land needs.

�- ·-

TABLE 1
ESTIMATED CURRENT AND PROJECTED
HOUSING TYPE AND POPULATION DISTRIBUTION

2010 Projected

Residential
Type

Population

Occupied
Dwelling Units

Pers/HU

Population

Dwellings

Rural (Ag)

1,143 (11%)

418 (10%)

2.7

1,924

712

Suburban Single Family
and Duplex (R-l/R-6)

6,651 (64%)

2,469 (59%)

2.7

11,187

4,143

Multi-family (M- l/M-4)

727 (7%)

334 (8%)

2.2

1,223

555

1,870 (18%)

962 (23%)

1.9

3,146

1,655

17,480

7,065

Manufactured Homes
Total

10,393

4,186

9

89267

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TABLE2
RESIDENTIAL LAND PLANNING NEEDS

2010

dNew

Projected Net
Land Need
(acres)

SProjected Gross
Land Need
(acres)

6Factored Expansion
&amp; Choice
(acres)

588 1

735

918

975 2

1,218

1,522

22 to 553

27 to68

33 to 85

1734

216

270

2 P/du for multi-family, and 1.9 for manufactured

�'

TABLE3
PROJECTED LAND NEEDS VERSUS
EXISTING ZONED LAND AVAILABLE (ACRES)

Residential

Factored
Need

Zoned
Uncommitted

Surplus/
Deficiency

Rural (Ag)

918

8,390

+7,472

Suburban Single Family
and Duplex (R-l/R-6)

1,522

743

-779

Multi-family (M-l/M-4)

33 to 85

314

+229 to +281

270

20

-250

Type .

11

89267

�From Table 2 it can be seen that approximately 600 acres of land for rural residential uses can be
expected to be consumed, nearly 1,000 additional acres for suburban densities of single and two
family homes, 22 to 55 acres for multi-family dwellings and 175 acres in manufactured home
parks. These figures have been compared to the number of acres in the various zoning
categories represented on the Township's Zoning Map that are currently undeveloped. The
figures in the last column of Table 3 give some guidance as to where the Township presently
stands in terms of current zoned lands that are available to meet future needs. In comparing
these land needs to current zoning, current development trends and the goals ~o achieve a more
compact development pattern, the following observations can be made:
1.

Most of the current surplus of existing residentially zoned land is in the area south of 1-69
whereas the current development trends are in the northwest, around. the City of DeWitt.
If this trend is to be supponed by the growth·management policies, most of the new land
planned for ultimate single and two family residential development will be in the
northwest.

2.

From an acreage standpoint, the estimated needs for multi-family and manufactured
homes are not as significant due to the densities normally associated with such .
development. The primary concerns in the allocation of appropriate land areas for these
uses are the identification of sites that can be served by the highest level of public
services and utilities while fitting harmoniously in the surrounding community.

3.

The land necessary to satisfy the projected demands for rural residences represents the
potential conversion of nearly one square mile of farmland. If not controlled, the effects
of this demand could be even more significant since rural types of development typically
result in rural strip development and the fractionalization of large agricultural parcels,
making internal acreage unusable for farming but essentially undeveloped and under
utilized.

COMMERCIAL LAND NEEDS
It is estimated that at the present time, approximately eleven acres of land has been developed to
commercial use for each 1,000 people in the Township. Using this as a rule of thumb and
factoring in an expected population increase of 9,0()() to 10,000 people within a market area that
includes DeWitt Township, the City of DeWitt and portions of surrounding communities, it can
be expected that there will be a demand for approximately 100 acres of additional commercial
development. Comparing this estimate to the 240 acres of vacant land that is currently zoned for
commercial use, it can be concluded that, on this basis alone, the corisideration of large new
areas for commercial development is not required.. Instead, the primary consideration relative to
commercial land needs is ensuring that the area planned for the various types of commerci_. use
(retail, service, offices, etc.) are appropriately located to satisfy the desired pattern of
development and community needs.
~

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12

�INDUSTRIAL LAND NEEDS

As a general rule, the ratio of labor to acres of developed light or medium industry in
communities with a fairly balanced economy is 10 to 20 workers for each acre of industrial land.
At the present time, there are approximately 300 acres of land that is zoned for industrial use in
DeWitt Township. Of this amount, approximately 220 acres are committed to a current use but
relatively few acres (60 to 75) are put to an intensive industrial related activity. The balance
includes many acres that are held in association with a primary activity that is area-intensive but
not facility and labor intensive. An example of this is the aggregate processing plant off Wood
Road. Another includes the airport in the southwest comer of the Township.
Based upon the above rule of thumb, the existing nature of industrial land and uses within the
Township and a rough estimate of future manufacturing related workers that will reside in the
Township, it is suggested that between 150 to 250 acres of land be planned for future industrial
use.
PARKS AND RECREATION

The following standards for parks provides some guidance for determining future recreational
needs for DeWitt Township residents.
·
Acres Recommended
Per 1000 Population

r -

Type

.5

Mini-park (specialized facilities that serve a limited
population or groups such as the elderly or small children)

2.00

Neighborhood playground (tot-lot, swings, fields and court
game area, picnicking, ball fields, wading pools, toilet
facilities, etc.)

5-8

Community park-playfield (athletic field, area of court
games, swimming pools, etc.)

Total 10.5 acres - 1000 people

Source:

Recreation Park and Open Space Standards and Guidelines - 1983, National
Recreation and Park Association.

Including the recreational facilities located on school properties and comparison of the Township
1990 population to the above standards indicates that a total of approximately 110 acres of local
parkland is currently warranted within the Township. This compares to the approximately 90
acres presently found in the Township.
·

c:MStl/Dewmdp/am

13

89267

�A further breakdown of the Township's existing recreational facilities by type and comparing the
various acreage to the above standards indicate that there is a deficiency of approximately 5
acres of land that is recommended for use as· Mini Park or Tot Lots, S acres of deficiency in the
Neighborhood Play classification, and 13 acres of land deficiency for parks that would fall into
the Community Park-Playfield category. The projected deficiencies based upon a 2010
population of approximately 18,000 are mini parks - 9 acres, Neighborhood Playground - 20
acres, and Community Park/Playfield - 69 acres.
The total amount of park and recreation land that is suggested to be warranted by the above
standards is approximately 190 acres. This would suggest the need to acquire approximately 100
additional acres of parkland over the next 20 years.
COMMUNITY FACILITY LAND NEEDS

Because of development trends to the northwest, there is increasing need to locate anew fire
facility north of the US-27/1-69 interchange. This facility could serve as a replacement to the
existing fire station near the Township Hall or serve as a satellite facility. Because the current
township hall and police station may also eventually be in need of replacement, consideration
should be given to the acquisition of enough property to facilitate the eventual replacement of
these facilities as well. the minimum land need for the fire station alone is recommended to be
one acre. Three to five acres is recommended if the site were to be expected to support future
administrative office and a police station.

c:MS#J/Dewiadplmn

14

�GENERAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN

PLAN CONCEPTS
The goals and policies previously outlined and analysis of the Township's physical, social and
economic makeup has allowed the formulation of four broad concepts that were used in the
development of a long range development plan. These include;

1.

Staging of Growth: Growth trends and population projections indicate that there will not
be sufficient pressure during the foreseeable future to wammt full development of the
Township. It is therefore appropriate to determine development.priorities for the various
lands within the community. The staging of development will promote more orderly and
concentrated development versus expensive sprawl developmenL

2.

Balanced Residential Character: . Varying income levels and life styles of newcomers
and residents, the availability or unavailability of utilities and physical limitations of the
Township, require that a variety of housing types and densities be provided for.

3.

•

Diversify the Tax Base by Providing for a Variety of Commercial and Industrial Types:
Given the Township's accessibility to regional transponation aneries as well as the
employment and shopping needs of local residents, a range of both locally and regionally
oriented types of commercial and industrial developments should be provided for. To
accomplish this the various types of economic developments must be encouraged to
locate in the areas best suited to meet individual business needs. The deliberate and
objective allocation of different types of economic development in specific locations will
also help to avoid or minimize future land use and traffic conflicts while overtime, .
broadening the community's tax base structure.

4.

Protect Environmental Resources: DeWitt Township bas a variety of cnvimnbleDtal
resources. These natural features should be protected and incorporated into development
projects. The Township should promote the preservation of wetlands ind ~ quality by working with the Michigan Department of Nannal Resoua::es and by*
enactment of local protective ordinances addressing these reso.urces•

.

Based on the above planning eoncepts, the General Development Plan attempt$ to Slrikl a
balance between the need and desile to promote and preserve eenaift elements of rtnl «\lllleiW
with the ~ and JtSpC&gt;ftSlbility to accommodate a ~ ftMty of .w
growth and development kl an efficient manner.

�LAND USE CATEGORIES
Agricultural and Rural Preservation

As a means of ensuring the continued agricultural and rural qualities of DeWitt Township, this
plan in essence proposes two "agricultural districts•• separated by long-range urban growth
boundary. The first district, the "Agricultural Preservation Area", is intended to be· an area in
which farming activity is promoted as the primary land use and nonfarm development is
discouraged. The second agricultural district or "Rural Transition Area" is intended to be similar
but nonfarm residences would not be discouraged to the same degree as in the Agricultural
Preservation area.
By making the two designations, it is envisioned that the Township can improve its ability to
protect and conserve the areas within the Township best suited for agricultural purposes while at
the same time accommodating rural residential development in areas where farming is more
marginal, or already negatively impacted by existing development.
The two major ~omponents to the Agricultural and Rural Preservation Plan are described as
follows:
Agri.cultural Preservation/Rural Conservation Planning Area

This area encompasses over 30% of the Township's land area. Within the planning area, nonfarm development would be discouraged and rural land uses such as open space and farming
would be promoted.
The Agricultural Preservation Area contains the majority of soils that have been classified as
"prime agricultural" soils by the U.S.D.A. and also contains the majority of land that is presently
enrolled in the P.A. 116, "Farmland Open Space Preservation Program". The vast majority of
soils . in this district also pose severe limitations on development due to their inability to
accommodate on site septic systems and/or other building limitations. The existence of "prime
agricultural soils", the concentration of P.A. 116 enrolled land, severe environmental limitations,
existing farming activity, the large amount of unfragmented parcels suitable for farming activity
and the distance to existing utilities are the principal parameters used in defining the general
boundaries of the district.
The primary objectives of this planning district are:
1.

To promote farming activitjes as the primary land us~ in the areas of the Township best
suited for such use;

2.

To preserve woodlands and wetlands associated with farms which because of their
natural characteristics, are valuable as water retention and ground water recharge areas,
as habitat for plant and animal life and which have important aesthetic and scenic value
which contribute to the existing and desired future character of the area.

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89267

�3.

To prevent the conversion of agricultural land to scattered non-farm development, which
when unchecked, unnecessarily increases the cost of public services to all citizens and
results in the premature disinvestment in agricultural.

The recommended mechanisms and guidelines for use in achieving the objectives of the
Agricultural Preservation Area include efforts to encourage the enrollment of land in the Farm
Land and Open Space Preservation program, and the adoption of utility extension and zoning
regulations that minimize the negative impacts that non-farm development have in agricultural
areas. Such regulations should allow for the ability of landowners to sell off limited portions of
their land for rural residential development purposes.
Among the options to consider for use in the regulation of non-farm development in the
Agricultural Preservation area are:
1.

Zoning provisions which would establish a minimum lot area of 20 acres for all uses, but
which allows residential development to occur on parcels of less than 20 acres by special
use permits.

2.

Sliding scale zoning under which the number of buildable lots allowed is established by a
scale which considers the total size of the parcel owned at the time of ordinance adoption.

3.

Institution of a one-acre minimum parcel size for non-farm residential uses with a
maximum of two acres, and lot width to depth regulations which control the extent to
which non-farm parcels can negatively impact upon farm tracts.
·

The establishment of precise boundaries for a more "restricted" or "exclusive" agricultural
zoning district within the Agricultural Preservation Planning Area illustrated on the Future Land
Use Map, must ultimately be based a more detailed evaluation of generalized factors of soil,
parcel size, existing land use, environmental limitations, and equally important, the type of
regulations ultimately selected to control non-farm development. It is therefore anticipated that
some of the land within the Agricultural Preservation Planning Area may continue to be
regulated by the more traditional agricultural zoning that is presently enforced in the area.

,,.

I

The "Urban Growth Boundary" described later, serves as the line of demarkation beyond which
suburban growth and extension of urban services be strictly limited during the long range
planning period. Lands that are within the Agricultural Preservation Planning Area, but which
remain "zoned" under the existing more traditional agricultural zoning techniques should
generally not be considered for rezoning to a more intensive use in advance of similarly "zoned..
areas within the rural transition planning area described below.
Such areas are envisioned to provide additional buffer between fanning activities and intensive
development while also ensuring adequate long tenn opponunities for non-fann rural estate
types of living.

c:MSl1/Dnill4plam

17

�It is recommended that the zoning ordinance be amended early on in the planning period in order
to begin the implementation of the objectives of the Agricultural Preservation Area.

Rural Transition Area
The Rural Transition Planing Area is intended to complement to the Agricultural Preservation
Area. It is identified as a means of preserving the integrity of the Agricultural Preservation area
where farming activity is viewed as the primary use to be encouraged during the planning period.
This planning area, while encompassing some active farms, is designed to serve as a buffer area
between the more intensively developed areas of the Township and the Agricultural Preservation
Area. The lot sizes and uses designated for inclusion within this district should be permissive to
accommodate the demand for rural residences while also recognizing that a farming activity will
remain a major use in the area. By designating this area, it is expected that the majority of
persons desiring to reside in a rural setting on one to ten acres of land can be accommodated
without negatively impacting the Township's most desirable and productive farmland.

The characteristics utilized in establishing the general boundaries and extent of the Rural
Transition Area includes lack of nearby utilities soils that are generally unsuitable to support
intensive development due to severe septic system limitations, large areas of farm land and open
space and a mixture of rural residential and farm.
The primary objectives of this land use classification are:

r
r .

1.

To provide a buffer between the more exclusive agricultural conservation district and the
more intensively developed urban and suburban areas.

2.

To preserve woodlands and wetlands which arc useful as water retention and ground
water discharge areas and which have important aesthetic and scenic value.

3.

To encourage the continued use of valuable farm land while accommodating rural estate
types of residential development at a density that will maintain the overall rural
environment by not overcapacitating the soil and to accommodate a wide variety of nonfarm uses that require large land areas.

4.

To provide a "land bank" for areas of land that could be allowed to dcve1op _ .
intensively when the Township dete,;mincs that lllQl'I mi.n,ive-~ ~
appropriate and when ·the necessary public facilities and infiastnlc1me k iD , - •

,-

support it

For achieving the objective.a of the Rural

-~---.. .

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~-A

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�Residential Land Use

'J'.he Residential Land Use Plan provides recommendations for the allocation of three major types
of residential dwellings and dwelling unit densities. These include single family residential
dwellings, multiple family residences (including aparnnents, condominiums and townhouses)
and manufactured home parks.
As DeWitt Township continues to grow, the greater portion of the developed land will be taken
up by residential uses. In itself, this fact is an imponant planning consideration: however, the
primary concern must be the realization that the living environment is the real heart of the
community and, therefore, a major basis upon which to formulate major land use decisions.
· The Residential Land Use Plan is a set of guidelines which, over time, are intended to produce
safe, convenient, and pleasant neighborhoods for the mutual benefit of all Township residents.
The Plan is based on the following objectives and influence factors.

Objectives
1.

To offer a broad range of choice among the living areas;

2.

To utilize natural features to create attractive residential areas;

3.

To allow the development of different housing types to accommodate varying lifestyles.

4.

To assure traffic safety and privacy of residential areas through the design of streets that
discourage through traffic.

5.

To locate residential areas in such relation to other land use types and community
facilities as will best contribute to the overall desirability of the community.

6.

To stabilize property values by protecting residential areas from the encroachment of
incompatible land use types.

7.

Assure public health and safety by permitting intensive residential growth in only those
areas which can be adequately served by either private or pu~lic utilities and services.

8.

Provide a_variety of lot sizes and shapes to meet the varying desires of ,all
community.

l

Influence Factors

In every ~ . d1.-. ,n \'lal'ious fl
land cu be dcwclQpld. JA~Witt

~••tho

�Public Utility Systems. As in many rapidly urbanizing areas, one of the largest limitations to
development is the inadequacy or lack of public utility systems.
Soils. Soil characteristics are extremely important when considering residential developmenL
Soils must be capable of supporting urban structures and in areas where public utilities are not
available, they must be conducive to the safe and efficient operation of private septic systems,
while at the same time protecting groundwater supplies.
Existing Development Pattems. Areas planned for future residential use must take into account
the existing patterns of development that include uses that already conflict with residential areas
and other planed uses. In DeWitt Township, these primarily include commercial and industrial
areas, the Capital City Airport and the_ major highway corridors, both existing and planned. The
General Development Plan attempts to build on the existing residential patterns while
recommending certain types of residential uses and densities as transitional uses between the
most incompatible types.

Accessibility: US-27 and 1-69 are the major regional highways serving the Township. These
facilities provide good access for commuters and future improvements such as the proposed
Logan corridor will further improve accessibility. Residential areas need be located with respect
to the existing and future facilities to avoid conflicts while maintaining transponation
efficiency.
Following are descriptions and recommended components comprising the J:Uiden~
plan.

land "-'

Single and Two Family Residential Area
The Single and Two Family Residential District is comprised of three
The Low Density Single Family areas correspond to the ~ I ~1-llllldlfM :11,i:
and R-2 and to support developments on lots ranging in size ft:om ~ ID ~ ( I I ) ~ •
The majority of land in this designation is found in d.ie west c.ctUra1 ~ ft lhl
between 1-69 and the airport. Existing sewer servi• i.rw~WY"
likelihood that p11blic water service will 6e k&gt;ng &amp;I
that ailowat,te densities be tintit-1.

.........

--·•lullsa

- - - to suppqn a o.oa,......._

�from higher densities of residential development to low density areas. In many instances the
attempt has been made to plan these areas where the full range of utilities is likely to be
. developed within the planning period.
The High Density Single and Two Family areas are intended to occur on lot sizes of between
8,000 and 10,000 square feet and correspond to the existing R-5 and R-6 zoning classifications.
They are intended to serve the market for the most affordable single family homes. They are
situated where sanitary sewer facilities are present or impending and are generally nearest the
major transportation arteries and commercial services.

Multiple Family Residential Areas
The majority of Multiple Family Residential areas (MFR) illustrated on the General
Development Plan Map are for the most part already reflected by the previous Comprehensive
Plan or existing zoning. The Zoning Ordinance presently allows densities ranging from 2 to 36
units per acre.
The proposed areas are intended to satisfy the demands for apartment and attached dwelling
units. while serving as transitional uses from commercial areas and transportation routes to the
lower density residential uses. Several of the proposals along US-27 are recommended as
logical alternatives to commercial strip development. It is recommended that all multi-family
developments be provided with public water and sewer facilities to ensure public health. •

Manufactured Housing Parks
The Future Land Use Map recognizes the existing Mobile Home Parks within the Township as
well as supports their expansion. The Map also proposes that an area east of US-27, nbnb et
Coleman Road be reserved for future manufacture home park development.

,-·

Given the ability to expand several of the existing developments, it is felt ~ the existing~
and the proposed additional area contain adequate land area to satisfy long-range demands. wWle
attempting to avoid conflicts between these. uses and adjacent low, medi~ and hiib ~
single family residential areas.
The Urban Growth Staging Plan outlined in the next ch'l)ter provides m:ommenciatiotf. ~
to the staging of residential developmenl As a general poliey, it is ~ awt•, a.v.
remning of any land in suppon of the future land use JDN&gt;S ~ - be
specific applications arc made. This will allow ~ ~ co _ .
levels of public utilities are a\'ailable to support the d e ~

�COMMERCIAL LAND USE

Typically, commercial establishments seek out major streets with high traffic volumes to
maximize their visibility and encourage drive-in trade. However, when a major street begins to
develop commercially, traffic congestion too often occurs and conflicts result between through
traffic and the vehicles entering and exiting driveways.
This plan recognizes that the demands for a wide variety of commercial types of development
are likely to increase within the planning period as more and more residents move into the area.
These demands are most likely to be greatest along the entire length along US-27, where traffic
volumes are greatest, and where commercial establishments can take advantage of a more
concentrated consumer market.
It will be important to direct this type of development in a manner which avoids the generally
undesirable effects that additional commercial strip developments bring. To minimize additional
strip type development while still taking advantage of the opportunities that good regional access
provides to the area, a major focus of planned commercial activity should be nearest the 1-69
interchange. It is within this area that a good deal of development is already beginning to be
concentrated. The plan attempts to direct the majority of those types of establishments oriented
to a larger area wide or regional market in the area nearest the US-27/1-69 interchange.
The secondary focus of commercial activity includes the existing commercial areas on both sides
of US-27, south of Boichot. This area would be intended for infill of community oriented types
of retail establishments including drugstores and other types of personal services, as well as
highway oriented uses, such as motels and vehicle sales.

Because the existing commercial area in the State Road /US-27 area is experiencing blight, and
there are number conflicts between mixed uses, it is recommended that during the Planning
period, the Township conduct special study of this area. Such a study or "Sub-Area Plan" should
analyze the extent of potential markets for the area and devise a program for the redevelopment
of the area. The major focus of this plan could be to study the feasibility or promoting a more
concise village commercial concept that could include the Township's governmental center.

' .
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I

Other areas of planned business activity are recommended at the I-69 intersections with Airport
Road, DeWitt Road, and US-27, US-27 near Round Lake Road, and a small local business center
near State Road and Wood Street. Each of the above 1-69 intersection proposals are intended to
take advantage of good highway access by encouraging service oriented uses such as
professional offices while at the same time promoting small convenience and neighborhood
retail areas in close proximity to future residential areas. These areas, if developed under
flexible zoning provisions such as Planned Unit Development, could provide ideal transition
from the major interchange areas.

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89267

�The planned commercial area at Round Lake Road and US-27 is primarily a reflCClion of the
emerging commercial strip pattern. This area is expected to
additional CC&gt;IDIDeR:ial gt,Qwdl
due to its location on the ·primary entrance to the City of DeWitt.

sec

The local business center at State Road and Wood Street is proposed as a limited, convenience
retail area to serve the high concentration of population in this area.
The remaining significant commercial area illustrated on the Future Land Use M'I) is associated
with the Capital City Airpon. Illustration of the airpon commercial designation is provided in
support of similar designations contained in Capitol City Airpon's Master Plan. The area
encompasses the airpon terminal and hangar areas as well as lease areas intend to support airport
related commerce and industry that desire to be directly associated with airport facilities•

.

Following arc descriptions of the various categories of commercial land use that appear on the
Future Land Use Plan and where applicable their relationships to existing zoning classifications.

NC-Neia:hborhod Oriented Commercial: This designation applies to areas intended to support
retail and personal service establishments catering to the day to day convenienco •eeds of.
residents in the immediately surrounding residential areas. 'l'be areas an, g e ~ intenctcd
be developed under zoning provisions outlined under the existing "BL", Business Loea1 Dism
contained in the Township Zoning Ordinance.
CC- Community Oriented Commercial: This designation is applied tQ ~ anas
Township that have both good regional access and easy access to several exisdQ&amp; ilDd/Gi'
emerging neighborhoods. The ~ are intended to accommodate a wide 'f8DP of. CUl11Xadad
land uses ranging from retail to service establishments th• are pmrtarily ~ ~ u
opposed to drive by busYl)CSS. The areas illus1uted 1f1 • ~
provisions of die "BC" Business Community and ..B~C" Bum~• ~ 0..districts.
HC • HirJMu Qdent@d

~

areasin'fbjdl~~
motels
uses sh

w

�OP-C - Office Park:

The Office Park designation is intended to suppon high quality
professional services oriented types of development in areas of good housing access. In
addition, small retail service establishments catering to the needs of employees and nearby
neighborhoods could be accommodated, as part of mixed use developments established under a
coordinated development scheme..

ACOM - Airport Commercial:

The Airpon Commercial designation is provided as illustration .
of those areas on Capital City Airpon property that are designated on the Airpon Master Plan to
suppon land side airpon facilities and private airpon related commercial/industrial development
that may occur on propeny leased form the airpon.
It should be noted that there arc several propenies along US-27 that arc presently zoned under
one or another business category that are not recognized on the Future Land Use Map. It is the
intent of this plan to allow their continuance but to avoid expanding the commercial mning
category to adjacent propenies during the planning period as a means of controlling unwarranted
commercial strip development

The objectives of commercial land use plan are to:

I

L

1.

Accommodate limited yet appealing shopping facilities that provide a suffitjcnt amount
of goods and services to meet the daily needs of a growing Township population, as well
as a growing regional, highway-oriented market.

2.

To promote the physical clustering of commercial establishments rather than strip
development, thereby providing for joint use of p~king facilities, more convenient
shopping, pleasant pedestrian spaces, and minimal extensions of utilities.

3.

To discourage the over concentration of similar businesses.

4.

To blend the commercial areas with surrounding uses to minimize land use, traffic and
environmental conflicts.

5. •

6.

To provide adequate parking and to create an inviting shopping environment convenient

for all to use.

To provide for efficient accessibility to retail uses to minimize traffic conflicts.

Unless careful site planning and access controls arc instimted, conflicts between uses can oceur,
opportunities for integrated uses lost, and the cap.city of s-=-s can be greaJ17. ~ It is
therefore recolDDlCllded that the rezoning of land desilf)'atecl on the Fu
l_lfte~:M
~ i a l pmposes be done cautiously to hotp assure tut ~ - ~ •Jis

�or haphazardly, with disregard for the lack of utilities or the uses that are in existence or could
develop on an adjoining site. Implementatiqn of the commercial land use plan should therefore
include the following recommendations:
1.

Development of flexible planned· unit development zoning provisions that would allow
the review and approval of proposals incorporating integrated mixed uses, joint access
and alternate access characteristics.

2.

Utilization of zoning standards and the site plan review process which promote desirable
objectives and the-careful scrutinization of such site plan features such as;
* Wastewater Collection &amp; Storm Drainage: Until public or collective systems for these
utilities are provided, it is recommended that major development not be permitted.
* Driveway Location and Spacing: Driveways should be located as far from street
intersections as possible to avoid left tum conflicts and businesses should be
encouraged to use joint driveways whenever possible. Driveways should be spaced to
reduce conflicts and provide gaps in traffic for safer ingress and egress. It is
recommended that commercial parcels located on arterials have a minimum of 200
feet of street frontage to promote adequate driveway spacing. ·

*

Landscaping: Commercial Development should provide landscaping along the street
edge to enhance aesthetics and screen parking areas.
Specific landscaping
requirements should. be incorporated to ensure adequate and uniform landscape
treatment among businesses.

*

Alternate Access: A secondary means of ingress and/or egress should be provided, if
possible. Such alternate access could take the form of access to an intersecting street
for corner parcels, access across adjacent parking lots, access to another street to the
rear of the property, a frontage road or service drive parallel to a major street or a
similar alternative.

*

Signs: The number, size and location of signs should be controlled and kept to a
reasonable n:iinimum to avoid motorists confusion and to insure individual business
identities.

I .

* Pedestrian Access: Where appropriate, sidewalks or paths should be provided to link
businesses with each other and residential areas.
INDUSTRIAL LAND USE
II

'

The Industrial Land Use Plan is intended to identify and provide for future industrial areas as a
means of diversifying the tax base and promoting local employment opponunities. The
Industrial areas must be situated for easy highway access and to minimize potential conflicts
with residential uses. Industrial development should also be supported by the provision of
adequate sewer and water.
·

c::MS#UDewiadpllm

2S

�After review of numerous alternative sites, the Future Land Use Map recommends the promotion
of an industrial Park (IP) area in the south centraf portion of the Township adjacent to the
existing light industrial area, as well as an area south of Clark Road at the 1-69/Airport Road
interchange. The other areas illustrated on the Future Land Use Map are existing industrial
zoning (IL &amp; Ill) districts at Coleman/US-27, Turner Road· north of Sheridan, and State Road at
Chandler.
The objectives of the Industrial Land Use Plan are as follows:
1.

To accommodate limited,
development.

high

quality, environmentally compatible industrial

2.

To ·encourage most new industries to locate in well planned industrial park settings
thereby maximizing the efficiency of providing for the necessary infrastructure and
minimizing environmental and land use conflicts.

The following recommendations are intended for use in implementing the industrial land use
plan:

r·

1.

Incrementally expand the availability of industrially zoned properties based on
demonstrated needs over the planning period and the availability of appropriate utilities.
The zoning of land for industrial park purposes that is not served by public sewer and
water utilities should be avoided and industrial development that occurs elsewhere in
previously zoned industrial areas without such utilities should be carefully monitored.

2.

Improve zoning and site plan review standards relative to industrial uses to ensure
building and site design quality and that those industries being proposed without public
sewer facilities will not jeopardize environmental qualities.

3.

Encourage the creation of industrial subdivisions ~ther than piecemeal development to
help ensure the construction and collective use of necessary access roads, drainage
improvements and other public facilities. Incorporate Industrial Park District provisions
within the Zoning Ordinance to help encourage this objective.

4.

Incorporate provisions in the zoning ordinance that would discourage extensive.outdoor
storage areas and other unenclosed uses that may detract from the character of the
Township, and harm the values of surrounding properties.

5.

Encourage the landscaping of industrial sites through site plan review.

6.

Discourage the development of "heavy" industries which because of their scale or type of
operation could have environmental implications or overburden public services.

7.

Incorporate access control mechanisms similar to those discussed in the Commercial
Land Use element into zoning provisions relative to the industrial diStrictS.

L

c:MSfl~

I &amp;

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�Transportation
The road system serves as the backbone for growth and development of any community. By
providing a means for internal and external circulation, it serves the community by helping shape
the intensity of land use. Thus, this costly and highly visible element of the community's
infrastructure is one of the most dynamic features of the community's on-going development.
Street Classification

The street system serving DeWin Township can be classified as follows:
These facilities perform little of no land
service function but instead is devoted entirely to the task of traffic movement by
providing for large volumes of traffic at r~latively high speeds. It is characterized by
limited access, multi-lane, divided highways.
FREEWAYS AND CONTROLLED ACCESS ARTERIALS -

MAJOR ARTERIALS - This class of street serves major movements of traffic within or
through the area. Mainly designed to move traffic, the secondary function is to provide
land service. US-27 is the major arterial in DeWitt Township.

I ,

I

I

!
t.

This class of street serves primarily l_ocal or shorter distance
traffic and provides a limited degree of continuity. Their principal function is providing
local land access in connection with major arterials.
MINOR RURAL ARTERIALS -

COLLECTOR STREETS - These streets serve the internal traffic movement within specific
areas and connect those areas with the major and minor arterial system. Generally, they
are not continuous for any great length.

The collector street is intended to supply abutting property with the same degree of
access as a local street, while at the same time serving local traffic movement Traffic
control devices may be installed to protect and facilitate movement of traffic; however,
these devices would not be as elaborate as those on arterial streets.
The sole function of these streets is to provide access to immediately
adjacent property. There are a number of these roads in the community, but they carry a
small proportion of the vehicle-miles of travel.

LocAL STREETS -

The primary objective of the Transportation Plan of DeWitt Township is to provide a street
network which will encourage the most logical development of the area while providing for the
safe and efficient movement of people and goods.
I

PROBLEMS

I;
The major problem with the street system is increased traffic volume on arterial and collector
streets. Other factors that are increasingly significant include the need for better traffic and
access controls to avoid traffic and land use conflicts.

c:MS#l/Dewiudp/am

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89267

�RECOMMENDATIONS

The following .transportation related recommendations are intended to address existing problems
and to avoid problems in the future:
- Within zoning and subdivision regulations institute access controls intended to reduce
traffic conflicts along the major and minor arterials thereby preserving their volume and
function.
- Establish road improvement priorities. Through cooperation with the Clinton County
Road Commission, monitor traffic volumes and road conditions as part of a program to
establish road improvement priorities. In this way, the Township can objectively allocate
its limited resources to those areas already having the greatest need.
- Consider the ability of existing roadway conditions to handle projected traffic volumes
resulting from new development when reviewing site plans and rezoning requests.
- Implement the Land Use Recommendations. This document contains specific land use
recommendations which reflect the adequacy of the existing roadway system. Taken
collectively, the incremental implementation of the various land use proposals will, over
the long term, minimize the need for road improvements.

- Consider private road regulations
- It is recommended that zoning and subdivision controls officially recognize the hierarchy
of the road network by taking into consideration the traffic volume, noise, speed and clear
vision requirements of each roadway class. Such requirements should translate in larger
minimum lot frontages and building setbacks along major streets than those along local
platted streets.
·
I

In addition to the above, several recommendations, the Future Land Use Map takes into
consideration major transportation improvements. These include the proposed Logan Corridor
running north from the Lansing to the DeWitt Road/1-69 intersection. The proposed US-27.
Extension Roads or Clark Road and Proposed Capital City Airport Expansions.

i

I.

Because of increased traffic volumes along US-27, as a result of the development trends in
Northwest DeWitt Township, the Logan Corridor has been proposed as a second major
North/South arterial street between the City of Lansing and the DeWitt area. It is recommended
that the Township monitor the programming of these proposals closely and cooperate with State
and County officials in their development as important regional elements of the transportation
network.
I

I

I ,
(

US-27 is a major north-south corridor through the middle of DeWitt Township. This roadway
carries a significant amount of traffic and, for many people, it is their only contact with DeWitt
Township and therefore serves as a type of identifying area for the Township.

c:MS# 1/DewiUdp/am

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89267

�The problems of strip commercial development have been well documented over the years. A
multitude of commercial uses, each with its own driveway or driveways, creates traffic
congestion problems, turning movement problems, and increases the likelihood of accidents.
Apart from a recommended geographic allocation of land uses in response to existing and
preferred development patterns, the Plan recognizes the need for better access control measures
along the US-27 corridor and the need to guide and encourage the redevelopment of existing
uses in the US-27/State Road area. Also recognized is the eventual construction of the proposed
Logan Corridor and US-127 north of Clark Road. This will ultimately affect the level of traffic
and land use along existing US-27 and requires that steps be taken to avoid excessive
commercialization of the type that will someday see an erosion of its market base when through
traffic are rerouted.
The following recommendations intended to address these concerns.
1.

Access Controls
As previously recommended, access control standards should be designed to regulate and
coordinate access to undeveloped land along US-27. These standards should address
such items as driveway placement, width, and number; acceleration and deceleration
lanes; driveway distance from intersections; joint driveways; frontage roads and service
drives; and pedestrian movement. In establishing access control standards, the Township
must enlist the support of Michigan Department of Transportation officials in reviewing
site plans for new developments so that the access control standards developed by the
Township can be implemented.

2.

The redevelopment of commercial and residential parcels north and south of State Road
should be actively controlled through the continued use of Site Plan Review and Special
Land Use approval processes. In order to better guide the redevelopment of these
parcels, a more detailed study of this corridor should be undertaken to better define and
resolve existing problems. This sub-area plan would be a detailed study of land use,
traffic movement, access control, landscaping, and pedestrian movement. A sub-area
plan would make more specific recommendations for the future redevelopment of this
overall area which could serve as a revitalized identifying and economic focal point of
the southern portion of the Township.

L

I

l

l .

II

Subarea Plan

3.

JJS-127 Bypass
As US-127 extended north of Clark Road moves closer to construction, it is
recommended that the 1-69/US-27 interchange be redesigned to accommodate a different
type of traffic flow. Currently, traffic existing northbound on US-27 from 1-69 does not
stop but merges with northbound US-27 traffic. It is recommended that a study be done

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to determine the need for a traffic signal at this exit ramp. Because traffic is expected to
decline in volume once northbound US-127 is extended , a traffic signal at this exit ramp
may be more practical and result in safer turning movements for vehicles entering and
existing land use to the north.
In addition to the above traffic concerns, the expected ultimate decline of through-traffic
volumes on US-27 north of 1-69 could have negative impacts on business that may
develop in the interim. For this reason, the over zoning of commercial land along US-27
should be avoided. The types of businesses that rely heavily on regional through-traffic
should be minimized and destination types of uses encouraged.
Conservancy
The Future Land Use Map includes a "Conservancy" designation illustrating lands within the
Township that are environmentally sensitive due to the existence of wetlands, floodplains and
other sensitive drainage features. This designation serves as an overlay category, drawing
attention to the areas where extra care is necessary to ensure protection and to avoid their
degradation. While the underlying planning designations of the Conservancy areas serve to
designate the general type of development planned for in a particular area, those areas overlaid
by the Conservancy designation will be subject to additional regulations under State wetland
protection laws and floodplain overlay zoning that are likely to affect site design and
development intensities.
From a Parks and Recreation and Open Space Planning standpoint, the Conservancy designation
can also be utilized in establishing the general areas of the township where future public
acquisition for Parks and Nature Preserves should be given priority.
Institutional

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The Institutional Designation contained on the Future Land Use Map primarily reflects those
areas of the Township that are presently put to a Public or Semi Public use. These include the
Township Administrative Office, existing parks, the wastewater treatment facility, existing and
planned Capital City Airport properties, several of the more isolated cemetery sites and religious
institutions, and school sites.
This Plan does not attempt to direct the precise location of future institutional uses but
recognizes the importance of careful site selection and site design in locating public and quasi
public uses to ensure compatibility with adjacent uses. Various zoning district provisions of the
Township's Zoning Ordinance contain standards for the review and approval of most institutional
uses, prior to their development

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�PARKS AND RECREATION

While it does not appear that the land needs identified in the preceding chapter are critical at the
present time, it is important that planning and decision making for the provision of additional
recreational facilities begin at an early stage. This is especially important in terms of land
acquisition, where early acquisition can greatly reduce overall costs and better assure the ability
to acquire land in the most desirable location.
It is therefore recommended that the Township take the following measures in establishing a
parks and recreation program, in fulfillment of the above objectives:
Update the Township's Parks and Recreation plan to qualify the Township for the
receipt of Land and Water Conservation Funds (LWCF) and Michigan Natural
Resources Trust Fund (MNRTF) grants from the Michigan Department of Natural
Resources.
Identify and pursue potential funding sources such _as private foundations and other
local, state and federal programs.
Work with the Clinton County, the City of DeWitt and other adjacent communities
and school districts to ensure a coordinated approach to providing facilities with
organized recreational activities.
Monitor citizen needs and concerns.

I

L

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SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL

[:ill LOW

DENSITY SINGLE &amp; TWO FAMILY

~ IIEDMI DENSIT'{ SINGLE &amp; TWO FAMILY

~ HIGH DENSITY SINGLE &amp; TWO FAMILY

AP
~ MULTIPLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL
~ MANUFACTURED HOME PARK

~ COMMERCIAL

G:) NEIGHBORHOOD ORIENTED
G:) COIOlt'mY ORIENTED

G':J HIGHl'.\Y ORIENTED

~ o m C E PARK
~ AIRPORT COMMERCL\J.

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INDUSTRIAL

G:J UGHT INDUSTRIAL
~ HEAVY INDUSTRIAL

G::J l!IDUSTRIAL PARK
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AGRICULTURAL

C![J RURAL TlWfSlTION
~ AGNCt,1.TURAL PRESERVATION

~ CONSERVANCY

Ca:] INSTITUTIOlfAL

I

====

FUTURE TRAlfSPORTATlON FACllJTY

- • • - URBAN

I

•

-

~ BOUNDARY

�URBAN GROWTH STAGING

The demand for additional developable land and utility services within DeWitt Township will
continue. Because of this, a major objective of the "Comprehensive Development Plan" is to
direct development into the areas best able to support it and conversely to delineate those areas
that are not expected to be suitable for major development within the planning period.
To promote the efficient use of existing public services and to avoid unnecessary premature and
costly extension of utilities into other areas of the Township, it is also necessary to establish
priorities for development within various areas of the Township. By establishing these priorities
and carrying out public improvements in an incremental fashion, the timing of major new
developments can be influenced and the location of future development can be encouraged
within areas already served by one or more major public utilities, adequate streets, and other
public services.
In consideration of the anticipated practical limits of utility extensions, future highway
imp~vements, existing development patterns and trends, anticipated land needs, and the goal to
conserve certain natural land elements such as farmland and rural areas, the Urban Growth
Staging Plan establishes an "Urban Growth Boundary". This boundary represents the
approximate extent to which urban types of services and development should occur withinthe
20-year long-range planning period. Within this area, it is anticipated that sufficient land exists·
to meet the projected demands for most types of future development. Within the Urban Growth
Boundary, the Urban Growth Staging Plan illustrates three stages of development. The three
stages include the following:
1.

These areas include areas of existing urban and
suburban development and small inclusions of vacant land that are essentially committed
to development. Within these areas sanitary sewer services is presently available, and in
some cases, public water is also available. ·
EXISTING/COMMITTED URBAN AREAS.

To encourage infill development of areas included in the committed urban areas, requests
for the rezoning of land to classifications consistent with the General Development Plan
should generally be viewed more favorably than requests in the primary or secondary
stage areas. As outlined in the General Development Plan section, some areas of
redevelopn:ient aie also recommended.
2.

PRThfARY STAGE URBAN- GROWTH AREAS. The primary stage areas are intended to
portray the areas of the Township in which the vast majority of new growth and
development over the next ten years is recommended to occur. The majority of the areas
indicated in this stage are capable of being served by existing sanitary sewer service.
Some of the areas such as those along Round Lake Road in Section 4, portions of
Sections 6 and 7, northwest of the City of DeWitt, and the area south of Herbison Road in
Section 16 are also included because of the high near-term demand for new development
in these areas. These areas are capable of being served by sanitary sewer and/or public
water system extensions that appear reasonably feasible over the ten-year planning
period, assuming that the developers of major properties play a major role in financing
such improvements.

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~ EXISTING / COIDll'ITED URSA.~

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~ SECOXDARY STAGE URBAN

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----

URSA.'{ GROWTH BOUNDARY

MAP2

URBAN GROWTH STAGING

-

-

DEWITI' CHARTER TOWNSHIP. MICHIGAN
d1lll, 1991

·---v
·-

�It is recommended that rezoning of land within the primary stage urban growth areas in
support of the General Development Plan be done incrementally, with regard to the
availability of needed sanitary sewer and public water services.
Rezoning of land to support speculative developments that are not served or capable of
being served by minor utility extensions and improvements should be avoided. New
residential subdivisions and commercialfmdustrial developments that are not capable of
being served by both public water and sewer services at the time of development should
be limited in density and intensity to ensure long-range public health and environmental
quality.
3.

The secondary growth areas are depicted to
illustrate those areas within the 20-year urban growth boundary that are not intended to
support new development until such time that the majority of nearby primary stage areas
are developed. It is recommended that the programming of infrastructure improvements
and public services in these areas have a lower priority. than those occurring in the
existing or primary stage areas. During the IO-year planning period, the rate at which
land classified in the primary stage is developed in variou~ areas of the Township is
intended to be used as a major factor in evaluating the programming and timing of capital
improvements that are necessary to allow development of second stage.

4.

The rural transition
planning areas are intended to serve as a .· holding area for future suburban residential
development, to fill a demand for large lot semi-rural living and to serve as a buffer
between the major developed areas and the area of the township in which agricultural
activity is intended to be encouraged far into the future. In addition, certain areas. such
as near the airport and near the proposed Logan corridor, are included in the rural
transition area as a means of controlling the magnitude of potential conflicts arising from
future highway corridor development and airport expansion.

SECONDARY STAGE URBAN GROWTH AREAS.

RURAL TRANsmoN/AGRICULTURAL PRESERVATION AREAS.

Major capital improvements or the zoning of land to classifications that would
accommodate suburban or urban densities of development within the rural transition area
are not recommended until such time that existing, primary, and secondary stage areas
are no longer capable of satisfying projected land needs for the higher intensity types of
development.
The vast majority of areas located beyond the long-range urban growth boundary are
intended primarily for agricultural production and rural estate Iesidential development,
and are classified on. ·the Futul'e Land Use Map as "Agricultural Preseivation." Such
areas. whether regulated by traditional agricultural zoning standatds or more restrictive
agricultural preservation techniques, arc recormncnded to be given the lowest pdariW tar
consideration of conversion to intensive developmenL Because of die ovetall low
density of development intended for these
few urban ~ of ,services •
recommended to be piovidcd and land use regulations shQldd
•
intensive land uses and the fragmenwion of t h o ~ ~ ~

areas,

�~

Following is a series of recommendations relating to the implementation of the Growth Staging
Plan.
IMPLEMENTATION
General
1.

Develop a Land Subdivision and Utility Extension Ordinance to regulate the creation of
subdivisions and the size of lots based on the provision of public water· and sanitary
sewer. Such an ordinance should also incorporate provisions regulating private road
construction and the areas of the Township in which such roads will be acceptable.

2.

Develop a system (i.e., point system) of regulations to allow an objective evaluation of
development proposals relative to their effect on Township services.

Existing Urban Area (Full Service Areas)
1.

Maintain and upgrade the physical condition of existing residential areas through proper
enforcement of Township ordinances.

2.

Review the need for a housing rehabilitation program to maintain the condition of current
housing stock.

3.

Maintain and upgrade the existing road, storm drain, and sanitary sewer systems through
the Township capital improvement program. Work toward the installation of public
water systems throughout existing highly developed areas, through cooperation with the
Lansing Board of Light and Power.

Primary Stage Urban

1.

The extension of public water, sanitary sewer, and storm sewer lines should be paid for
by the developer. Oversizing of such lines to service uses beyond the proposed
development should be funded by DeWitt Township. If feasible, Cooperate with the
City of DeWitt in making logical extension from the City's collection system into areas
of the Township north and northeast of the City.

2.

The location of utility lines shall be in accordance with the Master Utility Plan of the
Township. The development of new local streets should reflect the preferred utility
routs.

3.

All plats as well as in~ividual commercial and industrial uses shall be served by public
water and sanitary sewer in order to achieve the highest planned and zoned densities.

4.

The capacity of nearby roads shall be adequate to serve proposed developments. Road
improvements financing should be shared by the developers.
·

5.

A proposed development should not result in excessive expenditure of public funds to
provide necessary police, fire, and utility service.

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�6.

Residential developments with a density equal to or greater than the R-3 zoning district
must be provided with public sanitary sewer. Public water must be provided if deemed
necessary by the County Health Department of the Township Fire Chief.

Secondary Stage Urban

1.

Policies 1, 2, 4 and 5 for the primary stage urban areas shall apply to the secondary stage
urban area.

2.

The majority of land in a primary stage urban area must be developed before public water
and sewer lines are extended into a secondary stage urban area unless it can be shown
that the proposed development will not adversely affect Township services or alter the
· overall growth management plan for the area.

3.

Only residential developments which have a density of one dwelling unit per acre or less
shall be permitted unless public sanitary sewer is provided. Public water shall be
provided if the density is greater than one unit per acre and is required by the County
Health Department or Township Fire Chief.

Rural Transition/Agricultural Preservation

1.

Areas designated as Rural Transition should only be considered for higher use when the
· majority of nearby or associated lands in the primary and secondary stage areas are
developed and the provision of utilities and other necessary public services is feasible.
Zoning changes to a higher use should be preceded by amendments to the
Comprehensive Development Plan that detail the desired type, extent and timing of
urban/suburban growth to occur in such areas.

2.

Land areas outside of the Urban Growth Boundary are intended to be regulated by
traditional agricultural zoning provisions and/or more restrictive agricultural zoning
standards. These agricultural preservation areas shall be given the lowest priority for
consideration of conversion to more intensive use, in accordance with the concept of
incrementally staged growth.

•
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APPENDICES

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�REGIONAL SETTING
DeWitt Township is located in southern Clinton County,
the Township consists of
approximately 33 square miles of land area. The City of DeWitt is incorporated within the
Township boundaries and is situated in the extreme northwest corner,. The cities of Lansing and
East Lansing form the Township's southern boundary and the Townships of Watertown, Olive
and Bath form the west, north and east boundaries, respectively.

Three major highways, US-27, US-127 and I-69, run through the Township. These highways
give the Township exceptional accessibility within both a regional and state-wide context.
Due to its geographical relationship to Lansing and the highway network. DeWitt Township is
inherently tied to the future development of the overall Lansing Metropolitan area. Commercial
and residential expansion from Lansing has long since entered the Township from the south and
suburban development now trends toward the northern sectors and around the City of DeWitt.
Proposed roadway improvements such as the Logan Corridor and extensions to US-127, along
with the more long standing metropolitan interrelationships of employment, trade and service are
expected to further influence future development of the Township and further entrench the
Township as part of the expanding urbanized area.

PHYSICAL FEATURES
Topography and Drainage
Variations in the surface relief the Township are generally not pronounced and as a result, the
natural drainage network is poorly developed. To improve drainage, a fairly extensive system of
improved county drains has been developed over the years. The highest point in the Township is
approximately 930 feet above sea level and is found in Section 34 in the extreme southeast. The
low point in the Township is at the Looking Glass River as it exits the Township in the
northwest, along Airport Road. At this point, the elevation is approximately 785 feet. From east
to west, the fall of the Looking Glass River is less than 20 feet in six miles. Throughout the vast
majority of the Townships elevations are in the 830 to 870 foot range with local relief seldom
varying by more than 30 feet.

All of DeWitt Township lies within the broad Grand River drainage ~asin. However, while less
than one mile south of the Township only the extreme southern portions of the Township drain
southward toward the Grand River. The remainder of the Township is within the watershed of
the Looking Glass River which ultimately empties into the Grand River far to the west in Ionia
County.

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�· As can therefore be expected, the Looking Glass River is the predominant natural drainage
feature of the Township. Its 100 year floodplain lies within the 803 and 810 feet elevations
from west to east. Its width is generally from 800 to 1,000 feet but is nearly one mile wide at its
extreme in Section 3 where the Remy-Chandler Drain from the south and the Rouse Drain from
the north converge with the Looking Glass River. Other significant low lying flood prone areas
are located along the Gunderman Lake Drain adjacent to US-27 between Northcrest and Clark
Road, and along Prairie Creek, south of the City of DeWitt
Many of the drains, as well as the Looking Glass River, will flood the low lying areas along their
banks in times of heavy rainfall and also during the springtime snow melt. These flood prone
lying areas have several implications for planning, such as consideration in the construction of
structures, the planning and design for new roads, including bridges, culverts, storm drains, and
stormwater retention facilities, and the location of recreational and other open space areas.
Efforts should be made to preserve and maintain the floodplains, the woodlands, and pasture
lands along the streams in a vegetated state. In so doing, the potential long-term adverse
environmental and economic impacts that development of these fragile corridors brings can be
minimized.
Soils and Environmental Limitations

•

The soils in DeWitt Township range from well drained sandy loams to very poorly drained soils
formed in sandy loams, clay loams, and muck. The majority of the Township is comprised of
·soils that cannot be relied upon to support on-site septic systems for the disposal of wastewater.
The location of the soil groupings having the most severe on-site septic system and other
developmental limitations is therefore an important consideration in the Township's long range
development plans.
The Environmental Limitations Map shows the location of soils within the Township which
present severe limitations to both building construction and septic fields. The map was prepared
based on information provided by the "Soil Survey of Clinton County, Michigan" prepared by
the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The map takes into consideration soil percobility, wetness,
filter qualities, shrink-swell properties, and slope. Areas within a delineated 100 year flood plain
are also shown.
Because soils which generally have unsuitable characteristics for buildings or septic fields may
still be useful with on-site modifications, the map is not intended as a substitute for on-site
investigation or detailed engineering studies. The map does, however, generally define those
areas in which intensive development can lead to environmental and health hazards, and
therefore helps to define areas of the Township which should not be considcm:l for support of
intensive development without the provision of public utilities. The maps usefulness is
underscored in areas located outside of existing utility service areas. Generally speaking, the
majority of the soils that are riot included in a long ranp utility service an:a should be
discouraged from being intensively developed.

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�Surface Waters and Wetlands
Aside from the Looking Glass River and its natural and improved tributaries, there are only a
few surface water features in the Township. The largest water body is Lake Geneva and it is
located within the boundaries of the City of DeWitt. Those in the Township itself are small
ponds within wetland areas or the result of sand and gravel extraction operations.
There are numerous wetland areas within the Township and most are found in association with
the floodplain of the Looking Glass River and the other drainage ways. The conservancy
designation on the Future Land Use Map, identifies the general locations of most major wetland
areas in the Township. Their locations are based upon maps supplied by the U.S. Department of
Interior and the MDNR's M.I.R.I.S Mapping System. Although on-site analyses are needed to
verify the precise boundaries of such wetlands, they are areas which are likely to be regulated by
the Goemaere-Anderson Wetland Protection Act. Within DeWitt Township, the wetlands are
generally comprised of deciduous shrub and grass swamps and lowland forests.

Important Farmlands

•

The Important Farmland Map shows the location of prime and unique agricultural lands within
the Township as determined by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Prime farmlands are ·
naturally endowed with the soil quality, growing season, and moisture content necessary to
sustain high crop yields under average farming practices. "Unique" farmlands are those areas
that because of their peculiar properties are highly suitable for the production of certain specialty
crops. In DeWitt Township, the muck lands located in the southeast are considered unique
because of their ability to suppon truck and sod farming. As illustrated by the map, the majority
of local prime agriculture lands are located in the eastern third of the Township. Agricultural
products produced in DeWitt Township include com, hay, grain, truck crops, and dairy products.

Also illustrated on the Imponant Farmlands Map are properties that are enrolled in the _PA 116
Farmland and Open Space Preservation .Program. Under this program sponsored by the State of
Michigan, land owners have agreed to relinquish their non-farm development rights for periods
in excess of ten years in exchange for State Income Tax credits and exemptions from certain
special assessments. The high participation rates by farmers in the eastern portion of the
Township has helped to prevent otherwise expected parcel fragmentation and rural housing
development in this area.

It is estimated that approximately 3,800 acres of land are presently enrolled in this program.
Unless property owners decide to re-enroll their lands in the program after their initial expiration
dates, the majority of these parcels can be expected to come out of the program by the year 2000.
Should this occur and other measures to preserve farmland are not taken, the eventual
fragmentation of many large parcels. into smaller lots to suppon rural residential development
can be expected. If allowed to occur, this could result in the loss- of significant areas of prime
farmland.

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�POPULATION CHARACTERISTICS

Table 4 illustrates population changes between 1970 and 1990 for DeWitt Township and
adjacent communities in Clinton County. The population of DeWitt Township has grown at a
fairly slow rate in the last decade. However, it can be observed that growth in the last five years
of the decade has been much more rapid than during the first half of the decade when a statewide recession caused considerable out migration. In comparison, Bath and the City of DeWitt
grew more rapidly during the 1980's. Overall, DeWitt Township has historically grown at a
slightly faster rate than Clinton County and the tri-county region of Clinton, Ingham and Eaton
counties as a whole.

While 1990 census figures are not yet available 1980 figures reveal that 34% of the population
was represented by persons 19 years of age or younger, 25% where between the ages of 20 and
34, and 16 percent of the population was aged 55 and over. The median age in 1980 was 29.4
years. This compares to the county 1pedian age of 27 .6 years and a state wide median age of
28.8.

•

1960, 1970 and 1980 census figures reveal that the male force has changed from one made up
predominantly of blue-collar workers, to a work force that is much more diversified. This trend
is clearly reflected in the proportion of blue-collar workers in the work force. The proportion
dropped from 60 percent in 1960, to 34 percent in 1970, to 32 percent in 1980. Correspondingly,
the share of professional and technical workers has almost doubled, and those in clerical
positions has risen markedly. It should be understood, however, that blue-collar workers are still
the most numerous single occupational type in the Township.·
has increased significantly over the years. In 1970 the· median income of families and unrelated
individual was approximately $11,500. This figure had doubled by 1980, as the median
approached $22,335. This rise seems to be related to the changing character of the Township's
work force and educational attainment levels.Along with the increase in the numbers of
professional and technical wor~ers, the education level of the population is rising significantly.
In 1980, 89.5 percent of the residents 25 years of age and over had completed at least 4 years of
high school, and 31 percent of this fraction had either received a coUege degree or attended at
least 1 to 4 years of college.
The median income in the Township has increased significantly over the years. In 1970 the
median income of families and unrelated individual was approximately $11,500. This figure had
doubled by 1980, as the median approached $22,335. This rise seems to be related to the
changing character of the Township's work force and educational attainment levels.

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TABLE 4
HISTORICAL POPULATION CHANGE

1970-1990
DeWitt Township and Surrounding Communities

Percent

Absolute
Chanee

Percent

Absolute
Chanee

Community

1970

1980

DeWitt Twp.

9,909

10,038

54.6 %

129

10,393

3.5 %

DeWitt City

1,829

3,165

73% %

1,336

3,937

24.4 %

772

Bath Twp.

4,832

5,745

18.9% %

913

6,308

9.8 %

563

Olive Twp.

1,907

2,111

10.7 %

204

2,116

0.2 %

5

Watertown Twp.

3,146

3,602

14.5 %

456

3,720

3.3 %

118

Clinton County

48,492

55,893

15.3 %

7,401

57,529

2.9 %

1,636

378,423

419,750

10.9 %

41,327

430,470

2.6 %

10,720

Tri-County Region

Sources:

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Chanee

1990

Chanee

355 ·

1970 and 1980 U.S. Census Counts.
1990 Preliminary U.S. Census Counts.

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�HOUSING CHARACTERISTICS

Based on the 1990 preliminary census counts, there are currently 4,186 occupied housing units in
DeWitt Township. This is a 16.4 percent increase over 1980 or an increase of 591 units.
During 1980-1990, DeWitt Township experienced a decrease in population per dwelling unit
Based on the 1990 preliminary census, the average persons per unit is 2.48. This in line with the
trend nationwide toward smaller family units. The average persons per unit tor all Clinton
County and the State of Michigan are 2.75 and 2.34 respectively.
Table 5 gives the number and percentage of dwelling units by type within Dewitt Township
based on the 1980 Census and building permit information through 1990. The majority of the
units (66 percent) are single-family homes, with the second largest category being mobile homes
(33 percent). Multi-family units saw the largest increase between 1980 and 1990, (115.5%).
TABLE 5
Housing Units by Type

1980 -1990
Township of Dewitt

Number
mil 1m

l2Bil

.122il

2,573

2,760

71.6

65.9

7.3%

94

127

2.6

3.0

35.0%

Multi-Family (3 or more units

155

334

4.3

8.0

115.5%

Mobile Homes

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24.4%

3,595

4,186

100%

100%

Single-Family Home
Duplex

Total

Percent

Percent Chana=e
1980 to 1990

16.4

% Total does not equal 100 due to rounding.
Source:

1980 U.S. Census
1990 Preliminary Census
and Building Pennit

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�POPULATION PROJECTIONS
The determination of future population growth is important in a planning program, since
projections provide a general basis for determining future land needs and needs for future public
capital improvements and community services. Population projections are, however, only
refined estimates of what the future might hold for it is clearly impossible to accurately forecast
the end result of untold individual and public decisions. Population projections must be based
upon background information and good judgement These projections are then utilized as a
"yardstick" by which planning decisions are made. .

TABLE6

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1991 Plan -Tri-County Regional

10,393

12,946

17,480

Planning Commission, March, 1989

10,393

10,254

10,277

1977 Plan Update

10393

18,000

NIA

Source:

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.122ilt

1990 Preliminary U.S. Census

The above table contains three comparative estimates of population for the years 2000 and 2010.
The 1991 plan estimate consists of an average of three estimates based on arithmetic and
geometric projection and co~stant proportional projection of the overall Counties's population.
Added to the average of these projections were an additional 4,530 persons expected to reside in
the Township if major proposed and rumered residential developments are actually developed
over the next 20 years. While not expected to be definitively accurate, these projections were
selected as a benchmark on which to plan because they portray a plausible high end growth
scenario. In planning for this high end growth, the pitfalls of establishing a. growth management
program based on low growth estimates can hopefully be avoided. Ultimately, the major
determination of future population growth in DeWitt Township will include the following:
- The types and quantity of housing than can reasonably be accommodated in an
incremental fashion within the Township.

I
- 'The image of the Township as a desirable place to live.
- Future gasoline prices and their effect on people's willingness to commute to work.
- The economic health of the Lansing area and its effect on the rate of suburbanization.
r.

- The availability and quality of support services required for residential development
such as utilities, police and fire protection, surfaced roads, and the quality of schools.
- The availability and cost of the land development in DeWitt Township as compared to
other municipalities in the Lansing Metropolitan area.
c:MS#I/Dewillclplam

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89267

�COMMUNITY FACILITIES AND UTILITIES
Education

The public school is often the most imponant facility in the community. Schools serve the
educational function and funher act as a localized center for community and neighborhood social
and recreational activity.
Presently, DeWitt Township is served by four school districts: DeWitt, Lansing, East Lansing,
and Bath schools. DeWitt and Lansing serve the bulk of the school age children. ·
Several elementary schools are within the boundaries of the Township. Secondary school
students either attend classes in the city of DeWitt at the district facilities or travel outside of the
Township to attend school.
The DeWitt School District experienced a large amount of in-migration in recent years. This is
reflected by enrollment increases in schools. This trend has raised the need for future
construction of new facilities to meet these higher demands.
Administrative and Protection Services
The Township Hall houses governmental officials, the fire department, and the police
department. This structure is of adequate. size to accommodate the present level of
administrative operations, but due to space constraints and changing development patterns,
additional fire facilities are needed.
The Township's fire protection is presently covered by the DeWitt Township, DeWitt City, and
_Bath Charter Township Fire Departments by contractual agreements. A fire facility located
more central to the emerging suburbanized area around the City of DeWitt appears desirable.
Police protection is rendered by a full-time Township police force. The Michigan State Police
and the Clinton County Police also patrol on a regular basis.
Wastewater Treatment

DeWitt Township along with the City of DeWitt, Watenown and Bath Townships are pan of the
Southern Ointon Community Municipal Utility Authority.
The treatment plant is located on Herbison Ro~ just west of Schavey Road. It has a maximum
capacity of 5 million gallons per day~ and is cmrently operating at one-fifth of its total ~ Treated effluent is deposited directly in the Looking Glass River. At the present time. sanitary
sewer lines serve much of the development in the Township south of the Lookin1 Gius lliw:r~
However, several trunkline extensions are needed to "'1VC infill ao areas aonh of the dYet. 'lit
following map illustrates the extent of the existing sanitary sower collection
De Dt'Whr
Township Master Plan for Sanitary Sewers delineates t h e ~ bn_,PR&gt;V._.fl d!ll will
be made to accomniodate powth in the northem:po,d o f t l t i ~

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Water Supply

Municipal water is supplied to a relatively small portion of the Township through the Township
by a municipal well and distribution system located south of the City of DeWitt, adjacent to the
wastewater treatment capacity. A few residents in the extreme southern portion of the Township
are provided with municipal water through the distribution system or the Lansing Board of
Water-and Light. A major extension of the water distribution system along Herbison Road,
easterly to US-27 is currently underway. This extension is expected to allow seivice to a large
number of new residential and commercial customers as well as several areas of existing
developments. Because the remainder of the Township presently must rely on private wells,
additional extensions of the municipal water system are expected to occur over the course of
time but are very much subject to cost feasibility.

EXISTING LAND USE PATTERNS.
The total land area of DeWitt Township, excluding the City of DeWitt, is approximately 21,720
acres. Of this total area, more than 6,500 acres, -or about 30% of the township area has been
developed. The majority of the Township's growth in recent years has been concentrated south
and east of the City of DeWitt and along US-27.
The existing land use map shows the generalized land uses existing in the Township while the ·
following descriptions indicate the acreage relationships of developed land.
Residential Uses -

I

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Residential development in the Township remains primarily in the form of single-family
units. Tabulated residential uses account for over 2,700 acres. The following table
shows the various classifications of residential types occurring within the Township.

I.

TABLE?
Residential Land Use Classifications
DeWitt Township - 1991

Classifications

l

\.

Suburban Single Family and Duplex
Rural Single Family
Multi-Family
Mobile Homes

74

55.5 %
31.5 %
2.7 %

_2fill

9,6 %

TOTAL

2,705

100.0 %

1,500
850

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c:MS#l/Dewiudp/am

A-12

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As illustrated, single family and mobile home dwelling types are the two foremost users
of residential acreage within the Township.

-

Commercial uses

Commercial uses are primarily adjacent to U.S. 27. The area near Capital City Airpon
also contains significant commercial acreage. It is estimated that there are approximately
450 acres of land area developed for commercial use. The vast majority or roughly 75%
are retail in nature and roughly 15 to 20% are services oriented. The balance is devoted
to commercial recreation and residential use (hoteVmotel).
Industrial Uses

Approximately 275 acres is used for various industrial activities. The following table
shows classifications of major industrial activities occurring within the Township.
TABLES
Industrial Land Use Classifications

•
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Manufacturing
Non-Manufacturing
Other (Quarrying and Mining,
non-committed)

75
55
145

TOTAL

275

29.0 %
3.2 %
67.8 %
100.0%

The following table compares the acreage of land developed to the above major
categories of land use to the number_ of acres actually zoned for such use. The acres
used in the agricultural category refers to the land actually developed or used ~or nonfarm use such as rural residences and portions of the Capital City Airport. Acres
devoted to crop production are included in the Vacant Category. All acres are
approximately.

,-•
A-14
I_

89267

�SUMMARY OF
CITIZEN ATTITUDE SURVEY

'

,

�DEWITI CHARTER TOWNSHIP
CITIZEN OPINION SURVEY

Summary of Findings and Conclusions
=

•
Number of Surveys Mailed
•
Number of Surveys Returned
• . Number of Surveys Tabulated

=
=

Approximately 3~00
1,017 to.date (30.8%)
972 (29.45%)

Profile of Respondents
1.

90% of all respondents are residents or home owners, 6% are business owners and 4%
own property but do not reside in the Township.

2.

Responses by area generally conform to the geographic distribution of the population.

3.

Of those responding to the question, over 51 % of the respondents have combined
household incomes of over $40,000.

4.

Of those responding to the question, over 70% have lived in the Township for 6 years ormore and 57% for more than ten (10) years.

5.

The average number of persons contained within the households of those responding is
2.89 persons.

General Conclusions
•

Township residents value the appearance and integrity, or their neighborhoods highly.

•

Township residents may favor mandatory solid waste collection and recycling.

• . The large majority of residents feel that as a Township, farming should be actively
promoted.

•

Township residents generally favor along range policies that would accommodate .
most major types of development, including apartments and condominiums, and
commercial and industrial developments.

•

The majority of Township residents feel that additional mobile home parks should be
discouraged.

c:MS#l/Dewiadplam

A-15

89267

�•

•

•

Nearly 50% of Township residents responding to the survey felt that comm~rcial
development should be actively promoted in some areas.

•

Of the c~pital intensive improvements or services contained in Question #10,
improving fire protection ranked as the most important. This was followed in order
by improving . street conditions, improving police protection, additional public
recreation facilities, extension of public water, making public transit affordable and
the extension of public sewer.

•

Of the public services or facilities listed in Question #11, responses indicate a clear
lack of public support for additional taxes or fees to finance the following:

•
•
•
•
•
•

Bus Service
New or Expanded Recreational Facilities
Libraries
Administrative Services
Extension of Sewer Service

While responses do not indicate a maJonty in favor, there appears to be some
measure of support and/or willingness to consider to increase taxes or fees to finance
- the followi~g:
•
•
•
•

Police Protection
Fire Protection
Road Paving and Maintenance
Mandatory Refuse Collection and Recycling

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c:MS# 1/Dewittdpfam

A-16

89267

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                    <text>Comprehensive Development Plan

2005

�Charter To\Nnship

Comprehensive Development Plan
Prepared Under the Direction of the
DeWitt Charter Township Planning Commission

by the
Planning &amp; Zoning Center, Inc.
715 N. Cedar Street, Suite 2
Lansing, MI 48906-5275
517/886-0555 Ph.
517/886-0564 Fax
www.pzcenter.com

2005

�DeWITT CHARTER TOWNSHIP
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Rick Galardi, Supervisor
Diane MosIer, Clerk
Phyllis Daggy, Treasurer
Jeff Baumann, Trustee
Max Calder, Trustee
Stephen C. Musselman, Trustee
David Seeger, Trustee

DeWITT CHARTER TOWNSHIP
PLANNING COMMISSION
Mike Nolen, Chairman
Stephen Gobbo, Vice-Chair
Jane DeHoog, Secretary
Stephen Musselman, Trustee Representative
Jason Flower
Bruce Keilen
Terri Shively
Kimberly Smelker
Gregory White

DeWITT CHARTER TOWNSHIP
PLANNING DEPARTMENT STAFF
Jeffrey M. Gray, AICP, Planning Director
David E. Haywood, Assistant Planner
Linda Parkinson, Secretary
DeWITT TOWNSHIP MANAGER
Matthew J. Kulhanek

PLANNING &amp; ZONING CENTER, INC. ASSOCIATES
Mark A. Wyckoff, FAICP, President
John Warbach, Ph.D., Principal
Carolyn A. Freebury, Vice President
Andrea Hoag, Research Associate
Evan Cunningham, Research Associate

�TABLE OF CONTENTS
PREFACE ........................................................................................................................ vii
Vision Based Plan ............................................................................................................ vii
Chapter 1: INTRODUCTION........................................................................................... 1-1
Introduction....................................................................................................................... 1-1
Regional Setting ............................................................................................................... 1-1
Location ....................................................................................................................... 1-1
Purpose of Plan................................................................................................................ 1-2
Plan Relationship to Zoning.............................................................................................. 1-3
Updating the Plan ............................................................................................................. 1-3
Public Input....................................................................................................................... 1-4
Overview of Chapters ....................................................................................................... 1-4
Chapter 2: SUMMARY OF EXISTING CONDITIONS AND TRENDS.............................. 2-1
Introduction....................................................................................................................... 2-1
Demographics .................................................................................................................. 2-1
Total Population ........................................................................................................... 2-1
Age and Gender........................................................................................................... 2-2
Housing Conditions and Trends........................................................................................ 2-3
Households.................................................................................................................. 2-3
Building Permits Issued................................................................................................ 2-5
Housing Values............................................................................................................ 2-5
Education ......................................................................................................................... 2-6
Economy .......................................................................................................................... 2-7
Employment................................................................................................................. 2-7
Income......................................................................................................................... 2-9
Tax Base ..................................................................................................................... 2-9
Natural Resources............................................................................................................ 2-11
Topography and Drainage ........................................................................................... 2-11
Surface Waters and Wetlands...................................................................................... 2-18
Woodlands................................................................................................................... 2-18
Soils and Environmental Limitations............................................................................. 2-19
Land Cover and Land Use................................................................................................ 2-23
Land Use by Tax Class .................................................................................................... 2-27
Agriculture.................................................................................................................... 2-27
Residential Land Use................................................................................................... 2-30
Commercial.................................................................................................................. 2-31
Office Uses .................................................................................................................. 2-33
Industrial ...................................................................................................................... 2-33
Infrastructure .................................................................................................................... 2-34
Water Supply ............................................................................................................... 2-34
Wastewater Treatment................................................................................................. 2-37
Community Facilities and Services ................................................................................... 2-37
Township Hall .............................................................................................................. 2-37
Public Safety................................................................................................................ 2-38
Fire Department........................................................................................................... 2-40
Parks and Recreation .................................................................................................. 2-40
Neighborhood Parks/Play Lots ................................................................................ 2-41

DeWitt Township Comprehensive Development Plan - 2005

i

�TABLE OF CONTENTS (Continued)
Community Parks .................................................................................................... 2-41
Community Center....................................................................................................... 2-42
Schools........................................................................................................................ 2-43
Transportation .................................................................................................................. 2-47
Street Classification ..................................................................................................... 2-47
Freeways and Regional Circulation.............................................................................. 2-50
Business Route 27....................................................................................................... 2-50
Traffic Volumes in DeWitt Township............................................................................. 2-51
Transit.......................................................................................................................... 2-54
Air Transportation ........................................................................................................ 2-54
Implications if Existing Trends and Policy Continue .......................................................... 2-55
Growth and Preservation Policy of the 1991 Plan ........................................................ 2-55
Residential Buildout Analysis ....................................................................................... 2-56
Analysis of Adjacent Jurisdiction Plans............................................................................. 2-57
City of DeWitt............................................................................................................... 2-57
Bath Township ............................................................................................................. 2-58
East Lansing ................................................................................................................ 2-58
Watertown Township ................................................................................................... 2-58
Clinton County ............................................................................................................. 2-59
City of Lansing ............................................................................................................. 2-59
Lansing Township ........................................................................................................ 2-60
Chapter 3: GENERAL VISION AND PLANNING FRAMEWORK................................... 3-1
Introduction....................................................................................................................... 3-1
General Vision Statement................................................................................................. 3-1
Proactive Planning and Sustainability .......................................................................... 3-1
Quality of Life: Impressions, Standards and Visual Character...................................... 3-2
Quality of Life: Close to the City but Retaining Rural Qualities ..................................... 3-3
Quality of Life: Neighborhoods ..................................................................................... 3-3
Quality of Life: Access to Opportunities........................................................................ 3-4
Quality of Life: Recreation............................................................................................ 3-4
Quality of Life: Urban Infrastructure.............................................................................. 3-4
Planning Framework......................................................................................................... 3-5
Plan Concepts .................................................................................................................. 3-6
Chapter 4: FUTURE LAND USE &amp; COMMUNITY FACILITIES: Goals &amp; Policies ........ 4-1
Introduction....................................................................................................................... 4-1
Future Land Use Map....................................................................................................... 4-1
Future Land Use............................................................................................................... 4-3
Environmental Protection and Conservation ................................................................ 4-3
Agricultural Land Uses................................................................................................. 4-4
AP (Agricultural Preservation)................................................................................ 4-5
A (Agricultural)....................................................................................................... 4-6
Residential Land Uses ................................................................................................. 4-6
Single and Two Family Residential Areas.............................................................. 4-8
Multiple Family Residential Areas .......................................................................... 4-9
MHP (Manufactured Housing Parks) ..................................................................... 4-10
Commercial Land Uses................................................................................................ 4-11

DeWitt Township Comprehensive Development Plan - 2005

ii

�TABLE OF CONTENTS (Continued)
NC (Neighborhood Oriented Commercial) ............................................................. 4-14
CC (Community Oriented Commercial) ................................................................. 4-14
HC (Highway Oriented Commercial)...................................................................... 4-15
ACOM (Airport Commercial) .................................................................................. 4-15
Office Land Uses ......................................................................................................... 4-15
Industrial Land Uses .................................................................................................... 4-16
Institutional................................................................................................................... 4-17
Community Facilities ........................................................................................................ 4-18
Recreational Facilities.................................................................................................. 4-18
Transportation Systems ............................................................................................... 4-20
Public Utilities, Facilities and Services ......................................................................... 4-22
Regional Cooperation and Coordination ...................................................................... 4-23
Related Land Use Issues.................................................................................................. 4-23
Historic Preservation.................................................................................................... 4-24
Greenways................................................................................................................... 4-24
Special Planning Areas .................................................................................................... 4-25
Traditional Neighborhood Development (TND) Areas .................................................. 4-25
Neighborhood Conservation Area ................................................................................ 4-26
Commercial and Industrial Revitalization Area ............................................................. 4-26
Chapter 5: ZONING PLAN ............................................................................................. 5-1
Introduction....................................................................................................................... 5-1
What is a Zoning Plan? .................................................................................................... 5-1
Relationship to Comprehensive Development Plan .......................................................... 5-1
Future Land Use Map Designations Compared to Zoning Districts................................... 5-2
Zoning Districts................................................................................................................. 5-3
Agriculture District........................................................................................................ 5-3
Residential Districts ..................................................................................................... 5-3
Office Districts.............................................................................................................. 5-5
Commercial Districts .................................................................................................... 5-5
Industrial Districts......................................................................................................... 5-5
Site Development Standards ............................................................................................ 5-6
Proposed Changes to Zoning Ordinance.......................................................................... 5-6
Chapter 6: GROWTH MANAGEMENT STRATEGY....................................................... 6-1
Introduction....................................................................................................................... 6-1
Infrastructure and Public Land Investments...................................................................... 6-1
Background.................................................................................................................. 6-1
Adequate Public Facilities Ordinance........................................................................... 6-2
Capital Improvement Programs.................................................................................... 6-3
Future Road Improvements ......................................................................................... 6-3
Private Roads .............................................................................................................. 6-10
Transit Services ........................................................................................................... 6-10
Public Sewer &amp; Water .................................................................................................. 6-10
Above-Ground Utilities ................................................................................................. 6-11
Fire and Police Services .............................................................................................. 6-11

DeWitt Township Comprehensive Development Plan - 2005

iii

�TABLE OF CONTENTS (Continued)
Greenspace, Parks, Open Space................................................................................. 6-11
Summary of Public Land Investments............................................................................... 6-12
Chapter 7: IMPLEMENTATION RECOMMENDATIONS ................................................ 7-1
Introduction....................................................................................................................... 7-1
Focusing on Priorities ....................................................................................................... 7-1
Annual Tasks.................................................................................................................... 7-1
Top Priorities .................................................................................................................... 7-1
List of Recommended Priorities........................................................................................ 7-2
South Central Neighborhood Conservation and Commercial Revitalization Plan ......... 7-2
Zoning &amp; Related Ordinance Amendments .................................................................. 7-3
North Central Commercial Development and Mixed Use TND Plan ............................. 7-3
Opportunity-Based Initiatives ....................................................................................... 7-3
Duty-Based Initiatives .................................................................................................. 7-4

LIST OF MAPS
2-1 Topography .............................................................................................................. 2-12
2-2 Watersheds .............................................................................................................. 2-15
2-3 County Drains in DeWitt Township ........................................................................... 2-16
2-4 Environmental Limitations and Hazards.................................................................... 2-17
2-5 DeWitt Township Soils.............................................................................................. 2-20
2-6 Soils With Septic Limitations..................................................................................... 2-21
2-7 Soils With Basement Limitations............................................................................... 2-22
2-8 Land Use/Land Cover, 1999 Data ............................................................................ 2-25
2-9 Land Use by Tax Class ............................................................................................ 2-26
2-10 Agriculture Preservation Map ................................................................................... 2-29
2-11 Public Water System ................................................................................................ 2-35
2-12 Public Sewer System................................................................................................ 2-36
2-13 Publicly Owned Land................................................................................................ 2-39
2-14 School Districts in DeWitt Township ......................................................................... 2-46
2-15 Classification of Area Roads..................................................................................... 2-48
2-16 Roads by Jurisdictional Responsibility...................................................................... 2-49
2-17 Annual Average 24-Hour Traffic Volumes for DeWitt Area Highways and
Surrounding Region............................................................................................... 2-50
2-18 Traffic Counts........................................................................................................... 2-53
4-1 Future Land Use....................................................................................................... 4-2
4-2 Special Planning Areas ............................................................................................ 4-28
6-1 Future Road Improvements ...................................................................................... 6-5

DeWitt Township Comprehensive Development Plan - 2005

iv

�TABLE OF CONTENTS (Continued)

LIST OF TABLES
2-1 Population of DeWitt Township and Surrounding Region, 1980-2000....................... 2-1
2-2 Population Projection for DeWitt Township, 1980-2020: Based on 2000 Census ..... 2-2
2-3 Population Projection for DeWitt Township, 1980-2020: Based on 2004
Estimated Population............................................................................................. 2-2
2-4 Households in DeWitt Township, 1980-2000 ............................................................ 2-4
2-5 Households in DeWitt Township, 1980-2020 ............................................................ 2-4
2-6 Average Household Size, 1980-2000 ....................................................................... 2-5
2-7 Building Permits Issued and Demolitions, 2000-2004 YTD ....................................... 2-5
2-8 Educational Attainment in DeWitt Township and Surrounding Region ...................... 2-6
2-9 DeWitt Township Labor Force, Employment and Unemployment ............................. 2-7
2-10 DeWitt Township Employment by Industry 2000....................................................... 2-8
2-11 Employment by Industry, Clinton County 1997-2000 ................................................ 2-8
2-12 Income Distribution in DeWitt Township and Surrounding Area ................................ 2-9
2-13 Poverty Levels in DeWitt Township and Surrounding Area....................................... 2-9
2-14 DeWitt Township SEV: 1999, 2001 and 2003........................................................... 2-10
2-15 DeWitt Township Projected SEV: 2005 and 2007 ..................................................... 2-11
2-16 Land Cover/Land Use in DeWitt Township, 1999 ..................................................... 2-24
2-17 Traffic Volume Increases/Decreases on Key Road Segments.................................. 2-52
4-1 Land Planned for High Density Residential............................................................... 4-11
5-1 Comparison of Map Designations on Future Land Use Map and Zoning Map .......... 5-2
5-2 DeWitt Township Zoning District Regulations ........................................................... 5-6
6-1 Proposed Road Improvements ................................................................................. 6-6

LIST OF FIGURES
1-1
1-2
2-1
2-2
6-1
6-2

Location Map............................................................................................................ 1-1
Adjoining Jurisdictions Map ...................................................................................... 1-2
DeWitt Township Population by Age and Gender ..................................................... 2-3
Year 2000 Median Housing Values, Lansing Metro Area.......................................... 2-6
Future Road Cross Sections..................................................................................... 6-7
Roundabouts Should be Considered for Some Locations......................................... 6-9

LIST OF PHOTOS
2-1
2-2
2-3
2-4
2-5
2-6
2-7

Looking Glass River ................................................................................................. 2-13
Remy-Chandler Drain............................................................................................... 2-14
Wetland in DeWitt Township..................................................................................... 2-18
Woodland Along DeWitt Township Road .................................................................. 2-19
Agriculture in DeWitt Township................................................................................. 2-23
Woodland in DeWitt Township.................................................................................. 2-24
Sod Farming on “Unique” Farmland ......................................................................... 2-27

DeWitt Township Comprehensive Development Plan - 2005

v

�TABLE OF CONTENTS (Continued)
2-8 Residential Subdivision in DeWitt Township ............................................................. 2-30
2-9 Apartment Complex in DeWitt Township .................................................................. 2-31
2-10 Commercial Along US-27BR .................................................................................... 2-31
2-11 Crossroads Plaza Along US-27BR ........................................................................... 2-32
2-12 Clark Corner (Formerly Lansing Factory Outlet Mall) on Clark Road ........................ 2-33
2-13 Industrial Site in DeWitt Township ............................................................................ 2-34
2-14 Wastewater Treatment Plant .................................................................................... 2-37
2-15 DeWitt Township Hall ............................................................................................... 2-38
2-16 DeWitt Township Police Station................................................................................ 2-38
2-17 Herbison Road Fire Station ...................................................................................... 2-40
2-18 Station House Park................................................................................................... 2-41
2-19 DeWitt Township Community Center........................................................................ 2-43
2-20 DeWitt High School .................................................................................................. 2-44
2-21 DeWitt Junior High School........................................................................................ 2-44
2-22 Gunnisonville Elementary School ............................................................................. 2-45
2-23 Expressway I-69 in DeWitt Township ....................................................................... 2-47
2-24 Business Route 27 in DeWitt Township .................................................................... 2-51
3-1 The Most Common View is of Woods and Open Spaces.......................................... 3-3
3-2 Some Roads Should be Maintained as They Were in the Early 2000s to
Protect Rural Character......................................................................................... 3-4
3-3 Examples of TND from Cherry Hill Village, Canton Township................................... 3-7
3-4 A Lansing Area Green Roof...................................................................................... 3-8
4-1 Active Farmland in DeWitt Township ........................................................................ 4-5
4-2 New Home in DeWitt Township ................................................................................ 4-7
4-3 Single Family Home Under Construction .................................................................. 4-9
4-4 Multiple Family Housing ........................................................................................... 4-10
4-5 Manufactured Home Park in DeWitt Township ......................................................... 4-10
4-6 Commercial Development in DeWitt Township ......................................................... 4-13
4-7 Site Plan Review Standards Should Guide Sign Number, Size and Location ........... 4-14
4-8 Highway Oriented Commercial Development in DeWitt Township ............................ 4-15
4-9 Granger Landfill and Recycling Operations is an Industrial Use
in DeWitt Township ............................................................................................... 4-17
4-10 Greater Lansing Area Airport in DeWitt Township .................................................... 4-17
4-11 Encourage Open Space Areas as Part of PUDs and Other Major Residential
Developments ....................................................................................................... 4-20
4-12 Achieve a Well-Coordinated and Interconnected Street System............................... 4-21
4-13 Most of the Streets in DeWitt Township are Under the Jurisdiction of the
Clinton County Road Commission......................................................................... 4-22
4-14 Protect Historic Resources in DeWitt Township........................................................ 4-24
4-15 Develop Connected System of Greenways that Includes Parks ............................... 4-25
5-1 Agricultural District.................................................................................................... 5-3
5-2 Residential District.................................................................................................... 5-4
6-1 Road and Other Public Infrastructure Investments Will be Necessary ...................... 6-2
6-2 Develop Greenway Connections Such as This One in Western Michigan ................ 6-12
7-1 Preserving the Natural Environment While Accommodating New Homes
and Linking Them Throughout the Township are Key Priorities of this Plan........... 7-2

DeWitt Township Comprehensive Development Plan - 2005

vi

�PREFACE
VISION BASED PLAN
This is a Comprehensive Plan to guide future land use and infrastructure decisions in
DeWitt Charter Township for the next 20 years. It opens with an introductory chapter and
follows with detailed background information in Chapter 2.
This is a vision based plan. The vision was created from citizen input at town meetings.
Chapter 3 presents a common vision statement for the future of DeWitt Township in
2025. The goals and policies in Chapters 4 and 5, as well as the strategies in Chapter 6
are oriented to achieving the vision. This Plan will both guide and be guided by market
forces, and it will never go more than five years before being thoroughly reviewed to
ensure it remains relevant, and then it will be updated as necessary. Some components
of the Plan, such as portions that are based on the 2001 High Density Residential Study
rely heavily on projections. These in particular need to be periodically reviewed and
updated as necessary.
DeWitt Charter Township is one of the most rapidly growing communities in midMichigan. This moment has long been anticipated and presents both special problems
and special opportunities. For some it is seen as a moment of entitlement. To them, it is
now DeWitt Township’s turn to build a modern community with a high quality of life
around the existing infrastructure framework and land use presently in place—without
repeating mistakes of the past.
This opportunity includes building out contemporary suburban neighborhoods around
and integrated with the City of DeWitt, while stabilizing and improving the quality of
existing neighborhoods elsewhere in the Township. The Township wants to encourage
the best in new development and redevelopment that respects the rural and suburban
character of much of the Township. It also wants to accommodate the newest building
quality and design that conforms to green development standards and smart growth
principles, each in appropriate measures and locations.
Such a future means creating some new neighborhoods in the Township built more on
old urban and small rural town characteristics (known as traditional neighborhood
development or TND), than on suburban or rural ones. A large TND based on broad
citizen input is proposed for possible development east of US-27BR, north of Webb
Road and west of Wood Road. This future also means permanently preserving a large
area in the northeast and southeastern portions of the Township for agriculture and rural
living opportunities. In addition, it means stabilizing and rehabilitating older commercial
strips and neighborhoods to prevent more blight and create a more desirable future for
residents and businesses in the south central part of the Township. Last, it means
planning for the conversion of a substantial amount of land for office, research and light
industrial use to enhance not only the tax base in the Township (necessary to help pay
for all the services the residential development will need), but also to provide more
employment opportunities so that not all residents have to commute to good paying jobs
elsewhere in the region. In the aggregate, this vision presents a wider range of desirable
living and working choices for Township residents, while maximizing development

DeWitt Township Comprehensive Development Plan - 2005
vii

�potential and infrastructure efficiency at cost levels far below those likely to be
experienced if the 1991 Plan were implemented as adopted.
This vision is not for the faint hearted or those averse to taking well conceived risks. The
Township already has sewer and water service spread across much of the Township
and must provide police and fire services to all parts of the Township. The costs
associated with these services, and variable market pressures in different parts of the
Township, make it difficult to cost-effectively expand infrastructure and services, and
hence to use infrastructure as a tool to guide growth in an incremental and efficient
fashion. Similarly, it is well understood that the Township does not control all the land, all
the infrastructure, or all the decisions necessary to successfully implement this Plan.
This Plan recognizes that the Township has certain obligations related to new
development, as does the development community. This is especially apparent at the
present time in the northwest part of the Township. These obligations will be spelled out
in more detail in future zoning and subdivision regulations and in future capital
improvement decisions. This Plan also recognizes that the Township has equal
responsibilities to already developed parts of the Township, and especially in those
areas where new investment has been infrequent and signs of blight are evident.
Similarly the Township has an obligation to help landowners in the eastern part of the
Township who wish to continue long-term agricultural pursuits and the retention of a very
rural character in the face of annexation attempts and significant development pressure
occurring in the southeast portion of the Township. In contrast, the southwest area
presents a challenging mix of major new development and redevelopment potential,
along with demands to improve the existing quality of neighborhoods in parts of this area
near where the airport plans to expand operations. These are widely varied obligations
and depending on the rate of change, may present the Township with special challenges
in meeting them.
Similarly, Township leaders are acutely aware of both the huge benefit and potential
detriment that market forces can have in achieving the vision of this Plan. The market
can shift demand for public services from one area to another in a way that creates
inefficiencies and higher public costs that can only be borne by requiring the private
sector to bear those costs when development is proposed prematurely. But this Plan is
also a pragmatic plan, and it is intended to provide general guidance and
encouragement to the private sector to assist in helping to create the vision, while
describing the situations where the Township will use regulations and infrastructure
investments to assure quality development.
This Plan seeks to raise the bar for new development in the Township. It expects quality
development everywhere in the Township. It expects developers to build only when the
full development potential of property can be realized, as established by the uses and
densities in the Zoning Ordinance. Similarly, where feasible, future development
regulations will provide incentives for developers to build at appropriate densities and to
shift more attention to quality design that is both compatible with the area and consistent
with the vision of this Plan as expressed by zoning, subdivision and related regulations.
Building a quality community is a partnership with many partners: public, private,
industrial, corporate, citizen-based and government-based. All must work together to
successfully achieve the citizen vision in this Plan. With your help and that of all the
other partners, this Plan will become a reality.

DeWitt Township Comprehensive Development Plan - 2005
viii

�Chapter 1
INTRODUCTION
INTRODUCTION
This chapter describes the location of DeWitt Charter Township in the Lansing
metropolitan area. It also explains the purposes of this Plan and its relationship to
zoning, subdivision regulations, capital improvements planning and related
implementation tools. This Comprehensive Development Plan is intended to guide the
growth and development of DeWitt Charter Township over the next twenty years.
REGIONAL SETTING
Location
DeWitt Charter Township is located in mid-Michigan in south central Clinton County with
its southern border less than three miles from the State Capitol Building. It is the largest
suburb on the north side of the Lansing metropolitan area. It is bisected by I-69 and US127. In addition, old US-27 (now Business Route 27, US-27BR) runs the length of the
Township connecting Lansing to St. Johns. The Township has a legal description of
T5N, R2W and globally sits at 42.813o latitude and -84.543o longitude. It is traversed
from east to west by the Looking Glass River, a tributary of the Grand River. See Figure
1-1.
Figure 1-1 Location Map

DeWitt Charter Township shares its southern boundary with Clinton County the northern
boundary of the City of Lansing, Lansing Charter Township and Ingham County.
Portions of the City of East Lansing extend into the southeast corner of the Township.

DeWitt Township Comprehensive Development Plan - 2005
1-1

�DeWitt Township completely surrounds the City of DeWitt in the northwest quadrant. The
Township shares a border on the west with Watertown Township, an eastern border with
Bath Township and a northern border with Olive Township. All are in Clinton County.
Figure 1-2 Adjoining Jurisdictions Map

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With a 2004 estimated population of 13,769 persons, DeWitt Charter Township has a
mix of small lot, older urban neighborhoods adjacent to Lansing, new suburban housing
around the City of DeWitt and large lot rural development in other parts of the Township.
BR-27 is the spine of the Township and changes from small lot older commercial
development on the south end, to freeway interchange commercial services at I-69 and
then scattered commercial establishments north of Herbison Road. Much of the
Township has a rural character with many trees and open farm fields along the key
arterial roads. There is a strong desire to retain this rural character and the proximity of
most residents to open space as the Township continues to grow and redevelop.
PURPOSE OF PLAN
This Comprehensive Development Plan defines the existing and proposed future
character of DeWitt Charter Township. Its fundamental purpose is to allow the Township
to comprehensively describe the goals and policies for its physical development. This
Plan is intended to guide Township officials and citizens in making decisions about
public facilities and the use of public and privately owned land.
The DeWitt Charter Township Comprehensive Development Plan was prepared under
the provisions of the Township Planning Act 168 of 1959, which specifically gives

DeWitt Township Comprehensive Development Plan - 2005
1-2

�Township Planning Commissions the authority to prepare and officially adopt a future
land use plan (called a “basic plan” in the statute). The Comprehensive Development
Plan is comprised of text and supporting maps. The most significant map is the Future
Land Use Map (Chapter 4) which shows the location and relationship of land in the
Township for the next twenty years.
The Comprehensive Development Plan provides:
1.

A comprehensive means of integrating planning principles and policies that look
20 years ahead to meet future needs regarding general and major aspects of
physical conservation and development throughout the Township;

2.

An official, advisory policy statement for encouraging orderly and efficient use of
the land for residences, businesses, industry, and agriculture, and for
coordinating these uses of land with each other, with streets and highways, and
with other necessary public facilities and services;

3.

A rational basis for zoning, subdivision design, public improvement plans, and for
facilitating and guiding the work of the Township Planning Commission and the
Township Board as well as other public and private endeavors dealing with the
physical development of the Township;

4.

A means for private organizations and individuals to determine how they may
relate their building and development projects and policies to official Township
planning policies.

PLAN RELATIONSHIP TO ZONING
The Township Zoning Act, Public Act 184 of 1943 provides that "the provisions of the
zoning ordinance should be based upon a plan designed to promote the public health,
safety and general welfare, to encourage the use of lands in accordance with their
character and adaptability and to limit the improper use of lands." This Comprehensive
Development Plan is adopted to help provide a strong legal basis for the Township
Zoning Ordinance and it contains a Zoning Plan element in Chapter 6 which sets forth
the principal district and use regulations of the Ordinance.
However, adoption of this Plan does not directly control land use. Such control is left to
the Zoning Ordinance (including the zoning map), to land division and subdivision
regulations, and to other local ordinances. Plan implementation is made with final
decisions on rezonings, special use permits, site plan and plat approvals as well as by
the expenditure of Township funds on various capital improvements.
UPDATING THE PLAN
Because of the constant change in our social and economic structure and activities, the
Plan must be maintained through periodic review and revision so that it reflects
contemporary trends while maintaining long range goals. By law, this Plan will be
reviewed by the Township Planning Commission every five years, and if necessary,
updated. If circumstances warranting a change to the Plan come up before the five-year
review, then this Plan would be changed. Changes may be necessary because the Plan

DeWitt Township Comprehensive Development Plan - 2005
1-3

�is based upon present goals, knowledge and technology and these change through time.
The Plan will be effective to the degree that it continues to:
• reflect the needs and desires of the people;
• realistically interpret the existing conditions, trends and the dynamic economic
and social pressures for change; and
• inspire cooperation among the various public agencies, developers, and the
citizens of the Township toward achieving common goals.
PUBLIC INPUT
This Plan was prepared as the result of a public process which examined existing
conditions, public input on a vision of what the community should be like in twenty years,
analysis of key issues identified by the public, consultation with adjoining units of local
government and other governmental agencies and consensus among the Planning
Commission and Township Board on specific elements in the Plan. A leadership survey
was conducted in the late spring of 2004 and public input was solicited at two Visioning
Town Meetings on June 17, and June 29, 2004, and at a Town Meeting on May 19,
2005. A public hearing was also held prior to Plan adoption.
OVERVIEW OF CHAPTERS
This Comprehensive Development Plan has seven chapters. The second chapter
presents a wide range of background information on existing conditions and trends. It
summarizes recent demographic and economic characteristics; presents data and maps
describing current conditions related to the land and buildings in the Township; and
summarizes basic characteristics of the infrastructure and public services available in
the Township. The third chapter presents a vision statement, goals and policies for
guiding future land use and infrastructure change in the Township. The fourth chapter
presents a future land use map and text describing the existing character of various
parts of the Township and proposed land use in each area. The fifth chapter presents a
zoning plan to guide future revisions to the Township Zoning Ordinance. The sixth
chapter describes the essential parts of the growth management strategy. The last
chapter lists a set of actions that should be taken to implement this Plan.

DeWitt Township Comprehensive Development Plan - 2005
1-4

�Chapter 2
SUMMARY OF EXISTING CONDITIONS AND TRENDS
INTRODUCTION
This chapter describes conditions as they exist in DeWitt Township as of the summer of 2004 or
as of the date of the mapping or inventories on which they were based. The discussion looks at
population trends, socio-economic data, natural and cultural features, transportation conditions,
the use of the land and the capacity of the land for various purposes.
DEMOGRAPHICS
Total Population
The population of DeWitt Township increased by 2,105 persons between 1980 and 2000 to
12,143, according to the US Census. See Table 2-1. This represents a 21% change during that
time period. Within the same period, the City of DeWitt grew by 1,537 persons, increasing from
3,165 to 4,702 persons. This continual growth is representative of Clinton County as a whole.
During the same period the County grew from 55,893 persons to 64,753 persons.
The rate of population increase in DeWitt Township is, however, accelerating at a faster rate
than either Clinton County or the region as a whole. Between 1990 and 2000, DeWitt Township
experienced a 16% increase in population, while Clinton County experienced a 12% increase,
and the Tri-County region experienced a 3% increase. As of the beginning of 2004, the
Township population was estimated to be 13,769 persons.
Table 2-1
Population of DeWitt Township and Surrounding Region, 1980-2000

Community
DeWitt Township
DeWitt City
Bath Township
Olive Township
Watertown Twp.
Clinton County
Tri-County Region

1980
10,038
3,165
5,745
2,111
3,602
55,893
419,750

1990
10,448
3,964
6,387
2,122
3,731
57,883
432,674

2000
12,143
4,702
7,541
2,322
4,162
64,753
447,728

Total
Change
19802000
2,105
1,537
1,796
211
560
8,860
27,978

%
Change
19802000
21%
49%
31%
10%
16%
16%
7%

Total
Change
19902000
1,695
738
1,154
200
431
6,870
15,054

%
Change
19902000
16%
19%
18%
9%
12%
12%
3%

Source: US Census Bureau

If current growth trends continue, the population of DeWitt Township could increase by 2,104
persons, or 17% between 2000 and 2020, based on the 2000 Census figures. See Table 2-2.
The City of DeWitt is likely to see an increase of 1,536 persons during the same period.
Countywide, Clinton County should see a population increase of 8,860 persons, or 14% over
the next 20 years. However, there are many reasons this growth rate could greatly accelerate if
the trend from 2000 to 2004 were to continue. Based on the 2004 estimate of the Township
population (13,769), DeWitt Township could potentially add 8,128 persons, an increase of 67%,

DeWitt Township Comprehensive Development Plan - 2005
2-1

�by 2020. See Table 2-3. There is considerable vacant land in the Township with access to
public sewer and water that is ripe for redevelopment.
Table 2-2
Population Projection for DeWitt Township, 1980-2020:
Based on 2000 Census

Community
DeWitt
Township
DeWitt
City
Clinton
County
Tri-County
Region

Total
Change
2000-2020

% Change
2000-2020

1980

1990

2000

2010

2020

10,038

10,448

12,143

13,195

14,247

2,104

17%

3,165

3,964

4,702

5,470

6,238

1,536

33%

55,893

57,883

64,753

69,183

73,613

8,860

14%

419,750

432,674

447,728

457,054

469,488

21,760

5%

Source: US Census Bureau. Projections by Planning &amp; Zoning Center, Inc. based on Linear Growth Method.

Table 2-3
Population Projection for DeWitt Township, 1980-2020:
Based on 2004 Estimated Population
Community
DeWitt
Township

2000

I

12,143

2005

I

14,175

2010

I

16,207

2015

I

18,239

2020

I

20,271

I

Total
Change
2000-2020

% Change
2000-2020

8,128

67%

The portion of the County growth that takes place within DeWitt Township depends on a variety
of factors. These factors include lifestyle, commuting habits, economic influences, housing
availability and more. Many of these factors are outside of the Township’s control, and others
may only be marginally influenced by actions of the community. However, it is likely that for at
least the next decade, most of the population growth in the County will occur in DeWitt
Township.
Age and Gender
DeWitt Township is quite balanced between males and females. See Figure 2-1. Males
represent 5,959 or 49.1% of the Township population while females represent 6,184, or 50.9%.
The median age for DeWitt Township in 1990 was 34.8 and for Clinton County it was 32.3
years. By the year 2000, the median age for DeWitt Township increased to 38.2 years and for
Clinton County it increased to 36.7 years. The largest segment of the population falls within the
35 to 44 age range, closely followed by those between the ages of 45 to 54 years. This is
largely the baby boomer generation, which is comprised of persons that were born between
1946 and 1964. As the baby boomers move into their fifties and sixties in the next decade and
their sixties and seventies in the following decade, there will be a significant increase in the
already expanding elderly population.
There is also a high proportion of people 17 years or under in DeWitt Township and nearly as
many 55 years and older, which suggests that, in addition to providing more services for the
elderly within the community, the Township may also need to target more services toward

DeWitt Township Comprehensive Development Plan - 2005
2-2

�younger residents (such as park and recreation areas). There are numerous implications
associated with planning for an aging citizenry. The most obvious include improved emergency
services and availability of health facilities, as well as a broad range of housing options suited to
elderly needs.
There are very few 18-24 year olds in the Township. This information suggests that few persons
this age stay after high school graduation. That means few young workers, college students,
young singles or young married couples live in the Township.

Figure 2-1
DeWitt Township Population by Age and Gender
65 and over
55 to 64 years

Age Range

45 to 54 years
35 to 44 years

Females
Males

25 to 34 years
18 to 24 years
10 to 17 years
Under 10
1500

1000

500

0

500

1000

1500

Number of Persons in DeWitt Township
Source: US Census Bureau, Census 2000.

HOUSING CONDITIONS AND TRENDS
Households
Between 1980 and 2000, the number of households in DeWitt Township increased by 1,238, or
34%. See Table 2-4. Clinton County as a whole added 5,185 new households during that time
period, an increase of 28%.

DeWitt Township Comprehensive Development Plan - 2005
2-3

�Table 2-4
Households in DeWitt Township, 1980-2000

Community
DeWitt
Township
DeWitt
City
Clinton
County

1980

1990

2000

Total Change
1980-2000

% Change
1980-2000

3,601

4,192

4,839

1,238

34%

1,029

1,347

1,624

595

58%

18,468

20,212

23,653

5,185

28%

Source: US Census Bureau

Between 1990 and 2000, the Township added 647 households, a 15.4% increase, while Clinton
County added 3,441 additional households, an increase of 17%. In recent decades, the number
of households has steadily risen due to new family formation, families splitting into two
households because of divorce, people waiting until they are older to get married, and people
living longer after losing a spouse. If the rate of change from 1980-2000 in the number of
households continues, there could be 1,238 more households by 2020, an increase of 26%.
See Table 2-5.
Table 2-5
Households in DeWitt Township, 1980-2020

Community
DeWitt
Township
DeWitt
City
Clinton
County

1980

1990

2000

2010

2020

Total
Change
20002020

%
Change
20002020

3,601

4,192

4,839

5,458

6,077

1,238

26%

1,029

1,347

1,624

1,921

2,218

594

37%

18,468

20,212

23,653

26,245

28,837

5,184

22%

Source: US Census Bureau. Projections by Planning &amp; Zoning Center, Inc. based on Linear Growth Method

83.5% of the occupied housing units in DeWitt Township are owner-occupied and 16.5% are
renter-occupied. Countywide, 85.3% of the occupied housing units are owner-occupied and
14.7% are renter-occupied. Most households within the Township are occupied by families
(71%) as opposed to householders that live alone (23%). Households with individuals 65 years
and over account for 21.6% of all households, while households with individuals under 18 years
account for 34%. The average family size is 2.94 persons while the average household size is
2.49 persons, a 10.8% decrease from 1980, when the average household size was 2.79. See
Table 2-6. In Clinton County, the average family size is larger at 3.12 persons, while the
average household size is 2.70.

DeWitt Township Comprehensive Development Plan - 2005
2-4

�Table 2-6
Average Household Size, 1980-2000

Community
DeWitt
Township
DeWitt
City
Clinton
County

1980

1990

2000

Total Change
1980-2000

% Change
1980-2000

2.79

2.58

2.49

-0.30

-10.8%

3.07

3.03

2.89

-0.18

-5.9%

3.03

2.85

2.70

-0.33

-10.9%

Source: US Census Bureau

Building Permits Issued
The Township gained 845 new residential units from 2000 to 2003. See Table 2-7.
Approximately 59% of all new residential units were single family homes as there were 499
building permits issued for new single family homes during that time period. As of July 2004, 73
residential building permits had been issued. In 2000, there was an apartment complex with 144
units developed and in 2001, a permit was issued to a development with 92 units. Between
2000 and 2003, 90 building permits were issued for commercial developments.
Table 2-7
Building Permits Issued and Demolitions, 2000-2004 YTD*
Year

2000
Dwelling DemoUnits
litions

2001
Dwelling DemoUnits
litions

2002
Dwelling DemoUnits)
litions

2003
Dwelling DemoUnits
litions

2004
Dwelling DemoUnits
litions

Total Res.
Permits

288

1

232

6

154

4

171

2

73

2

New SF Res.
MF 2 Res.
MF 3+ Res.
Mod. Homes
MH in MHP
Commercial
Industrial
Institutional

118
2
144
1
23
26
0
0

1
0
0
0
0
1
0
1

102
0
92
7
31
25
0
2

5
0
1
0
0
1
0
1

127
0
0
7
20
21
0
4

4
0
0
0
0
0
0
0

152
4
0
4
9
18
0
7

2
0
0
0
0
0
0
0

71
0
0
0
2
7
0
2

2
0
0
0
0
1
0
1

* Permits issued through July 2004.

Housing Values
The median price of a home within DeWitt Township in the year 2000 was $125,300; a number
4% higher than Clinton County at $120,500. Figure 2-2 illustrates median housing value in
various suburbs around Lansing. Meridian Township was the highest at $165,600, next was
Williamstown Township at $152,400 and then Delta Township at $133,800.

DeWitt Township Comprehensive Development Plan - 2005
2-5

�Figure 2-2
Year 2000 Median Housing Values, Lansing Metro Area

Clinton County

Delhi Township

DeWitt Township

Delta Township

City of DeWitt

Williamstown Township

Meridan Township
$0

$20,000

$40,000

$60,000

$80,000

$100,000

$120,000

$140,000

$160,000

$180,000

Source: US Census Bureau, Census 2000

EDUCATION
Educational attainment provides insight into potential work force development with a community
and the desire of out of area companies to locate within or near the community. DeWitt
Township has a fairly well educated citizenry. See Table 2-8. Of people 25 years and over,
about 28% graduated from high school or have a high school equivalency and over 42% have a
college education or at least some college. DeWitt Township has a smaller percentage with less
than a high school diploma compared to the average for the whole state of Michigan, and more
with a college education or some post-high school education.
Table 2-8
Educational Attainment in DeWitt Township and Surrounding Region
Percent of Population 25 Years and Over
Community

DeWitt
Township
DeWitt
City
Clinton
County
Tri-County
Region
State of
Michigan

Less than
High
School

High
School
(inc. HS
equiv.)

Some
College

Associate’s
Degree

Bachelor’s
Degree

Graduate/
Professional
Degree

11.9%

28.1%

26.4%

9.0%

15.9%

8.7%

3.6%

20.6%

28.5%

10.0%

22.7%

14.6%

10.8%

32.9%

26.2%

8.9%

13.8%

7.4%

11.3%

26.6%

25.6%

8.1%

16.9%

11.5%

16.5%

31.3%

23.3%

7.0%

13.7%

8.1%

Source: US Census Bureau, Census 2000

DeWitt Township Comprehensive Development Plan - 2005
2-6

�ECONOMY
Employment
In 2004, the year-to-date labor force in DeWitt Township is estimated at 7,075, up 100 persons
from 2002, and the unemployment rate is 4.4%, up .5% from 2003. See Table 2-9.
Unemployment within DeWitt Township parallels that of Clinton County and is slightly below
state and national levels. The national unemployment rate has held steady at about 5.7% since
December 2003. In contrast, those employed that live in the city of DeWitt have done better as
the city has an extremely low unemployment rate of 1.6%.
Table 2-9
DeWitt Township Labor Force, Employment and Unemployment

Commun
ity

2002
Labor
Force

2002
Annual
Average
Unemployment Rate

2003
Labor
Force

2003
Annual
Average
Employment

DeWitt
6,975
3.0%
7,025
6,750
Township
DeWitt
2,450
1.1%
2,475
2,425
City
Clinton
36,025
3.2%
36,350
34,850
County
State of
5,039,000
6.2%
5,054,000
4,695,000
Michigan
Source: MDCD/ESA/OLMI, Labor Market Analysis Section

2003
Annual
Average
Unemployment

2003
Annual
Average
Unemployment Rate

2004 Year
to Date
Average
Employment

2004 Year
to Date
Average
Unemployment

2004 Year
to Date
Average
Unemployment Rate

275

3.9%

6,775

300

4.4%

25

1.4%

2,450

50

1.6%

1,500

4.1%

35,075

1,700

4.6%

358,000

7.1%

4,719,000

360,000

7.1%

In 2000, the employed civilian population 16 years of age and over in DeWitt Township was
6,133 persons, with over 35% employed in management, professional, and related occupations.
Educational and health and social services industries account for over 19% of employment,
followed by manufacturing at 12.8%, and retail trade, which employs 11%. See Table 2-10.
Employment figures for Clinton County categorized by sector are shown in Table 2-11.
Construction, transportation and public utilities, and services experienced substantial job growth
within the County between 1997 and 2000. Over 12% of Township residents were employed
within the public administration category, most likely due to the proximity of DeWitt to state
government.

DeWitt Township Comprehensive Development Plan - 2005
2-7

�Table 2-10
DeWitt Township Employment by Industry 2000
Number
Employed

Classification
Agriculture service, forestry, fishing,
hunting, and mining
Construction
Manufacturing
Transportation and warehousing &amp; Public
Utilities
Wholesale Trade
Retail Trade
Finance, Insurance, Real Estate, and
Rental and Leasing
Professional, scientific, management,
administrative, and waste management
services
Educational, health and social services
Arts, entertainment, recreation,
accommodation and food services
Other Services (except public
administration)
Public Administration
Total

Percent
31

0.5%

382
785

6.2%
12.8%

270

4.4%

162
673

2.6%
11.0%

553

9.0%

582

9.5%

1,186

19.3%

288

4.7%

384

6.3%

741
6,037

12.1%

Source: US Census Bureau, Census 2000

Table 2-11
Employment by Industry, Clinton County 1997-2000

Classification

1997

1998

1999

2000

Private
Agriculture service, forestry,
fishing, and other
Mining
Construction
Manufacturing
Transportation &amp; Public
Utilities
Wholesale Trade
Retail Trade
Finance, Insurance, and Real
Estate
Services
Government and Government
Enterprises
Federal, civilian
Military
State and Local
Total Employment

17,303

18,319

18,731

19,035

Total
Change
19972000
1,732

396

405

426

407

11

2.8%

83
1,692
2,849

80
1,706
2,858

76
1,818
3,018

N/A
1,932
3,107

N/A
240
258

N/A
14.2%
9.1%

508

577

656

627

119

23.4%

882
4,137

927
4,036

940
4,007

986
3,980

104
-157

11.8%
-3.8%

1,112

1,485

1,634

N/A

N/A

N/A

5,644

6,245

6,156

6,231

587

10.4%

2,530

2,531

2,585

2,675

145

5.7%

233
444
1,853
39,666

295
431
1,805
41,700

311
414
1,860
42,632

326
410
1,939
41,655

93
-34
86
1,989

39.9%
-7.7%
4.6%
5.0%

Source: Michigan Economic Development Corporation

DeWitt Township Comprehensive Development Plan - 2005
2-8

%
Change
19972000
10.0%

�Income
In 2000, the average household income in DeWitt Township was $49,782. This was 11.45%
higher than the Michigan average of $44,667. See Table 2-12 for the percent of households with
income at different levels in DeWitt Township and the state of Michigan in 2000.
Table 2-12
Income Distribution in DeWitt Township and Surrounding Area

Community
DeWitt
Township
DeWitt
City
Clinton
County
State of
Michigan

Percent of Households
$35,000
$50,000 $75,000
to
to
to
$49,999
$74,999 $99,999

Less
than
$10,000

$10,000
to
$14,999

$15,000
to
$24,999

$25,000
to
$34,999

$100,000
to
$149,999

$150,000
to
$199,999

$200,000
or
more

4.0%

4.8%

11.7%

12.1%

17.5%

19.9%

15.6%

10.4%

2.3%

1.6%

4.5%

2.8%

5.0%

13.1%

13.1%

23.7%

21.4%

19.0%

3.2%

2.0%

4.0%

3.9%

10.1%

11.5%

16.7%

25.2%

15.7%

9.5%

1.9%

1.6%

8.3%

5.8%

12.4%

12.4%

16.5%

20.5%

11.4%

8.6%

2.1%

2.0%

Source: US Census Bureau, Census 2000

According to the U.S. Census in 2000, there were 105 families with children under 18 years of
age below the poverty level in DeWitt Township, or 6.8% of 1,554 families with children under
18 years of age. See Table 2-13. Of 278 families with a female householder and no husband
present, with children under 18 years of age, 65 families, or 23.4% are below the poverty level.
Table 2-13
Poverty Levels in DeWitt Township and Surrounding Area
Families with related children under 18
years
Community

DeWitt Township
DeWitt City
Clinton County

All Income
Levels

Below
Poverty
Level

1,554
820
8,854

105
42
468

Percent
Below
Poverty
Level
6.8%
5.1%
5.3%

Families with female householder, no
husband present, related children
under 18 years
Percent
Below
All Income
Below
Poverty
Levels
Poverty
Level
Level
278
65
23.4%
148
34
23.0%
1,292
299
23.1%

Source: US Census Bureau, Census 2000

Tax Base
State Equalized Value (SEV) is a measure of the value of the tax base of a community. In
Michigan, SEV must equal 50% of true cash value of property. An analysis of the SEV in the
years 1999, 2001, and 2003 of real property in DeWitt Township shows that residential land
values are strong and continue to increase. Commercial and agricultural land values have also
been on the rise, while the value of industrial land has slightly decreased.
Residential land represented 75% of the total SEV in 2003, up 4% from 1999. The total
residential SEV rose 54% between 1999 and 2003. While agricultural SEV rose over $2.2
million in value, it remained only 2% of total SEV. See Table 2-14. In contrast, industrial SEV for
DeWitt Township represented only 1% of the total SEV in 1999 and dropped to .3% in 2003.

DeWitt Township Comprehensive Development Plan - 2005
2-9

�Commercial SEV rose by over $20 million in value between 1999 and 2003, but only increased
by 1% of the total SEV.
Table 2-14
DeWitt Township SEV: 1999, 2001 and 2003
Total Change
1999-2003
$2,225,400

% Change
1999-2003
42%

Total Change
1999-2003
-$29,000

% Change
1999-2003
-2%

Total Change
1999-2003
$23,098,300

% Change
1999-2003
51%

Total Change
1999-2003
$102,411,100

% Change
1999-2003
54%

2003

Total Change
1999-2003

% Change
1999-2003

$390,455,900

$125,036,390

47%

AGRICULTURAL

1999

2001

2003

State Equalized Valuation
Agriculture as % of Total
SEV

$5,260,400

$6,265,000

$7,485,800

2%

2%

2%

INDUSTRIAL

1999

2001

2003

State Equalized Valuation
Industrial as % of Total
SEV

$1,415,900

$1,415,900

$1,386,900

1%

.4%

.3%

COMMERCIAL

1999

2001

2003

State Equalized Valuation
Commercial as % of Total
SEV

$45,358,500

$53,590,600

$68,456,800

17%

17%

18%

RESIDENTIAL

1999

2001

2003

State Equalized Valuation
Residential as % of Total
SEV
TOTAL REAL &amp;
PERSONAL
Total State Equalized
Valuation

$189,406,300

$233,128,700

$291,817,400

71%

73%

75%

1999

2001

$265,419,510

$318,324,240

Source: Michigan Department of Treasury, State Tax Commission

Total real and personal SEV increased by $125,036,390 from 1999-2003, a 47% increase.
About 81% of this increase came exclusively from the residential sector.
The residential sector will continue to represent the largest amount of the total real and personal
SEV for DeWitt Township in the coming years. See Table 2-15. If current trends continue, the
total real and personal SEV for DeWitt Township is expected to rise from $390,455,900 in 2003
to $432,999,800 in 2005 and $497,594,500 by 2007, a 27% increase. Approximately 91% of this
projected increase will come from the residential sector.

DeWitt Township Comprehensive Development Plan - 2005
2-10

�Table 2-15
DeWitt Township Projected SEV: 2005 and 2007

AGRICULTURAL
State Equalized
Valuation
Agriculture as %
of Total SEV
INDUSTRIAL
State Equalized
Valuation
Industrial as % of
Total SEV
COMMERCIAL
State Equalized
Valuation
Commercial as %
of Total SEV
RESIDENTIAL
State Equalized
Valuation
Residential as %
of Total SEV
TOTAL REAL &amp;
PERSONAL

1999

2001

2003

2005

2007

Total Change
2003-2007

% Change
2003-2007

$5,260,400

$6,265,000

$7,485,800

$8,598,500

$10,453,000

$2,967,200

40%

2%

2%

2%

2%

2%

1999

2001

2003

2005

2007

Total Change
2003-2007

Total Change
2003-2007

$1,415,900

$1,415,900

$1,386,900

$1,372,400

$1,357,900

-$29,000

-2%

1%

.4%

.3%

.3%

.3%

1999

2001

2003

2005

2007

Total Change
2003-2007

Total Change
2003-2007

$45,358,500

$53,590,600

$68,456,800

$80,005,950

$91,555,100

$23,098,300

34%

17%

17%

18%

18%

18%

1999

2001

2003

2005

2007

Total Change
2003-2007

Total Change
2003-2007

$189,406,300

$233,128,700

$291,817,400

$343,022,950

$394,228,500

$102,411,100

35%

71%

73%

75%

79%

79%

1999

2001

2003

2005

2007

Total Change
2003-2007

% Change
2003-2007

Total State
$265,419,510
$318,324,240
$390,455,900
$432,999,800
$497,594,500
$107,138,600
27%
Equalized
Valuation
Source: Michigan Department of Treasury, State Tax Commission; Projections by Planning &amp; Zoning Center, Inc. based on Linear Growth
Method.

NATURAL RESOURCES
Topography and Drainage
The land in DeWitt Township varies from generally flat areas formed of glacial till plains to gently
rolling areas resulting from moraines and outwash areas. Variations in the surface relief in the
Township are generally not pronounced and as a result, the natural drainage network is poorly
developed. To improve drainage, a fairly extensive system of improved county drains has been
developed over the years. Much of the topography in the Township is seen as an asset to
development because slopes are generally less than 5%. DeWitt Township possesses very little
topography too severe for development. The highest point in the Township is approximately 930
feet above sea level and is found in Section 34 in the extreme southeast. The low point in the
Township is at the Looking Glass River as it exits the Township in the northwest, along Airport
Road. At this point, the elevation is approximately 785 feet. From east to west, the fall of the
Looking Glass River is less than 20 feet in six miles. Throughout the Township, the vast
majority of elevations are in the 830 to 870 foot range with local relief seldom varying by more
than 30 feet. See Map 2-1.

DeWitt Township Comprehensive Development Plan - 2005
2-11

�Map 2-1 Topography

Topography
El:,r,o lJlir, (P'..,,. A t tM, S.~

•

rs - uo

- &amp;!J
-

-

!.••• J

7'!11 - BDD

- B1-0

!111 - 8:il)

!2 . 930

- 85

83 • i!JID

_ e.o,. llfio
~

• B60
- B7&lt;1

an - BSD

SIi - BUD
1191. 9ua
9:l • 9·10
91

-~o

9:2 · 9"30

N

t
Charter -fownshi p

IP1anntng Department

140 l W. Herbison :Rd.
OeWi , Ml 48820
(5 17) 669-6:576
S:iutr::..:

!e of Mi,t,iua •
· · ma!'Jm

Ci!nll!rllir Ge&lt;!Qr~ph"'

DeWitt Township Comprehensive Development Plan - 2005
2-12

�All of DeWitt Township lies within the broad Grand River drainage basin. Only the extreme
southern portions of the Township drain directly southward toward the Grand River. The
remainder of the Township is within the watershed of the Looking Glass River, which ultimately
empties into the Grand River far to the west in Ionia County. Map 2-2 shows the four subwatersheds in DeWitt Township.
Photo 2-1
Looking Glass River

Photograph by DeWitt Township Planning Department

The Looking Glass River is the predominant natural drainage feature of the Township. See Map
2-3. The Looking Glass River and the overall drainage network is an invaluable asset from an
environmental standpoint as well as for the visual character that it provides to the community.
The river, which is a remnant glacial drainage way, diagonally traverses the northwest quadrant
and flows from the northeast to the southwest. Its 100-year floodplain lies within the 793 and
806 feet elevations. The width of the floodplain is generally from 800 to 1,000 feet, but is nearly
one mile wide at its extreme in Section 3 where the Remy-Chandler Drain from the south and
the Rouse Drain from the north converge with the Looking Glass River. Other significant low
lying flood-prone areas are located along the Gunderman Lake Drain adjacent to US-27BR
between Northcrest and Clark Roads, and along the Prairie Creek, south of the City of DeWitt.
Map 2-4 illustrates the extent of mapped floodplains in DeWitt Township.

DeWitt Township Comprehensive Development Plan - 2005
2-13

�Photo 2-2
Remy-Chandler Drain

Photograph by Bruce Keilen

Many of the drains, as well as the Looking Glass River, will flood the low lying areas along their
banks in times of heavy rainfall and also during the springtime snowmelt. These flood-prone
areas have several implications for planning, such as consideration in the construction of
structures, the planning and design for new roads, including bridges, culverts, storm drains, and
stormwater retention facilities, and the location of recreational and other open space areas.
Efforts should be made to preserve and maintain the floodplains, the woodlands, and pasture
lands along the streams in a vegetated state. In so doing, the potential long-term adverse
environmental and economic impacts that development of these fragile corridors brings can be
minimized.

DeWitt Township Comprehensive Development Plan - 2005
2-14

�Map 2-2 Watersheds

Watersheds.

IM;ap
. .I V Looid

~a'ferac.lT!ed!i

D

n

Glass

Iver

G.r.!ol'ld Rt,,e.Loo'r.1'11,J 0 1896 Ftllrer

-

LOOklng G IB9!1 River ,

-

Remey Chandler Oram

April 27, 2004

Charter-Town ·

Plcann·ng Departmen t

140 1 W. Herbr5on Rd .
DeWitt, t.t l 48820
(517) 669-6578
S a nce : Mlel,ga r:.. por1m ""'
c,1 ~ oru ro l R.,..,.,n,~

DeWitt Township Comprehensive Development Plan - 2005
2-15

�Map 2-3 County Drains in DeWitt Township

Cliinton County
Drain Map

/ \ / c nton oounty Dra ins
Townsh· Boumla ry

D

N

i
March 31 , 2004

Planning Depa rtmttnl
1401 W. H:erbison Rd.

flew·tt, Ml 48820
(517 ) 669-6576
!le&lt;m:e: Clin b:i:i Cconly
Cr~ Corr,m l
n

DeWitt Township Comprehensive Development Plan - 2005
2-16

�Map 2-4 Environmental Limitations and Hazards

,Environmental
L1mitations ,&amp;
IHazardls Map
~ W~llal'lld a-.tl h)-dl ie-M ils O\l . 'la~

Floocillain,

Steep S~ing Soils

LJ Tcwn5ililp ,60unef~
dli)lofe&lt;l ·Ofl lhl!. m&lt;13

r.gr.ipll

t\OQII:

:re for lnW!n mill J)Jrf&gt;OSt!'l; only.

F""°'""

h

&lt;&gt;On$ w
e ~p r&lt;ipriolio
~ t:'/ r Cletl i&lt;i&gt;d 1~11.ilO"lt CII'
envimrwnenfaj lim fbrticas ~ aza-d s.

N

t
April

rn. 2004

DeVVi

C:lhlrter Township

Pl an11ing Department
hl0&lt;1
H,e rbison Rd .

w_

1:1~Wttt, Ml 4882 0
(517) 00Mi57 8
so,,He: Na-:ion• W Uan

ln'&lt;Wlt1;11y,

N.iJb oo .1 15?10C!d s;ur:lil Clit .Pr-=&gt;5r-11Yt
Jun.e 1&amp;, 1•i;-.so, et,,1C&lt;) Oour,fy· G4S ,

Unil;d Sla~ ; l;)ep;irjm en1 cf Aw yl~re

DeWitt Township Comprehensive Development Plan - 2005
2-17

�Surface Waters and Wetlands
The Looking Glass River and its natural and improved tributaries are the predominant water
bodies in the Township. The largest body of water is Lake Geneva and it is located within the
boundaries of the City of DeWitt. There are also a few small ponds within wetland areas, and
several are the result of sand and gravel extraction operations.
Photo 2-3
Wetland in DeWitt Township

Photograph by Mike Nolen

There are numerous wetland areas within the Township and many are found in association with
the floodplain of the Looking Glass River and the other drainage ways. See Map 2-4. Within
DeWitt Township, wetlands are generally comprised of deciduous shrub and grass swamps and
lowland forests. In an effort to maintain the natural drainage network, it is important to protect
the associated floodplains, wetlands, and vegetation from overdevelopment. Protecting
floodplains and wetlands helps prevent flooding, erosion, and pollution problems. Wetlands
provide for water quality improvements, fish and wildlife habitat, flood control, and recreation.
Woodlands
Mature trees found in various portions of the Township are important features of the community.
In some cases there are relatively large tree stands, primarily on undeveloped property. In
other, more developed areas, there are groups of trees, or larger, mature single trees. These
resources contribute to the character of the area and deserve consideration during the
development review process. See “upland forest” on Land Use/Land Cover Map 2-8.

DeWitt Township Comprehensive Development Plan - 2005
2-18

�Photo 2-4
Woodland along DeWitt Township Road

Photograph by Mike Nolen

Soils and Environmental Limitations
Soils in DeWitt Township range from well drained sandy loams to very poorly drained soils
formed in sandy loams, clay loams, and muck. See Soils Map 2-5. Much of the undeveloped
portions of the Township contain soil that is highly productive and very valuable for farming
purposes. These areas are under increasing pressure to develop.

DeWitt Township Comprehensive Development Plan - 2005
2-19

�Map 2-5 DeWitt Township Soils

Soils M,ap
Solt Serie5,
-

Adrian

II

Blount

-

80\,'er
Capac
Gi!!r!I~,

CQhoc:tah
Gett/OM

GOt'unn:a

I Edw:an!t..

Gilford
Granby
H~h.k1tr1
Kibble
Lap~r
Al tte

N

Ma1hertor1

-

Metamor~
Me1ea
Oil ille
Oshtemo

-

a,....os:5,0
Palm~

-

Parkhill

-

Se1iE!'lla
Sel ridge
Sims

-

Sisson
Sloan

-

Sl)ink:s

The'lf-ol'd

=

Wallllill
Wa$13pi
Wa$htelll'3i'f

Ottier

Pian r1ing Uepartmer1t
1401 W . Herbisof! Rd"
D.QWitt, Ml 48820
{517) ,5139&gt;,5576
S.Ouroa. Sall Surv&lt;'}•arel bm Co1nl)&gt;, '-I •
IJ !;. C p;ilfT1nlJn1 .,.!JIQ.Jll ur~ 4117!11

DeWitt Township Comprehensive Development Plan - 2005
2-20

�Map 2-6 Soils with Septic Limitations

S01 ls

with Sep·tic
L·im1itations Map
___, TOW~l'tp 80'1nd$)'
SOil ij

-

S8'"'-"1;1

Mooora1ll
_J Slight

M

I
September 16. 2004

Planning IDepartmenl
1401 W. erbison I
DeWitt, ~I 48620
(54 7) 669•6576
SOIi: ce ll ilea Si.ii~ D!lpa!Vnei'JI
Cl /i.(!(IOIJliue-, Silil Conseri..alion &amp;fl,ce

DeWitt Township Comprehensive Development Plan - 2005
2-21

�Map 2-7 Soils with Basement Limitations

Basement.
L1imitat.ions.
Map

April 16, 2004

DeWi
Cha,rt -

.

r To'i,lll n shlp

Plan ning Departmell'I
14,01 W , Herbi son Rel.
De Witt, MI 4&amp;820

(5,117) 669-&amp;5 6
SOul"Cfl. Cl Lal COun'1y G S,,
U
SIi
~
I

ol""91K1JI ""· 191l

DeWitt Township Comprehensive Development Plan - 2005
2-22

�Map 2-6 depicts soils with septic limitations. In areas with soils unsuitable for septic systems,
individual on-site treatment systems are possible, but require much larger lots and possibly
special engineering for large drainfields and replacement fields. The second drain field to be
built is often needed about 15 to 20 years after the first. On soils with limitations for septic
systems, maintaining an adequate separation distance between the septic system (tank and
drain fields) and the well and those of neighbors usually requires lots at least two acres in size.
Of course, much smaller lots are possible where there is public sewer available. Sites with
septic systems or on-site treatment systems are subject to review by the Mid-Michigan Health
Department and are evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
Map 2-7 depicts soils that have limitations for basements. These soils are unstable and
foundations are more susceptible to cracking and heaving. Greater attention to engineering of
foundations and concrete slabs is necessary in those areas with moderate to severe limitations.
In addition, special drainage may be necessary around the footings to prevent wet basements.
Basements are subject to DeWitt Township Building Department review and are evaluated on a
case-by-case basis. The location of the soil groupings having the most severe on-site septic
system and other developmental limitations is therefore an important consideration in the
Township’s long range development plans.
LAND COVER AND LAND USE
Land cover is a description of the presence or absence of vegetation and if present, the type of
vegetation and if not, the type of land use. Types of vegetation could include agriculture, upland
forest, lowland forest, pastures or meadows and others. Non-vegetative cover types include
developed areas (commercial, residential, industrial), gravel pits, etc.
Photo 2-5
Agriculture in DeWitt Township

Photograph by Bruce Keilen

DeWitt Township Comprehensive Development Plan - 2005
2-23

�Map 2-8 depicts land use and land cover in the Township in 1999. The land cover type with the
most extensive, continuous area was active agricultural land. Agriculture occupied much of the
northeast and parts of the northwest and southwest portions of the Township and extended into
neighboring jurisdictions. The total land area of DeWitt Township, excluding the City of DeWitt,
the City of East Lansing and areas subject to PA 425 agreements, is approximately 19,880
acres. Of this total area, more than 6,834 acres, or about 34.4% of the Township area has been
developed (residential, commercial/institutional, industrial, infrastructure and recreational),
based on the information shown in Map 2-8. In total, 37.7% of the land in the Township was in
agricultural use in 1999. Residential accounted for 21.7% of the land in 1999, commercial 2.8%,
and industrial 0.3%. See Table 2-16.
Upland fields and forests are scattered in nearly all areas of the Township but are more
numerous and extensive in the central portion.
Photo 2-6
Woodland in DeWitt Township

Photograph by Stephen Gobbo

Table 2-16
Land Cover/Land Use in DeWitt Township, 1999
Land Use/Cover
Categories
Agriculture
Residential
Commercial/Institutional
Industrial
Infrastructure
Recreational
Extractive
Upland Field
Upland Forest
Wetlands
Open Water
Total

Number of Acres

% of Total

7,504
4,315
557
61
1,877
25
364
2,229
1,966
859
124
19,880

37.7%
21.7%
2.8%
0.3%
9.4%
0.1%
1.8%
11.1%
9.9%
4.3%
0.6%
100%

Source: DeWitt Township Planning Department.

DeWitt Township Comprehensive Development Plan - 2005
2-24

�Map 2-8 Land Use/Land Cover, 1999 Data

Land Use/
1

Land Cover
:M,ap
ltM
rufol
~1111:iil r
I

•

~··
d

ililr_1?~

N

I
June 9, 2004

Ch...arter-Townshi,p

Ianni

r1ment

1401
son R:d .
De.WU, Ml 48820
(5 17) 669°657 S
Sa.Jno..,

F'I

DeWitt Township Comprehensive Development Plan - 2005
2-25

n-(:ou y lbeg&lt;?n.al
~ CO!flrnl~~oo
1!1!;1l(t•la

�Map 2-9 Land Use by Tax Class

Land Use By
Tax. ,Cllass
Ma.p

June 9. 2004

Planning Department
t401 W _:Herbl~on R.d .
D@Witt, Ml 48820
{5 17) 669-6576
S.C.Jrc,,,_ D!!WiltC a~Jo-M'l~hlp,

""~;$$"~ o~-~1

DeWitt Township Comprehensive Development Plan - 2005
2-26

�LAND USE BY TAX CLASS
Map 2-9 shows land use by the classifications used by the tax assessor. The tax classifications
include agricultural, residential, commercial, industrial, developmental and exempt (publicly
owned or other lands not required to pay property taxes, such as federal, state, county and
Township-owned lands). This information is different than that in Map 2-8, Land Use/Cover, in
that it depicts land use by tax class with a parcel map as the basis. Not all of a parcel may
presently be used by the tax class indicated. The two maps together provide a good description
of how land is presently used and the present extent of that use.
Agriculture
Map 2-8 illustrates land in agricultural use in 1999. Most of this land has been in agricultural
production for more than 100 years. Prime farmlands are naturally endowed with the soil quality,
growing season, and moisture content necessary to sustain high crop yields under average
farming practices. “Unique” farmlands are those areas that because of their peculiar properties
are highly suitable for the production of certain specialty crops. In DeWitt Township, the muck
lands that are located in the southeast area are considered unique because of their ability to
support truck farming. Truck farming is growing fruits and vegetables for market, to sell to
individuals or to supermarkets and grocery stores. The term truck farming originated when
growers began transporting their produce by truck to cities and other places to be sold. The
majority of local prime agriculture lands are located in the eastern third of the Township.
Agricultural products produced in DeWitt Township include cash crops, truck crops, and
livestock.
Photo 2-7
Sod Farming on “Unique Farmland” in DeWitt Township

-------

Photograph by Bruce Keilen

DeWitt Township Comprehensive Development Plan - 2005
2-27

�Where there are large blocks of farmland, farmers have often taken action to protect the
farmland from conversion to another use through enrollment of the land in either the state PA
116 (Farmland and Open Space Preservation Program) or the state PDR program. Under the
PA 116 program, land owners have agreed to relinquish their non-farm development rights for
periods in excess of ten years in exchange for State Income Tax credits and exemptions from
certain special assessments. About 838 acres have been permanently protected by purchase of
development rights through the state PDR program. The high participation by farmers in the
eastern portion of the Township in these programs has helped to prevent otherwise expected
parcel fragmentation and rural housing development in this area. Many of the PA 116 parcels
can be expected to come out of the program within the next five years. Should this occur and
other measures to preserve farmland are not taken, the eventual fragmentation of many large
parcels into smaller lots to support rural residential development can be expected. If allowed to
occur, this could result in the loss of significant areas of prime farmland. Properties enrolled in
the PA 116 program are predominately located in the northeast quadrant of the Township, east
of US-127 and north of I-69. A smaller number of parcels are enrolled in the program in the
southeast corner of the township, east of US-127 and south of I-69. Map 2-10 illustrates these
lands. A number on a parcel indicates the year a PA 116 contract expires. If not renewed, this is
often an early indicator that the land may soon become available for development.
Other agricultural areas within the Township include the northwest corner of the Township along
Airport Road, between Howe Road and Cutler Road, and south of I-69, near Stoll Road and
DeWitt Road. There are also a small number of agricultural parcels scattered throughout the
remaining parts of the Township.

DeWitt Township Comprehensive Development Plan - 2005
2-28

�Map 2-10 Agricultural Preservation Map

Ag rii cu l tu ra II
Preserva·t1on
Map
Ill Pio
-

ellies I fhe PDR Program
Pro;pedies in the Pa 116 Program
ow11~

Doun&lt;I I)'

N

August 3. 20

fllannt gi l)epartmenl
14•01 W . lrl'erbison IR.d.
DeWiU. MI 48820

(5 71'669'-6576
&amp;,,,l(,e.-

DeWitt Township Comprehensive Development Plan - 2005
2-29

Mteh•OAft i,partm&lt;l'II
clA;rlcullur&lt;t

�Residential Land Use
In the more rural areas of the Township, residential development has come in the form of singlefamily homes on large, wooded tracts of land and on farmsteads. Much of this rural residential
development is in the north-central portion of the Township along Wood Road, from Webb Road
to Round Lake Road. Most of this land is zoned Agricultural and the minimum lot size in the
Agricultural zoning district is one acre.
Photo 2-8
Residential Subdivision in DeWitt Township

Photograph by DeWitt Township Planning Department

Residential subdivisions are scattered throughout the Township, with the heaviest
concentrations being located in the center of the Township west of US-27BR, from Interstate 69
north to Dill Road, and in the northeast portion of the Township near the City of DeWitt. Most of
these subdivisions contain single family homes. Residential subdivisions close to the US-27BR
corridor are zoned for both single family and two-family homes. Multi-family residential areas
can also be found in this area and serve as a buffer between the US-27BR commercial strips to
the east and the single and two-family residential to the west. These subdivisions are generally
zoned R3, R4, or R5, with lot sizes ranging from 10,000 to 20,000 square feet.
A large pocket of land in the southern tier of the Township, south of Stoll Road along the US27BR corridor, is currently zoned M-2 Multiple Residential, which has the potential to be
developed at 4.1 to 8 dwelling units per acre. This land is mostly undeveloped.

DeWitt Township Comprehensive Development Plan - 2005
2-30

�Photo 2-9
Apartment Complex in DeWitt Township

Photograph by DeWitt Township Planning Department

Mobile home parks can be found east of Wood Road, between Stoll Road and Coleman Road,
near the US-127 freeway. Another mobile home park can be found near the southern border of
the Township off of Turner Road.
Photo 2-10
Commercial along US-27BR

Photograph by Phyllis Daggy

Commercial
Commercial uses are primarily located along US-27BR. The area near Capital City Airport also
contains significant commercial acreage. Typically, commercial establishments seek out major
streets with high traffic volumes to maximize their visibility and encourage drive-in trade.

DeWitt Township Comprehensive Development Plan - 2005
2-31

�However, when a major street begins to develop commercially, the number of driveways often
proliferates, contributing to traffic congestion and conflicts between through traffic and the
vehicles entering and exiting driveways.
This Plan recognizes that the demands for a wide variety of commercial types of development
are likely to increase within the planning period as more and more residents move into the area.
These demands are most likely to be greatest along the entire length along US-27BR, where
traffic volumes are greatest, and where commercial establishments can take advantage of a
more concentrated consumer market.
Because the existing commercial area along US-27BR south of I-69 is experiencing blight and
there are conflicts between mixed uses, the Township should analyze potential markets for the
area and devise a program to revitalize the area.
Photo 2-11
Crossroads Plaza along US-27BR

Photograph by Phyllis Daggy

US-27BR is the primary commercial corridor within DeWitt Township. There are two distinct
commercial subareas along US-27BR: the portion of US-27BR south of I-69 to the Lansing
border and the portion north of I-69 to Round Lake Road. The southern portion of US-27BR
south of I-69 is older and in need of redevelopment in order to compete with other corridors in
the region. Most of the commercial land use in the southern tier is geared toward community
businesses. Significant vacant land still exists along US-27BR in the southern tier of the
Township.
Local and community businesses, along with shopping center businesses mark the US-27BR
corridor north of I-69. Most of these businesses and centers are newer than those on the
southern portion of US-27BR. The Clark Corner development (formerly the Lansing Factory
Outlet Mall) near the intersection of Clark Road and US-27BR has gone largely underutilized.
Many of the stores within the development are vacant.

DeWitt Township Comprehensive Development Plan - 2005
2-32

�Photo 2-12
Clark Corner (Formerly the Lansing Factory Outlet Mall) on Clark Road

Photograph by Mike Nolen

Office Uses
Office activity in DeWitt Township is primarily located in existing commercial areas, including the
Crown Pointe development on US-27BR, north of State Road, and the Schavey Road shopping
center. New office development is beginning to emerge on properties at the western Township
border along Airport Road, north of the I-69 interchange. Most of the land zoned for office uses
in this area is located on both the north and south sides of Clark Road. These properties are
generally adjacent to local and community-based businesses as well as a few multiple family
residential developments.
Auto-Owners Insurance Company is considering relocating from its current location in Delta
Township, to a new location within DeWitt Township. The proposed site sits along I-69, south of
Clark Road and west of DeWitt Road. The current Auto-Owners home office is located in a
business and residential complex in Delta Township. If the move takes place, a new AutoOwners headquarters would have significant impacts on traffic flow and local road capacities. It
has the potential to attract other commercial and office developments and could bring in a
significant number of new residents who are employed by Auto-Owners.
Industrial
A small number of industrial land uses exist in DeWitt Township. Approximately 61 acres are
used for various industrial activities; however, 396 acres are zoned for industrial uses.
Geographically, industrial activities are not concentrated in one particular area, but rather are
dispersed throughout the community. The largest grouping of industrial uses within the
Township is at the southern border along Wood Road. There is also a small pocket of industry
located south of Clark Road between US-27BR and Boichot Road. There are a small number of
industrial sites scattered about the northern section of the Township. The Capital City Airport
and excellent freeways serving the Township provide significant opportunities for long-term
industrial use.

DeWitt Township Comprehensive Development Plan - 2005
2-33

�Photo 2-13
Industrial Site in DeWitt Township

Photograph by John Warbach

INFRASTRUCTURE
Water Supply
Residents in the Township are provided with municipal water through the distribution system of
the Lansing Board of Water and Light (BWL). In recent years, a major extension of the water
distribution system along Herbison Road, easterly to US-27BR has occurred. This extension
allows service to reach a large number of new residential and commercial customers as well as
several areas of existing developments. Because the remainder of the Township presently must
rely on private wells, additional extensions of the municipal water system are expected to occur
over time but are very much subject to cost feasibility. See Map 2-11.

DeWitt Township Comprehensive Development Plan - 2005
2-34

�Map 2-11 Public Water System

Water Map
Water Legerid

N. 6" &amp; 8"

w~•ar ine

~
W' &amp; 12" Waler Line
~
16" Water Line
W ,301• Water Lin@

L] Tmvnshlp Bounda ry

N

t
Ap ·11 6, 2004

Pl:i nnrng Depa limenl
·1140 W. Herbison Rd.
DeWitt , Ml 48820
(5 7) 669-6 576
Source . Lan8ing Boaid 61"Wat.., &amp; LIQ!II

DeWitt Township Comprehensive Development Plan - 2005
2-35

�Map 2-12 Public Sewer System

Sanitary

Sewe-r Map

N

April 14, 2005

Ch l"l;el"T

nning oeparunen
1401 w. Heroison RO.
DeWitt, MI 4-8820
(S'17) 689-657,6
S.Oufl:e: ,$c;,ulkm Clht.oro Co1;nly !u_niel~i
U "li1i~ A/JU)Orit; (SCCl~U.A)

t.a..i... Tt,i!i 111 '!Ji do ·

Olh!tr ,n:n D.Wli I Tct,.,,•h ip.

~ , tiif
~

~IIO'M&gt; - r

·nsihr.at~ O'Miied b:, ffU'licipa..l ilie&amp;

L,

·re """""'

.....

Jl,.ppl k:ar«.
l!d l;o verif
i:J l!l'la
&lt;1ep1h" ,,,;Iii .sccr-1 . A.

«•~..- m&gt;in ~~• • •

DeWitt Township Comprehensive Development Plan - 2005
2-36

u_,

�Wastewater Treatment
DeWitt Township along with the City of DeWitt, Watertown and Bath Townships are part of the
Southern Clinton County Municipal Utilities Authority (SCCMUA). The wastewater treatment
plant is located on Herbison Road just west of Schavey Road. It has a maximum capacity of 5
million gallons per day, and is currently operating at one-fifth of its total capacity. SCCMUA
discharges into the Looking Glass River and maintains a current National Pollutant Discharge
Elimination System (NPDES) permit. Its capacity is shared by the four municipalities it serves.
SCCMUA is governed by a ten member Board of Commissioners comprised as follows: two
representatives from Bath Township, two representatives from Watertown Township, one
representative from the City of DeWitt and five representatives from DeWitt Township.
SCCMUA also operates and maintains the wastewater collection systems, including the 42 lift
stations, numerous manholes, over 30 miles of force main, and sewer collection pipes (greater
than 200 miles of various line size) for the four municipalities. At the present time, sanitary
sewer lines serve much of the development in the Township south of the Looking Glass River
and west of US-127. See Map 2-12.
Photo 2-14
Wastewater Treatment Plant

Photograph by SCCMUA

COMMUNITY FACILITIES AND SERVICES
Township Hall
The DeWitt Township Hall was constructed at its 1401 W. Herbison Road location in 2000. The
Township Hall houses the Township’s administrative offices as well as the Board Room, where
board meetings, public hearings, and planning commission meetings take place. The Township
Hall and the public facilities in the following sections are located as illustrated on Map 2-13
entitled “Publicly Owned Land.”

DeWitt Township Comprehensive Development Plan - 2005
2-37

�Photo 2-15
DeWitt Township Hall

Photograph by DeWitt Township Planning Department

Public Safety
The DeWitt Charter Township Police Department provides police services to residents and
businesses on a full-time basis. The Department is comprised of a Chief of Police, a Lieutenant,
two Sergeants, and ten Patrol Officers, including two K-9 teams. The administrative staff
provides professional office support to these sworn personnel. The Chief of Police oversees all
aspects of the Police Department operation both directly and through the Command staff.
Photo 2-16
DeWitt Township Police Station

Photograph by DeWitt Township Planning Department

DeWitt Township Comprehensive Development Plan - 2005
2-38

�Map 2-13 Publicly Owned Land

Publlicly Owned

Landi
u~ila t..,oo
Dll,W;tt Chill'! TO'M116 hlll
•Oilf al DeWitt
•City tlf i.;ar11ir(i
1·· htoncw ,ii,
De-\WlPubli Libra'1'
DeWitt Public Sci'lools.
l..a~ll!J Public i;hooll;
Cap,~ R,,giDII Airport "'.J.Jlticfil'I

-I

,.tc higan Dl!pl &lt;1f \1;;1. .l!n ~ril:I Milit;, - Mai,,

i, lllgan Department or Traml)!)f"iEtlara
i'"&lt;,dcr,,i Av i;alim, Adlrin i•lr~ion

N

t
May 241, 2005

Ple.nni g Dep.arune11t

1401 W. erbisolil Rd.
DeWitt, Ml 48820
(frl 7 ) 669.16576

:5o-Jn;o- D-eWitl cri,,n~r Tawn~ip

A:i•,~''"11 Olli

DeWitt Township Comprehensive Development Plan - 2005
2-39

.

�Fire Department
Established in 1962, the Township Fire Department operates out of two stations. Station 1 is
located at 1080 East Wieland Road. Station 2, which houses the Administrative offices, is
located at 1445 West Herbison Road in the Township (adjacent to the Township Hall).
Department staff is comprised of a full-time Chief, a full-time Firefighter, a part-time Fire
Marshal, a part-time secretary, 30 paid-on-call firefighters, and two paid-on-call administrative
support staff. The Department provides the following services: fire suppression, fire prevention,
medical first responder care, vehicle extrication for vehicle accidents, carbon monoxide alarm,
public education and other fire related incident responses. The Fire Department also provides
mutual aid assistance to neighboring communities. Township firefighters respond to more than
1,000 calls a year for assistance.
Photo 2-17
Herbison Road Fire Station

Photograph by DeWitt Township Planning Department

Parks and Recreation
The DeWitt Charter Township park system consists of nine properties, which total approximately
200 acres (as of 2005). The system contains a variety of neighborhood parks/play lots,
community parks and undeveloped property. Community parks are larger than neighborhood
parks and offer a broader range of facilities to a larger service population.

DeWitt Township Comprehensive Development Plan - 2005
2-40

�Photo 2-18
Station House Park

Photograph by DeWitt Township Planning Department

Neighborhood Parks/Play Lots
Coleman Road Park. Granger Waste Management Company donated this 1.3-acre park on
Coleman Road, just off Business Route 27, to the Township. It contains a play structure and
benches for relaxation.
Valley-Turner Park. This 3.4-acre park is located at the intersection of Valley Road and Turner
Road. The site is rich with mature maple and oak trees, providing a beautiful, natural canopy to
enjoy a picnic lunch or read a book. The park includes six swings, climbers, tunnels, and two
picnic tables for the family to enjoy.
Station House Park. Station House Park is located at the Township Hall and Herbison Road Fire
Station property at 1401 W. Herbison Road. The play lot includes a play structure, four swings,
and a picnic table. The play structure complies with the accessibility guidelines of the Americans
with Disabilities Act (ADA). The park also provides barrier free parking and sidewalk access.
Community Parks
Granger Meadows Park. This 75-acre facility is located at Wood and State Roads. The park
has been designed to reflect the agrarian roots of the Township with rolling berms covered in
natural meadow grasses, a small orchard, and buildings utilizing natural materials. The park
features approximately 9,300 feet of paved trails and 4,500 of mulched trails in a mature,
wooded setting. The park also includes three picnic pavilions, a softball diamond, and children’s
play area. There is also an outdoor inline hockey rink, with dasher boards, boxes and a
scoreboard. The park is designed for year-round activities with a 70-foot high sledding hill.
Richard A. Padgett Natural Area. Located on Herbison Road, halfway between Airport and
Schavey Roads, this 70-acre natural area park offers a system of both marked and unmarked
wandering trails. The southern half of the property is dominated by a mature hardwood stand
which includes oaks, cherries and maples. Though barrier free parking and barrier free access

DeWitt Township Comprehensive Development Plan - 2005
2-41

�to the restrooms are available, the trail system itself is a woodchip surface. The facility also
includes picnic tables, grills, and benches on which to rest after a good walk.
Looking Glass Riverfront Park. Along the banks of the Looking Glass River, this 5.2-acre park
offers beautiful access to the meandering river, picnic tables, grills, canoe access, and a river
observation deck. The park has 930 feet of river frontage and includes a gravel parking area.
Riverfront Park is located on Herbison Road, just east of Airport Road.
Valley Farms Park. The 25-acre Valley Farms Park, located at the intersection of Brook Road
and Wieland Road, is the primary active recreation facility in the Township, housing both the
Kramer-Ruthruff Area and the Township Community Center. Valley Farms Park contains
baseball and softball diamonds, basketball courts, sand volleyball courts, horseshoe pits, a play
structure, two multi-purpose soccer/football fields, grills and picnic tables and lighted, paved
barrier free parking. The Kramer-Ruthruff Area is a heavily wooded area, which includes a ninehole disc golf course.
Water’s Edge Park. The Township is currently in the process of acquiring the undeveloped 11
acre property at the corner of Wood and Round Lake Roads. The site features river access and
will likely include a fishing area. Additional uses are to be determined at a later date.
Wood – Webb Park. Located near the intersection of Wood and Webb Roads, this undeveloped
property is currently being maintained in a largely undeveloped state. Commonly referred to as
“Wood – Webb Park,” the property’s future use is to be determined. It is approximately 7.5 acres
in size.
Recreational opportunities in the Township are offered through the DeWitt Area Recreation
Authority (DARA). DARA was formed in 2003 and handles all recreational programming for the
Township and the City of DeWitt.
Cemeteries
There are two public cemeteries in the Township. The Hurd Cemetery, located on DeWitt Road
just north of Stoll Road, has approximately 2,600 gravesites. The Gunnisonville Cemetery, at
the intersection of Wood Road and Clark Road, has about 3,000 gravesites and also has a large
expansion area that is not platted for gravesites.
Community Center
The Township Community Center, located at 16101 Brook Road, is the former Valley Farms
School and also served as the DeWitt Township Hall from 1980 until 2000. After relocating to
the current Township Hall, the Township began a multi-year renovation program to convert the
facility into a Community Center. The facility is the home to the DeWitt Area Recreation
Authority (DARA) office and hosts many of the Authority’s indoor recreation programs. The
facility houses the collection of the Clinton County Genealogical Society and provides a dining
site for the Meals-on-Wheels program through the Tri-County Office on Aging. The Community
Center has meeting and multi-purpose rooms, a gymnasium, and kitchen facilities available for
rent, and also houses a police department substation.

DeWitt Township Comprehensive Development Plan - 2005
2-42

�Photo 2-19
DeWitt Township Community Center

Photograph by DeWitt Township Planning Department

Schools
Public schools are an important part of the community in DeWitt Township. Schools both
educate students and further act as a localized center for community and neighborhood social
and recreational activity. The Township is served by five school districts: DeWitt Public Schools,
the Lansing School District, Bath Community Schools, East Lansing Public Schools and St.
John’s Public Schools. Most school-aged children are served by the DeWitt and Lansing school
districts. Map 2-14 shows the boundaries of the school districts.
DeWitt Public Schools include four elementary schools, one junior high school and one high
school. Elementary schools include the Fuerstenau Early Childhood Center, which serves
preschoolers and kindergartners; Schavey Road Elementary, which houses the first and second
grades; Scott Elementary School, which houses the third and fourth grades; and Herbison
Woods School, serving the fifth and sixth grades. DeWitt Junior High School serves seventh
and eighth graders. DeWitt High School is located on Panther Drive, north of Clark Road, and
serves grades nine through twelve. In 2002-2003, 2,742 students were enrolled in DeWitt Public
Schools.

DeWitt Township Comprehensive Development Plan - 2005
2-43

�Photo 2-20
DeWitt High School

Photograph by DeWitt Township Planning Department

Photo 2-21
DeWitt Junior High School

Photograph by DeWitt Township Planning Department

The Lansing School District has two elementary schools located within the Township:
Gunnisonville Elementary School on Clark Road and the Sheridan School on Sheridan Road.
Otto Middle School serves these students as they age. It is located on East Thomas Street,
between Sheridan Road and Lake Lansing Road along North Larch Street in Lansing. The
Lansing School District as a whole had a headcount enrollment of 17,079 in 2003.

DeWitt Township Comprehensive Development Plan - 2005
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�Photo 2-22
Gunnisonville Elementary School

Photograph by DeWitt Township Planning Department

East Lansing Public Schools (ELPS) consists of six elementary schools, a middle school and a
high school. Like the Lansing School District, enrollment in ELPS has been declining for twenty
years. In 2003, the district had a headcount enrollment of 3,711 students. Elementary students
in the southeast corner of DeWitt Township attend Donley Elementary School on Lake Lansing
Road, while middle school students go to MacDonald Middle School and high school students
go to East Lansing High School.
St. John’s Public Schools (SJPS) consists of six elementary schools, a middle school, and a
high school. It also has an alternative education center. In 2002-2003, SJPS had a headcount
enrollment of 3,358. Only students in about 15 acres on one property in northwest DeWitt
Township attend St. Johns schools.
Bath Community Schools is made up of Bath Elementary School, Bath Middle School and Bath
High School, all located about 2 miles east of the DeWitt/Bath Township line in Bath. In 2003,
the district had a headcount enrollment of 993.

DeWitt Township Comprehensive Development Plan - 2005
2-45

�Map 2-14 School Districts in DeWitt Township

School
Districts
Bath School
District
l~ ~ ~=U._ _._ _lli-l/tlo-- -= = =""""""!!e===il f

l

t

i

A ,School District Boundary

'l '"'J Townshlp Boundary

N

i
February 24, 2005

Planning Department
1401 W . Herbison Rd.
DeWitt, Ml 48820
(5 17) 669-6576

Sou rce : OeWitl Charte r Township

Assessing Department

East Lansing School Distric

DeWitt Township Comprehensive Development Plan - 2005
2-46

�TRANSPORTATION
The road system serves as the backbone for growth and development of any community. By
providing a means for internal and external circulation, it serves the community by helping
shape the intensity of land use. Thus, this costly and highly visible element of the community’s
infrastructure is one of the most dynamic features of the community’s on-going development.
Street Classification
The street system serving DeWitt Township can be classified as follows:
• Freeways and Controlled Access Arterials: These facilities perform little or no land
service function but instead are devoted entirely to the task of traffic movement by
providing for large volumes of traffic at relatively high speeds. It is characterized by
limited access, multi-lane, divided highways.
• Major Arterials: This class of street serves major movements of traffic within or through
the area. Mainly designed to move traffic, the secondary function is to provide access to
abutting land. Business Route 27 (US-27BR) is the major arterial in DeWitt Township.
• Minor Arterials: This class of street serves primarily local or shorter distance traffic and
provides a limited degree of continuity. Their principal function is moving traffic with a
secondary purpose of providing local land access in connection with the collector and
local street system.
• Collector Streets: These streets serve the internal traffic movement within specific
areas and connect those areas with the major and minor arterial system. Generally, they
are not continuous for any great length. The collector street is intended to supply
abutting property with almost the same degree of access as a local street, while at the
same time serving local traffic movement. Traffic control devices may be installed to
protect and facilitate movement of traffic; however, these devices would not be as
elaborate as those on arterial streets.
• Local Streets: The sole function of these streets is to provide access to immediately
adjacent property. There are a number of these roads in the community, but they carry a
small proportion of the vehicle-miles of travel.
Map 2-15 depicts the street network in DeWitt Township by the above types. Map 2-16 shows
the road network by the entities responsible for its maintenance.
Photo 2-23
Expressway I-69 in DeWitt Township

Photograph by Stephen C. Musselman

DeWitt Township Comprehensive Development Plan - 2005
2-47

�Map 2-15 Classification of Area Roads

-

j

DeWitt Township Comprehensive Development Plan - 2005
2-48

�Map 2-16 Roads by Jurisdictional Responsibility
Round Lake Rel
'O

0::

How Rd.

Road
Ju r1sd icti,ons

WebbRdL

Herbison Rd.

CliarkRd.

Stoll Rd.

F

Stoll Rd.

l
February 23, 2·005

P lanrfrn(I D eparttnlln t
1401 W . Herbi!al!;lll Rd .

DeWitt, I 48820
(5 17) 669-'657 6

DeWitt Township Comprehensive Development Plan - 2005
2-49

�Freeways and Regional Circulation
The most significant transportation related asset of DeWitt Township is the two highways which
bisect the area. Interstate 69 traverses the area in a generally east/west direction providing
connections to Marshall and Fort Wayne to the south and Flint and Port Huron to the east. US127 crosses the area in a generally north/south direction allowing motorists to travel north
through St. Johns and to Lansing and Jackson to the south. These freeways allow safe and
efficient access to adjoining jurisdictions as well other intermediate points within the region.
Within DeWitt Township are four interchanges along I-69 at Airport Road, DeWitt Road,
Business-27 and US-127, and two interchanges along US-127: one at I-69 and one at Round
Lake Road along the northern border of the Township. Both freeways primarily accommodate
through-traffic. Map 2-17 shows the annual average 24-hour traffic volumes for area highways
as of 2003.
Map 2-17
Annual Average 24-Hour Traffic Volumes for
DeWitt Area Highways and Surrounding Region

I

i
MUIR

CLINTON

(PEWAMO

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Source: MDOT Annual Average 24-Hour Traffic Volumes Map, 2003

Business Route 27
US-27BR is a state trunkline with a cross section that ranges from four lanes in the south
section of the study area to five lanes with additional deceleration lanes north of I-69. The rightof-way along this section varies from 160 to 230 feet. US-27BR is bisected by an interchange

DeWitt Township Comprehensive Development Plan - 2005
2-50

�with I-69 and provides a major route for Lansing area traffic to reach destinations to the north,
along with the US-127 freeway to the east. The US-27BR corridor through DeWitt Township is a
roadway that has experienced steady growth in land development and associated traffic
volumes prior to the opening of US-127. US-27BR carries a significant amount of traffic and, for
many, it serves as a type of identifying feature for the Township.
Photo 2-24
Business Route 27 in DeWitt Township

Photograph by Stephen Gobbo

In December 1993, the Township adopted the US-27 Corridor/Subarea Access Management
Plan for the section of US-27BR from Solon Road north to Webb Road and extending along
Clark Road for one-half mile on either side of US-27BR. The plan was intended to provide for
more efficient access design, to separate conflict areas, to provide driveway location and
spacing standards, to preserve public investment and the integrity of the roadway, and to
discourage commercial sprawl and strip development. The US-27 Corridor/Subarea Access
Management Plan is incorporated into this plan by reference.
Traffic Volumes in DeWitt Township
For a community with the population of DeWitt Township, traffic volumes are high. See Map 218. Table 2-17 shows the change in traffic volume on key road segments in DeWitt Township in
recent years. For example, traffic volumes on Clark Road from Schavey Road to DeWitt Road
increased 175% between 1997 and 2003. Clark Road also experienced a 152% increase in
traffic volume from Airport Road to Schavey Road during that same time period. Growth here
and north of the Township will put considerable pressure on Airport, DeWitt Road, and Turner
Road for additional capacity improvements. The character of those improvements will go a long
way to preserving the rural and open space character of the Township, or transforming it into an
urban setting.

DeWitt Township Comprehensive Development Plan - 2005
2-51

�Table 2-17
Traffic Volume Increases/Decreases on Key Road Segments
Road Segment
Airport Road
from Grand River
to Stoll
Airport Road
from Stoll to I-69
Airport Road
from Clark to
Herbison
Howe Road from
Airport to
Schavey
Clark Road from
Airport to
Schavey
Clark Road from
Schavey to
DeWitt Road
Wood Road from
Webb to Howe
Wood Road from
Stoll to Clark
US-27BR from
Stoll to Clark

Increase or
Decrease

% Change

Change

Year of Counts

Increase

18.6%

6,458 to 7,664

1990 &amp; 2003

Increase

34.5%

6,707 to 9,023

1990 &amp; 2003

Increase

12.2%

6,407 to 7,188

1997 &amp; 2003

Increase

27.5%

2,312 to 2,947

1997 &amp; 2003

Increase

152%

1,129 to 2,850

1997 &amp; 2003

Increase

175%

1,442 to 3,959

1997 &amp; 2003

Increase

97.9%

798 to 1,579

1990 &amp; 2003

Increase

39.7%

4,032 to 5,632

1997 &amp; 2003

Decrease

22.8%

19,186 to 14,800

1995 &amp; 2003

Source: Tri-County Regional Planning Commission and the Clinton County Road Commission, 1999-2004

DeWitt Township Comprehensive Development Plan - 2005
2-52

�Map 2-18 Traffic Counts

Tra'ffic Count,s,
Average Da:I'.,' Vehfc

N

Trips

Co'Jnt (Year)

N

t
ovem ~r .29, 200.:1

De1Ni

C h arter Tow o ship

F' ,~,ming Dep~n1ment
1 ' 1 W . HerbliSo Rd .

De Wilt,

~I

48820

(511) 669-6576

DeWitt Township Comprehensive Development Plan - 2005
2-53

�Transit
The Clinton Transit System, based in St. Johns, provides demand responsive public
transportation service to DeWitt Township and the surrounding community. As of 2004, it had no
fixed routes. Common trips are transportation for senior, handicapped and lower income citizens
to the doctor, the social security office, the Family Independence Agency and to grocery stores.
As the population of the Township ages, demand for transit will gain importance.
Many Township residents rely on Clinton Transit to get around the community. Occupants of
over 3% of all housing units in Clinton County do not own a vehicle. According to the Transit
Development Plan for the Tri-County Region (2003), a joint effort of the Tri-County Regional
Planning Commission, the Capital Area Transit Authority (CATA), the Eaton County Transit
Authority, and Clinton Transit, the census block groups with the highest proportion of zerovehicle occupied housing units were located in the southern part of DeWitt Township close to
the City of Lansing and around St. Johns. These are a main target market for transit.
In 2002, total annual ridership was 51,230. During 2002, Clinton Transit operated a total of
13,893 vehicle hours and 367,677 vehicle miles annually. It is projected that, by 2008, Clinton
Transit will operate about 21,000 annual vehicle hours and could provide as many as 73,768
annual passenger trips. Clinton Transit expects the increased capacity to be dedicated primarily
to improved service in DeWitt Township, DeWitt City and Bath Township. The focus of this
improved service is the US-27BR corridor (with a side pass through DeWitt City). The Transit
Development Plan indicates that CATA is also considering the creation of fixed route service
along US-27BR from Lansing to St. Johns. It will be important to consider transit stop locations
when planning and approving new development, especially along US-27BR.
Air Transportation
The Lansing metropolitan area is served by the Capital City Airport located in the southwest
corner of DeWitt Township, between Airport Road and DeWitt Road, from the Lansing city limits
to Stoll Road. The airport is served by six carriers, including Northwest Airlines, Delta Airlines,
and United Airlines. Many carriers offer daily non-stop flights to such destinations as Cincinnati,
Chicago, and Minneapolis-St. Paul. As part of the process to plan for the future of Capital City
Airport, the Capital Region Airport Authority has begun the following planning studies:
• Airport Master Plan Update
• Airport Noise Compatibility Update
• Runway Safety Area Study
• Pavement Management Plan
The Airport Master Plan Update will provide guidelines for future airport development in a way
that will satisfy aviation demand in a financially feasible manner while at the same time
addressing airport-related environmental and socioeconomic issues existing in the community.
Key features of early drafts of the updated Airport Master Plan are en extension of the existing
east-west runway and a new terminal near the intersection of State and DeWitt Roads. The
airport last updated its Master Plan in 1995.

DeWitt Township Comprehensive Development Plan - 2005
2-54

�IMPLICATIONS IF EXISTING TRENDS AND POLICY CONTINUE
Growth and Preservation Policy of the 1991 Plan
In an attempt to better manage growth and development activities in parts of the
Township, stagnation in other parts, and a desire for long term agricultural preservation
in still other parts, the Township prepared and adopted its first growth management plan
in 1991. While it was labeled as a Comprehensive Development Plan, it included all the
key characteristics of a growth management plan. It had an urban growth boundary, a
development area, transition areas and a preservation area. It had a two-tiered plan for
the staging of infrastructure. It also included a description of future land use that was
directly tied to the zoning districts used to implement the Plan.
The 1991 Plan was also a projections based plan. Extensive text was devoted to
projecting future land use needs by type and amount. This was used to guide the
identification of primary and secondary stage urban areas where infrastructure and
public services were to be targeted first to the primary stage areas and then to the
secondary stage areas. Unfortunately, as is often the case with such plans when
development is already widely scattered across the Township, future development has
not always occurred when and where it was planned. That does not mean the Plan was
irrelevant or unimportant—quite the contrary. It has been used to widely guide land use
decisions in the last decade, but the staging elements are increasingly less relevant to
contemporary land use decisions. Yet, staging is very important, because when
development prematurely occurs in an area before all the necessary infrastructure is in
place, it puts unnecessary pressure on roads, and the natural environment, and makes it
very difficult to cost-effectively provide necessary services. Since development is so
widely scattered in the Township, a rigid staging strategy is not likely to work well.
Instead, staging should be guided by the availability of necessary infrastructure. When a
development is dense or intense enough to require full urban infrastructure and services,
then such development is not permitted until those facilities and services are in place.
The developer chooses to provide the missing facilities and services or waits until the
Township makes them available. An adequate public facilities ordinance should be
adopted to accomplish this type of staging (this is discussed in more detail later in the
chapter).
In an effort to keep the 1991 Plan relevant, it was significantly updated by the adoption
of three special subarea plans. The first was the US-27 Corridor/Subarea Access
Management Plan in December 1993 for the area from the intersections at Solon Road
to Webb Road along US-27BR. This Plan has effectively guided substantial
development along this stretch of US-27BR. The second was the High Density
Residential: Multiple Family Residential and Manufactured Housing Plan completed in
2001. It determined that the Township need not zone for more manufactured housing
parks, or apartment complexes in the near term. The third was the Northwest Area
Master Plan a subarea plan to provide more detail for land development in the rapidly
growing northwest quadrant of the Township. It was adopted in November 2002.
Considerable positive development has occurred pursuant to the 1991 Plan and the
three subarea plans. For example:
• Strong access management has led to a safe and effective design for new
development north of the I-69/US-27BR intersection.
• The Township has planned for an appropriate mix of housing, including, stick
built homes, manufactured homes, and apartment units.

DeWitt Township Comprehensive Development Plan - 2005
2-55

�•
•

Over 600 new single family dwelling units have been built in the northwest
quadrant.
Over 830 acres of farmland have been permanently preserved by farmers in the
northeast quadrant through state purchase of development rights and another
2,284 acres are enrolled in the state PA 116 Farmland and Open Space
Protection program.

As noted earlier in this chapter, development of new single family homes has been rapid
since the census in 2000. In addition, many more new developments are proposed. For
example proposed projects that have been approved or are nearing the end of the
approval process include the following:
• 431 single family residential building sites
• 217 apartment units, as well as 190 additional manufactured homes in a mobile
home park.
• 107 acres of office and commercial development.
• A new industrial development by the Granger Company is underway on 75 acres
between US-27BR and Wood Road in the south central portion of the Township
with a new 19.7 acre commercial-industrial park under development across US27 from the Granger development.
In addition:
• The Capital City Airport is considering a major expansion in the Township over
the next twenty years.
• The Auto-Owners Insurance Company is planning relocation of its corporate
offices to 300 acres located in the Township.
• Across Airport Road in Watertown Township, a mixed used development with
272 apartment units and 22 condominium units are proposed, with about 4.2
acres of commercial, office and light industrial.
• The entire Eastwood Town Center mall development is rapidly building out just
south of DeWitt Township in Lansing Township between Wood and US-127,
north of Lake Lansing Road.
Residential Buildout Analysis
All of the above development activity has led to a growing desire to better understand
the implications of growth on the Township’s ability to meet the infrastructure and public
service needs that go with that growth. As a result, the Township Planning Department
prepared a residential buildout analysis of both the 1991 Township Plan and the 2004
Township Zoning Ordinance. A residential buildout analysis is an estimate of the number
of dwelling units that may result if all the land in a community is developed at the
maximum allowable density.
In conducting both analyses, all types of housing were considered, including single
family, duplex, multiple family, and manufactured home communities. The first step in
completing the analysis was to determine the portion of the Township that remains
“buildable.” Staff used its Geographic Information System (GIS) to evaluate those lots in
the Township that have been fully developed for residential. Next, the lots and portions
of lots which are unbuildable due to the presence of wetlands, hydric (muck) soils, open
bodies of water, and floodplain were eliminated. Although some of these lots may be
subject to some development in the future, the presence of these natural features means
that they will develop at a significantly lower density than most other properties.

DeWitt Township Comprehensive Development Plan - 2005
2-56

�Two analyses were then conducted on the buildable area of the Township. First, the
number of dwelling units that could develop if the Township built-out following the
existing Zoning Map was calculated by applying the maximum allowable density in each
residential zoning district. The same analysis was then conducted with the Future Land
Use Map. In 2004, there are 5,787 dwelling units in DeWitt Township. At total buildout
under the current zoning map, the Township could potentially reach 15,534 dwelling
units. At total buildout under the current Future Land Use Map, the Township could
potentially reach 21,321 dwelling units. Translated into population, the Township would
have between 38,680 and 53,089 persons at build out. This is 3 to 4.5 times the current
population. There are enormous implications on roads, utilities, police, fire service, parks
and schools if the Township were to develop at these densities.
Road and utility impacts from recent development are starting to be evident. Congestion
is growing on Herbison Road and Airport Roads during peak periods. It will grow
substantially more unless the Township in cooperation with the County Road
Commission and the City of DeWitt and Watertown Township do not soon begin to plan
for significant road improvements. Many other roads will be impacted from future growth
as well. The situation will be compounded by future development in adjoining
jurisdictions.
ANALYSIS OF ADJACENT JURISDICTION PLANS
The comprehensive plans of the communities surrounding DeWitt Township, as well as
Clinton County and the City of DeWitt were examined for their potential to affect land use
in the Township. Plans were examined from the City of DeWitt, Bath Township, East
Lansing, Lansing, Lansing Township, Clinton County and Watertown Township.
City of DeWitt
The City of DeWitt is an “island” completely surrounded by DeWitt Township, but it
appears that the City Plan and the Northwest Area Master Plan of the Township are
being implemented in a way that largely blurs any distinction between City and
Township. According to the City of DeWitt Comprehensive Development Plan 1995 to
Beyond 2000, revised in 2002, the City intends to continue to foster a character quite
similar to that of DeWitt Township; that of medium to low density residential
neighborhoods. However, the City also desires many amenities, such as town squares,
broader commercial services, preserved open space, non-motorized recreational and
transportation links, a discrete, viable downtown in a traditional town form that are not
included in the 1991 Township Plan.
The City of DeWitt appears to share the concerns of DeWitt Township officials regarding
the impact of traffic, especially future traffic on important roads within the community. A
city objective to foster residential development along DeWitt and Herbison Roads in
order to reduce traffic speeds may have that effect. The City, Township and Road
Commission will need to work together to find bold, long-term solutions to managing
common roads in the future.
The City of DeWitt Plan highlights six “planning areas,” five of which border DeWitt
Township. Three of the areas are planned for medium density residential development.
One of these (Planning Area #1) is at the northwest corner of the City, a second
(Planning Area #2) is at the northeast corner, along Round Lake Road, and the third,
(Planning Area #6) is at the southern border of the City, straddling DeWitt and Herbison

DeWitt Township Comprehensive Development Plan - 2005
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�Roads. This latter area also includes a mixed use development area across DeWitt
Road from the medium density residential area parcels that are adjacent to areas within
the Township. One Planning Area is designated as low density residential, and is
adjacent to the Township on the north side of Webb Drive. There is also a Public/Quasi
Public area (Planning Area #4), which is the Prairie Creek Golf Course, located between
Herbison Road and Webb Drive adjacent to the Township, and would perform the
function for both communities of recreational open space. All of these areas are planned
for future land use that is compatible with land use proposed by DeWitt Township in the
Northwest Area Master Plan and this Comprehensive Development Plan.
Bath Township
Bath Township shares a border with DeWitt Township along Chandler Road/Abbott
Road. According to the Bath Township Comprehensive Development Plan, 1996-2000,
Bath Township intends to remain rural along the northern part of its border with DeWitt
Township, but is planned to develop with a higher density farther south along the mutual
border. This latter area is also in the vicinity of recent expansion of East Lansing.
The primary objective of the Bath Township Plan, is to promote low-density residential
development that preserves environmentally sensitive neighborhoods and rural
character. At the same time, their Plan seeks to provide public water to as many
residents as possible. Portions of the Plan cite the need for higher density development
to support public services.
Bath Township faces very severe development limitations in the southwest corner of the
Township, as well as other areas in the north central portions of the Township. It has
designated a large area in the southwest as “sod farm,” that fits the wetland character of
the area, but also includes a strip of mixed use immediately along its southwestern
border. Across this border is the area that East Lansing controls by a 425 agreement.
The Bath Township Plan poses no current incompatibilities along it’s borders with DeWitt
Township.
East Lansing
East Lansing, in its Northern Tier Element of the Comprehensive Plan, 1993, has clearly
stated its intention to fully develop commercial and residential uses in the area that
borders DeWitt Township, and to expand the area through annexations (or 425
agreements) as the opportunity arises in an effort to expand its tax base. This includes
both medium and high density residential areas and commercial areas. This area is in
close proximity to the US-127 interchange at Lake Lansing Road, and also close to
north-south roads that feed into the older areas of East Lansing and Michigan State
University. This is contrary to the DeWitt Township 1991 Plan and the goals and policies
of this Plan which are to preserve that area for long term agricultural use in keeping with
the unique agricultural characteristics of the land and the existing large agricultural
investment that exists there.
Watertown Township
Watertown Township (according to the Comprehensive Development Plan Amendment
2002) shares many of the same goals as Bath and DeWitt Townships: maintaining some
agricultural areas, maintaining low-density, rural residential character, protecting
sensitive environments, and promoting managed economic growth. Watertown seeks to
promote medium and high density residential development along its border with DeWitt
Township. Airport Road forms the border between the jurisdictions and there is an I-69

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�interchange at Airport Road. DeWitt Township has approved considerable residential
and nonresidential development proposals in the area. South of I-69, Watertown
Township is also planning higher density residential development, which will border the
Airport in DeWitt Township. This will add significantly to travel on Airport Road and
suggests a great need to coordinate future road improvements on Airport Road with
Watertown Township. The Grand River Avenue corridor enters Watertown Township at
its southeastern corner, and connects in the northwest at I-69/I-96. The corridor has long
been planned for and is developing with non-retail commercial and industrial
development. There is public sewer and water along Grand River Avenue.
The Watertown Township Plan also seeks links of trails and other greenspace elements
(although not described using the term, “greenspace.”), which offers some opportunities
for cooperation with Watertown for recreational and open space amenities.
Clinton County
The Clinton County Comprehensive Plan, adopted in November 2002, outlines a future
land use that accepts relatively high levels of growth for DeWitt Township, along with
Watertown and Bath Townships, while the townships north of DeWitt would remain
relatively rural. The County Future Land Use map anticipates very modest spill-over
growth in Olive, Riley and Victor Townships, at the edges of DeWitt, Watertown and
Bath Townships. The interiors of Olive, Riley and Victor Township would remain mostly
in agricultural preservation, with the exception of the US-27BR corridor extending north
of DeWitt through Olive Township and into Bingham Township and St. Johns. Except for
the US-27BR corridor, development is anticipated to extend only a short distance across
township lines. However, this could produce a much greater number of driveways along
Cutler Road, with a decreased level of safety. An examination of the “Agricultural
Conversions” map in the Plan shows that there has already been extensive strip rural
residential development along the roads of Olive Township as well as Riley and Victor
Townships. This pattern of development can make agricultural preservation more
difficult, and provides a source of traffic seeking routes through DeWitt Township into the
metropolitan Lansing area. The US-27BR corridor is designated as a “study area,” but
the Plan provides little information on the future of studies of the corridor.
According to the County Plan, nearly all of the land area of the Townships north of
DeWitt is zoned for agriculture at a density of 1 dwelling unit per 10 acres. With a
minimum required lot width of 330’, this would still permit as many as 16 homes per mile
on each side of the road, or 32 homes per mile of road. This density, while preserving a
relatively low density, could create impacts for DeWitt Township and do little to protect
agriculture in those areas.
The Draft Clinton County Zoning Ordinance, which pertains to Olive, Riley and Victor
Townships, plus nine other townships in the County, proposes open space and
agricultural cluster provisions within the agricultural zones, that would permit building on
lots as small as ½ acres providing sufficient open space were preserved within the
development.
City of Lansing
The City of Lansing Northeast Area Comprehensive Plan, 1990, completed in 1984,
addressed land use, environmental, transportation, infrastructure, housing and other
issues for the area immediately south of DeWitt Township. The City of Lansing Plan
provided strategies intended to be implemented over a ten-year period to correct

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�deficiencies and promote a future land use plan for the area. The Plan called for
commercial use along the US-27BR corridor, with residential use up to 7 dwelling units
per acre beyond the commercial parcels. It also planned for industrial/warehouse use for
substantial areas east of the commercial and residential areas along US-27BR and
along the north side of North Grand River Avenue, to the Airport.
While it addressed many issues, a common theme of the Northeast Area Plan was to
improve the visual character of the area. This was to be accomplished through
enforcement of existing codes, repairs to infrastructure, regular maintenance of
infrastructure and buildings, streetscape design improvements, and other strategies. The
Northeast Area Plan provided many drawings which served as design guidelines, and
illustrated how to create a more unified, cohesive visual appearance to transportation
corridors, public facilities and neighborhoods.
Visual character remains an issue for the Northeast Area of Lansing and the US-27BR
corridor in both Lansing and the southern part of DeWitt Township.
Lansing Township
Lansing Township was finalizing plans for its northern area at the time the DeWitt
Township Plan was being developed. Although still in the draft form, Lansing Township’s
plans called for more intensive development of the area with mixed uses in a Neotraditional form, and a “Village Center” at the corner of Lake Lansing and Wood Roads.
Multi-story residential and mixed office and commercial uses with residential above
would be developed along Lake Lansing Road, Wood Road and north of the Eastwood
Town Center. The latter area is immediately adjacent to an industrial area in DeWitt
Township. There could be a future demand for residential or mixed use development to
expand north into DeWitt Township between Wood Road and US-127, but this would
continue to place those land uses in close proximity to industrial uses in the southern
area of DeWitt Township and along Wood Road. The more intensive development
planned for the Wood Road and Lake Lansing Road area will likely place an even
greater traffic load on Wood Road, which experiences substantial heavy truck traffic from
the interchange at Round Lake Road and US-127.
Together these plans anticipate substantial new residential, commercial and industrial
development in this area over the next two decades. While it is unlikely that any of these
communities (with the possible exception of the City of DeWitt), or DeWitt Township
itself will build out during the next twenty years, it is feasible that a large part of the
development inherent in each plan could occur over the next two decades. As a result, it
will be important for each of these communities to coordinate not only future road
improvements, but also new fire and police stations, extensions of public sewer and
water services, schools, and parks, recreation, and trail development.

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�Chapter 3
GENERAL VISION AND PLANNING FRAMEWORK
INTRODUCTION
This Chapter presents a general vision statement, a planning framework and key
planning concepts to guide future land use change and infrastructure investment in
DeWitt Charter Township. Definitions of key terms follow.
Vision Statement: The vision statement is an attempt to capture in words, what the
Township will be like in 2025 if the goals of this Plan are achieved and the policies
are implemented. The vision statement is a general overall description of the
Township and is not intended to provide a description by functional categories or for
specific geographic sub-areas of the Township like the goals, policies and strategies
do.
Planning Framework: A set of practical local and regional considerations guiding
the development of this Plan. The term can also refer to a variety of, or set of
planning concepts.
Planning Concepts: Well-established ideas for different aspects of community
development, that are based on sound planning principals and are often combined to
achieve a set of interrelated objectives, or aspects of a community vision. A
“compact settlement pattern,” “new urbanism” and “sustainable development” are all
examples of planning concepts. During the period that a concept becomes
widespread in its application, it can also be known as a movement.
GENERAL VISION STATEMENT
Following is a vision statement that describes DeWitt Township as residents in 2005
want it to be in the year 2025. The vision is organized into topic areas that separately
focus on key elements of the Township and the process of planning for and managing its
future. Following the vision statement are goals and policies to chart a path for achieving
the vision. These provide a clear direction for future decisions, both short and long term,
to achieve the vision.
When reading this vision, it is necessary to mentally “transport” yourself into the future.
Thus, there are references “back” to the early 2000’s. This approach is intended to give
the reader a clearer sense of the desired future. This statement was prepared based on
two Visioning Town Meetings conducted in 2004 and refined following subsequent
Planning Commission, Township Board and public input.
Proactive Planning and Sustainability
DeWitt Township has moved into the third decade of the 21st century as one of the most
desirable places to live within Mid-Michigan. Residents and businesses in DeWitt
Township enjoy a rich quality of life and are reaping the benefits of proactive planning
and commitments started in the 1990’s and refined in the early part of this new century.

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�DeWitt Township has become a true reflection of sustainability. Sustainability means
meeting the needs of all the people of the present generation, in all parts of the
Township, without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own
needs. Neighborhoods, parks, businesses, local government and natural resources are
healthy and self-sustaining in 2025. Reaching sustainability required the community to
look beyond short-term gains in order to plan for a better life for their children and
grandchildren.
A cooperative spirit resides in DeWitt Township that has led to increased joint efforts of
the Township and DeWitt City. This includes cooperation of police and fire protection,
recreation facilities and programs and joint land use planning and zoning.
DeWitt Township has been able to maintain its borders and land area over the past two
decades, stemming the tide of annexations to neighboring jurisdictions.
Growth in DeWitt Township has been characterized by a mix of land uses, that have
helped balance the tax base, with commercial and industrial growth helping to support
services desired for both businesses and the residential population. Some of the retail
stores and commercial services that DeWitt residents had to drive a considerable
distance to reach have now located in DeWitt Township.
As the airport and related industrial development expanded, adequate buffers were put
in place to minimize impacts on adjoining residences. New residential development was
discouraged where it would be impacted.
Residential neighborhoods are clearly defined, linked by open spaces, both natural and
recreational, with convenient access to local neighborhood commercial services.
Residential neighborhoods uniformly appear to be well maintained. New development
and rehabilitation use quality material, pleasing architecture and good construction.
Quality of Life: Impressions, Standards and Visual Character
When asked about DeWitt Township, residents use descriptive terms like “nature,”
“farms,” “open space,” “rural,” “modern public facilities,” “good schools,” “easy access,”
“great recreation,” and “nice neighborhoods.” Despite a large amount of new
development, large-scale changes to the landscape have been minimized by the
consensus decision of community leaders to permit only growth that meets standards of
sustainability, maintenance of the natural resource base and visual character.
The major corridors within DeWitt Township have an attractive, cohesive visual
character. Well-designed and well-kept businesses, signs, street trees and other
landscaping present a positive image of the community. Open space corridors connect
natural open spaces to active community spaces, such as parks and play grounds. The
center spine of the system consists of rivers, trails, street rights-of-way, and utility
corridors.
Special efforts to improve areas of decline have paid off with a turn-around in those
neighborhoods and business areas. This is especially true along south US-27BR and the
neighborhoods that intersect with it on the south side of the Township. The former outlet
mall has been revitalized and expanded with new retail uses.

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�Quality of Life: Close to the City but Retaining Rural Qualities
The most common landscape view when driving into DeWitt from the north, east or west
is of trees, fields and open space. Neighborhoods and commercial areas are tucked
behind vegetation, retaining nature as an important feature of the Township as it grows.
Active farms remain in large blocks.
The vegetated landscape does more than simply provide scenery, as the benefits of
nature to citizen mental well-being are recognized as very important. Farming continues
as a viable economic sector for those landowners interested in continuing in agriculture.
Woods and fields help with water infiltration, maintain biological diversity and provide
habitat for wildlife. Property owners have coordinated the retention of natural areas,
forming connections to create ecological corridors, enhance recreation and provide a
more continuous natural scenic view along transportation corridors. Streams, wetlands
and ponds have buffer plantings that help protect water quality.
Citizens, well-versed in land and water protection approaches, have been deeply
involved in making decisions about preservation. Key parcels have been preserved by
working with conservancies, developers, Clinton County and the State Purchase of
Development Rights Program. Many approaches have been used over the past two
decades, including donations, conservation easements and development rights
purchases from willing landowners. As a result, wetlands, forests, farmland and green
spaces that comprise the scenic character and ecosystem of the Township have been
permanently protected while protecting the property rights of affected landowners.
Photo 3-1
The Most Common View is of Woods and Open Spaces

Photograph by Mike Nolen

Quality of Life: Neighborhoods
DeWitt Township residential neighborhoods are well-kept and provide a variety of
housing choices, especially with the expansion of opportunities for seniors over the past
two decades. Neighborhoods that had once suffered deterioration of homes and
businesses have been significantly improved.

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�Quality of Life: Access to Opportunities
Commercial, office, and industrial employment centers have expanded in DeWitt
Township in carefully planned locations that are easily accessed from the freeway and
county road system. These jobs provide new opportunities for some residents to live
close to work.
Quality of Life: Recreation
The Township has long held recreational opportunity as an important aspect of quality of
life. Township/City parks have been maintained and expanded. Recreation for all ages,
especially for seniors has expanded in the past two decades. The DeWitt Area
Recreation Authority (DARA) has continued to work effectively.
DeWitt Township is known as a walkable and bikable community, providing safe
connections for recreation, enjoying nature and for a transportation alternative to driving.
These connections are part of a Township-wide greenspace system that includes
greenway trails and undeveloped open spaces. There are also links to greenways with
trails that extend beyond DeWitt Township into other communities throughout the region.
Quality of Life: Urban Infrastructure
Beginning in the early 2000s, the Township carefully planned for the extension of utilities
and the expansion of roads in order to foster incremental growth while preserving
uncongested travel and using designs that protect community character. Good quality
County primary roads help move people around and through the Township and access
management has helped preserve the public investment in roads. However, in order to
keep a rural character many roads in the rural parts of the Township have been
maintained as they were in the early 2000s. Capacity improvements to Herbison, Airport,
DeWitt and Clark Roads have helped accommodate increased traffic volumes. Parkway
designs have been used to preserve a pleasing aesthetic character as these roadways
where improved. Intersection improvements have made driving through the Township
safer.
Photo 3-2
Some Roads Should be Maintained as they were in
the Early 2000s to Protect Rural Character

Photograph by Stephen Gobbo

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�PLANNING FRAMEWORK
To implement the General Vision Statement, DeWitt Township is engaged in an ongoing
comprehensive planning and growth management process, to influence the rate, type,
location, and timing of growth and development in order to achieve a logical, efficient,
and balanced pattern of development that takes into consideration the natural
developmental limitations of the area and minimizes disturbances to the natural
environment, while creating a more diversified tax base capable of supporting
community facility and infrastructure needs.
It is recognized that DeWitt Charter Township is an integral part of the Lansing
Metropolitan area. Many interrelationships exist and these, most importantly, include
land use, transportation (including the freeway system and major highways), recreation
and employment centers. Past and future development of the Township has been and
will continue to be greatly influenced by these various relationships. The Township
therefore realizes that it cannot plan for its future development in complete isolation of
the needs and growth trends of the balance of the area. Within this general framework,
however, the Township also realizes that it is a separate community obligated to plan for
its future in accordance with needs and desires of the local residents.
The following statements represent a specific framework for developing goals and
policies for the major functional components of the community. These statements are
based on recognition of both the Township's area wide responsibilities and
responsibilities to the residents and land owners within the Township.
• While the Township recognizes the need to accommodate future growth and
development, growth will be planned for, timed to match the Township’s capacity to
handle that growth, and designed to contribute to the sustainability of the Township.
The public cost of growth will be minimized by “pay as you grow” policies that require
each new private increment of growth to pay its own way.
• The Township recognizes that the loss of such attributes as neighborhood integrity,
and farmland and open space to development, are irreversible losses to local
residents and in the case of farmland, the region, state, nation, and to future
generations. It is therefore the intent of DeWitt Township to guard against land use
conflicts, to promote the preservation of farmland for as long as feasible, and the
conservation of important open space areas such as floodplains and wetlands.
• All development, existing and proposed, should be assessed based on its intensity
and the availability of the services and facilities necessary to assure the continued
protection of the environment and the health, safety, and welfare of the community.
• Future development shall be assessed on its economic impacts, its ability to promote
efficiency of service, and its ability to maintain or improve the value of adjacent
properties.
• When necessary, the Township will use innovative planning and zoning techniques
to encourage the use of land in accordance with its character and adaptability and to
provide substantial benefit to present and future residents.
• The support and involvement of Township residents will be enlisted to achieve
community goals and educate the public regarding the benefits of growth
management and the variety of Township governmental issues.

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�PLAN CONCEPTS
The summary of existing conditions and trends related to the Township’s physical, social
and economic makeup presented in Chapter 2, the general vision statement and the
planning framework presented above led to the formulation of eight broad concepts that
were used in the development of this Plan. Most of the first four of these were also the
basis for the 1991 Plan. These include:
1. Staging of Growth: Growth trends and population projections indicate that there will
not be sufficient pressure during the foreseeable future to warrant full development of
the Township. It is therefore appropriate to determine development priorities for the
various lands within the community. The staging of development will promote more
orderly and concentrated development versus expensive sprawl development. The
Township will use an annually updated capital improvements program to help stage
its investment in public utilities and road improvements, and expects the private
sector to pay all the direct costs of infrastructure extension or expansion that occurs
before public facilities are immediately available to a site. The Township will not
approve any intensive development until all the public infrastructure and services are
adequate to accommodate the impacts of the proposed development. This concept
is explained in more detail in Chapter 6.
2. Balanced Residential Character: Varying income levels and life styles of newcomers
and residents, the availability or unavailability of utilities and physical limitations of
the Township, require that a variety of housing types and densities be provided for.
In addition, older neighborhoods showing signs of neglect need to be rehabilitated to
improve quality of life for those residents and preserve an important supply of
affordable housing in the Township.
3. Diversify the Tax Base by Providing for a Variety of Commercial, Office, and
Industrial Types: Given the Township's accessibility to regional transportation
arteries as well as the employment and shopping needs of local residents, a range of
both locally and regionally oriented types of commercial, office, and industrial
developments should be provided for. To accomplish this, various types of economic
development must be encouraged to locate in the areas best suited to meet business
needs. The deliberate and objective allocation of different types of economic
development in specific locations will also help to avoid or minimize future land use
and traffic conflicts while over time, broadening the community's tax base. However,
premature commercial, office, or industrial development can hurt the appropriate
long-term development of an area as the Township has already experienced in some
places. As a result, every effort will be made to limit premature or undersized
development. Similarly, a significant effort must be made to rehabilitate, restore and
or reuse older commercial and industrial sites that show signs of neglect, or have
documented pollution of the land or groundwater. Creative use of brownfield
redevelopment and downtown development authority legislation should be explored
to help meet this need.
4. Protect Environmental Resources: DeWitt Township has a variety of environmental
resources. These natural features should be protected and incorporated into
development projects. The Township should promote the preservation of wetlands
and groundwater quality by working with the Michigan Department of Environmental
Quality and other agencies with regulations that address these resources.

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�5. Smart Growth Tenets: In the pursuit of the general vision of this Plan, the Township
is guided in part by the “10 Tenets of Smart Growth” popularized in Michigan by the
state Land Use Leadership Council. These tenets are listed below.
• Create a range of housing opportunities and choices;
• Create walkable neighborhoods;
• Encourage community and stakeholder collaboration;
• Foster distinctive, attractive communities with a strong sense of place;
• Make development decisions predictable, fair, and cost-effective;
• Mix land uses;
• Preserve open space, farmland, natural beauty and critical environmental
areas;
• Promote a variety of transportation choices;
• Strengthen and direct development towards existing communities;
• Take advantage of compact development design.
6. Traditional Neighborhood Development: TND is an old form of community design
that was popular in the early decades of the last century. It was characterized by
higher density than is common today, and also by development on small lots,
narrower streets and common public open spaces. It was often built around a 3-4
story “downtown” commercial area (with residences on the upper stories) with a mix
of housing types in residential areas. TND evidences all the smart growth tenets. As
of 2004, there are two significant examples of new TND’s in Michigan. The first is
Cherry Hill Village in Canton Township, and the second is Howell Town Commons in
Howell. This Plan identifies one subarea as being especially well-suited for this type
of development. It is east of north US-27BR and north of Webb Road and is
described in Chapter 6.
Photo 3-3
Examples of TND from Cherry Hill Village, Canton Township

Photograph by Mark Wyckoff

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�7. Green Development: Green development is the integration of social and
environmental goals with financial considerations in real estate projects of every
scale and type. It is the pursuit of environmental excellence that produces
fundamentally better buildings and communities—more comfortable, more efficient,
more appealing and ultimately, more profitable. Most on-the-ground examples in
Michigan are both highly energy efficient and low impact on the environment (such
as the new Ford Motor Company Rogue Plant, Dearborn; the new Herman Miller
facility, Zeeland; and the new East Grand Rapids Public Safety Building). National
and international standards called LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental
Design) have been developed to certify buildings that meet LEED standards. It is
expected that mid-Michigan will soon begin to host a number of new LEED buildings.
DeWitt Township encourages such efforts by the private sector and will do all it can
to encourage new green development in the Township.
Photo 3-4
A Lansing Area Green Roof

Photograph by Anne Woiwode

8. Sustainable Development: The implementation of the above seven planning
concepts will go a long way to helping the Township be a living example of
sustainable development. This is development which meets the needs of existing
residents while not reducing the ability of future generations to meet their needs.
Based on the above planning concepts, this Comprehensive Development Plan attempts
to strike a balance between the need and desire to promote and preserve certain
elements of rural character with the need and responsibility to accommodate a wide
variety of new urban and suburban growth and development in an efficient cost-effective
manner.

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�Chapter 4
FUTURE LAND USE &amp; COMMUNITY FACILITIES:
Goals and Policies
INTRODUCTION
There are five major sections in this chapter. The first explains the purpose of Map 4-1,
Future Land Use. The second major section describes the categories of future land use
illustrated on the Future Land Use Map and the goals and policies associated with each
category. The third major section presents goals and policies for various community
facilities. The fourth major section presents goals and policies for other related land use
issues including historic preservation and greenways. The last major section describes
the special planning areas that require a separate strategy from the general future land
use category. Definitions of key terms follow:
Goal: Goals are broad-based statements of intent and establish the direction for the
DeWitt Charter Township Comprehensive Development Plan. Goals could generally
be thought of as the desired "ends" of successful implementation of this Plan.
Policy: Policies are specific actions aimed at achieving particular goals. Policies
serve as a guide to decision-making. Decisions affected by policies ideally contribute
to successful implementation of the goals of this Plan. Many of the policies in this
Plan will require regulatory or program changes by the Township Board in order to
be implemented.
FUTURE LAND USE MAP
Map 4-1 presents anticipated future land use in 2025. All the land area of the Township
is depicted into one or another category of land use. The map, the accompanying
descriptions in the next section, the goals and policies associated with these categories
of land use, the zoning plan elements described in the next chapter, and the growth
management strategy described in Chapter 6 make up the key elements of this
Comprehensive Development Plan. In other words, Map 4-1 is intended to be interpreted
by carefully reading all the text in Chapters 3, 4, 5 and in light of the Growth
Management Strategies in Chapter 6. The Future Land Use Map will be thoroughly
reviewed and updated, if necessary, every five years to ensure it reflects community
interests and relevant trends.
As a general policy, it is recommended that the rezoning of any land in support of the
Future Land Use Map be deferred until specific applications are made. This will allow
maximum opportunity to ensure that appropriate levels of public utilities are available to
support the development. Similarly, no rezoning should be made that is inconsistent with
the Future Land Use Map and/or text of this Plan, unless this Plan is first amended after
careful study to establish the appropriateness of the change. As a general rule, this
means if the proposed use is dense or intense enough to require public sewer and/or
water and both are not present at the site, a rezoning request to permit the use should
be denied, until the necessary public utilities are available to the site.

DeWitt Township Comprehensive Development Plan - 2005
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�Map 4-1
Future Land Use

Future Land

Use Ma!P

N

j
Februmy 25, 2005

Plarn nlng De:pa-1men1
1401 w.-Herbi so Rd.
OeWi , • Ml 48820
(517) 669-6576

DeWitt Township Comprehensive Development Plan - 2005
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�FUTURE LAND USE
Seventeen different future land use designations are depicted on Map 4-1. These
designations can be grouped into seven broader categories. These categories and the
corresponding future land use designations are as follows:
Environmental Protection and Conservation
Conservancy
Agricultural Land Uses
AP – Agricultural Preservation
A – Agricultural
Residential Land Uses
SF-L – Low Density Single Family Residential
SF-M – Medium Density Single Family Residential
SF-H – High Density Single Family Residential
MFR – Multiple Family Residential
MHP – Manufactured Home Park
Commercial Land Uses
NC – Neighborhood Oriented Commercial
CC – Community Oriented Commercial
HC – Highway Oriented Commercial
ACOM – Airport Commercial
Office Land Uses
O – Office
Industrial Land Uses
I-L – Light Industrial
I-H – Heavy Industrial
I-P – Industrial Park
Institutional Land Uses
INS – Institutional
The following sections detail each category and their corresponding future land use
designations.
Environmental Protection and Conservation
The Future Land Use Map includes a Conservancy designation illustrating lands within
the Township that are environmentally sensitive due to the existence of wetlands,
floodplains and other sensitive drainage features. This designation serves as an
“overlay”, drawing attention to the areas where extra care is necessary to ensure
protection and to avoid their degradation. While the “underlying” planning designations
call out the general type of development planned for in a particular area, those areas
“overlaid” by the Conservancy designation will be subject to additional regulations under
State wetland protection laws and floodplain overlay zoning that are likely to affect site
design and development intensities.

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�From a Parks and Recreation and Open Space Planning standpoint, the Conservancy
designation can also be utilized in establishing the general areas of the Township where
future public acquisition for Parks and Nature Preserves should be given priority.
Goal:
1.
Protect the natural environment of the area in order to ensure a high quality living
environment for current and future residents.
Policies:
A.
Through land use regulation and planning, promote the conservation and wise
use of the Township's natural resources, including woodlands, water features,
wetlands and open spaces.
B.
Discourage development in the floodplains and other environmentally sensitive
areas of the Township and minimize the potential for property damage and public
health hazards from flooding.
C.
Site Plan review provisions in the Zoning Ordinance should be updated based on
the model approach used in adjoining jurisdictions (that are served by the Board
of Water and Light) to protect groundwater and surface water from stormwater
runoff, erosion and improper storage or handling of hazardous materials by
ensuring that as site plans for new development are reviewed, the developer
demonstrates that all elements are consistent with the regulations of applicable
county, state and federal agencies.
Agricultural Land Uses
As a means of ensuring the continued agricultural and rural qualities of DeWitt
Township, this plan in essence proposes two agricultural designations separated by a
long-range urban growth boundary. The first area, the AP (Agricultural Preservation)
designation is intended to be an area in which farming activity is promoted as the
primary land use and non-farm development is discouraged. The second A (Agricultural)
designation is intended to serve as a transitional area where public water and sanitary
sewer are generally presently not available. Farming and rural residential uses are
encouraged in this area. As infrastructure is extended to these areas and surrounding
areas build out for more intensive uses, these areas will be evaluated during the fiveyear reviews to determine if a different designation is appropriate.
By making the two designations, it is envisioned that the Township can improve its ability
to protect and conserve the areas within the Township best suited for agricultural
purposes while at the same time accommodating rural residential development in areas
where farming is more marginal or already negatively impacted by existing development.
Goals:
1. Preserve designated farmlands, especially prime farmland, for long-term agricultural
uses and protect agricultural activities on other farmland for as long as farmers wish
to farm it.
Policies:
A.
Promote the enrollment of land into the Farmland and Open Space Preservation
Act (Michigan Public Act 116) and participation in county and state purchase of
development rights or transfer of development rights programs in areas planned
for long-range agricultural use and discourage long term enrollment in areas

DeWitt Township Comprehensive Development Plan - 2005
4-4

�B.
C.
D.

E.

planned for another intensive use like commercial, industrial, office, or
residential.
Avoid the extension of water and sewer utilities within agricultural areas as a
means of discouraging non-farm uses in such areas.
Discourage the fractionalization of farmland brought about by scattered rural
housing development.
Assess agricultural lands on the basis of their use as a means of assuring that
the value of the land is not artificially inflated thereby promoting the economic
viability of farming operations.
Promote the coordination between zoning and other land use controls relating to
farmland and property tax assessing measures.
Photo 4-1
Active Farmland in DeWitt Township

Photograph by Bruce Keilen

AP (Agricultural Preservation): The primary intended outcomes of the AP planning
designation are:
1. To promote farming activities as the primary land use in the areas of the
Township best suited for such use;
2. To preserve woodlands and wetlands associated with farms which because of
their natural characteristics, are valuable as water retention and ground water
recharge areas, as habitat for plant and animal life and which have important
aesthetic and scenic value which contribute to the existing and desired future
character of the area.
3. To prevent the conversion of agricultural land to scattered non-farm
development, which when unchecked, unnecessarily increases the cost of public
services to all citizens and results in the premature disinvestment in agricultural.
The primary bases for these outcomes are the following observations. Most of the land
in this land use category is presently in agricultural and open space uses. Approximately
867 acres is presently permanently preserved under PDR agreements between the
landowner and the state and another 1,488 acres are temporarily preserved through PA
116 contracts; 767 acres are north of I-69. There are few paved roads and no public
water in this land use category, the freeways make for natural barriers, and only low
density uses exist in this land use category and are planned in adjoining areas in Bath

DeWitt Township Comprehensive Development Plan - 2005
4-5

�Township and Olive Township as well. The Township has huge infrastructure needs in
other parts of the Township where there is already an existing and growing population,
so it needs to prioritize its available resources and to expend significant monies on
infrastructure in this quadrant would take away from its ability to meet existing legitimate
infrastructure demands elsewhere. If these circumstances change (such as if MDOT
were to put an interchange in at Chandler Road), each five years when this Plan is
updated, the Township can reexamine whether this strategy should change.
If the Township finds support and interest from those who own land within the AP
designation, it may consider establishing new agricultural district within the Zoning
Ordinance that would be exclusively for agricultural and related uses. Such a district
could include a reduction in the permitted density for single family residential from the
one dwelling unit per acre allowed in the current agricultural district. An exclusive district
of this sort could help to reduce encroachment of incompatible uses into intensive
agricultural areas and help maintain the long-term viability of existing and future farm
operations.
A (Agricultural): The primary intended outcomes of the A (Agricultural) area are:
1. To provide a buffer between more intensively developed urban and suburban
areas.
2. To preserve woodlands and wetlands which are useful as water retention and
ground water recharge areas and which have important aesthetic and scenic
value.
3. To encourage the continued use of valuable farmland while accommodating rural
estate types of residential development at a density that will maintain the overall
rural environment by not overextending the capability of soils to process septic
waste, and to accommodate a wide variety of non-farm, but still rural uses that
require large land areas.
4. To provide a "land bank" for areas of land that could be allowed to develop more
intensively when the Township determines that more intensive structural
development is appropriate and when the necessary public facilities and
infrastructure is in place to support it.
5. To prudently meet the public service needs of Township residents in the area
south and east of the intersection of I-69 and US-127 while taking all reasonable
steps to prevent further annexation of this land.
For achieving the outcomes of the A (Agricultural) land use designation, it is
recommended that the existing primary provisions of the A (Agricultural) Zoning District
be retained and that the only permitted land uses are those allowed in the A District,
unless an agricultural area is rezoned consistent with this Plan. See relevant text in
Chapters 5 and 6 for more insights.
Residential Land Uses
The Residential Land Use areas represent the allocation of three major types of
residential dwellings and dwelling unit densities. These include single family residential
dwellings, multiple family residences (including apartments, condominiums and
townhouses) and manufactured home parks.
As DeWitt Township continues to grow, a greater portion of the developed land will be
taken up by residential uses. In itself, this fact is an important planning consideration;
however, the primary concern must be the realization that the living environment is the

DeWitt Township Comprehensive Development Plan - 2005
4-6

�real heart of the community and, therefore, a major basis upon which to formulate major
land use decisions.
The Residential Land areas are intended to produce safe, convenient, and pleasant
neighborhoods for the mutual benefit of all Township residents.
Goals:
1.
Provide a balanced range of housing types, including affordable housing types,
at varying densities while maintaining or improving the character of existing
neighborhoods.
2.
Conserve the structural integrity and habitability of dwellings and preserve the
stability of all existing single family neighborhoods and multiple family and
manufactured housing communities.
3.
Ensure that all new development is of high quality in design, materials,
construction and management.
4.
Assure public health and safety by permitting intensive residential growth in only
those areas which can be adequately served by public utilities and services.
Policies:
A.
Provide all types of residential development, ranging from large low density units
to high density multi-family uses to satisfy housing needs.
B.
The housing stock should be roughly apportioned so that both multiple family and
manufactured housing represent about thirty percent (30%) of the housing stock
by the year 2020.
C.
Maintain residential growth in neighborhoods where necessary community
services, including police protection, fire protection, water, sewer, and schools,
can be most economically provided.
Photo 4-2
New Home in DeWitt Township

Photograph by DeWitt Township Planning Department

D.
E.
F.

Discourage premature subdivision of vacant lands unless a specific demand is
evident and adequate public services are available to the site.
Do not locate residential areas within floodplains of rivers and streams or in any
other locations which present hazards to the safety or health of residents.
New residential developments shall be designed to be compatible with the
natural features of the site. Significant topographic features, tree stands,

DeWitt Township Comprehensive Development Plan - 2005
4-7

�G.
H.
I.
J.
K.
L.
M.
N.

O.

P.
Q.

R.

S.

T.

U.

wetlands, and other important natural features should be preserved wherever
possible.
The level of residential development should be continuously monitored in terms
of the impact on natural features.
Assure the provision of sufficient open space to serve each dwelling unit either
through the encouragement of common open space areas.
Stabilize property values by protecting residential areas from the encroachment
of incompatible land uses.
Encourage the upgrading and improvement of residential dwelling units showing
signs of deterioration.
Encourage self-initiative in upgrading property.
Initiate housing rehabilitation and neighborhood revitalization efforts in
appropriate areas.
Follow a policy of stringent code enforcement in all residential areas.
Carefully monitor areas where high-density residential uses are located adjacent
to single-family developments, industrial or commercial uses, so that timely
safeguards against blight and land use conflicts can be initiated, as necessary.
Place greater density land uses nearer areas of higher intensity land uses to act
as a transitional zone between high density residential uses, intensive
commercial uses and other residential uses to assure protection of existing
established neighborhoods.
Discourage the pattern of scattered, rural housing in areas of important and
prime farmland.
In consideration of the area's natural soils limitations to accommodate on-site
septic systems without the danger of pollution to groundwater supplies, it is the
policy of DeWitt Township to limit the density of all future residential
developments that locate in areas that cannot be economically provided with
public utilities.
Work with landowners and developers to identify and implement needed capital
improvements within existing residential neighborhoods and encourage the use
of unique development techniques in proposed residential developments.
Residential developments should be permitted in accordance with the ability to
provide necessary public services, including public water and sewer services,
road construction and maintenance, police and fire services and governmental
administrative services.
Develop incentives, including such elements as lot size and setback reductions,
and flexibility regarding housing types, to encourage the use of “development
setbacks” at the entrances to residential developments and along the existing
public streets. Existing natural features in these development setbacks would be
supplemented with landscaping to enhance the natural characteristics of the site.
Assure traffic safety and privacy of residential areas through the design of streets
that discourage through traffic, but still connect to abutting developments.

Following are descriptions of each of the residential classifications on Map 4-1.
Single and Two Family Residential Areas: Single and Two Family Residential uses
are comprised of three categories: SF-L, SF-M and SF-H.
• The SF-L (Low Density Single Family) designations correspond to the existing
zoning classifications of Rl and R2 and support developments on lots with
minimum sizes ranging from 30,000 to 40,000 square feet.
• The SF-M (Medium Density Single and Two Family) designations are intended

DeWitt Township Comprehensive Development Plan - 2005
4-8

�•

as extensions to existing developments that have occurred consistent with the
current R3 and R4 Zoning Districts. Minimum lot sizes are intended to range from
15,000 to 20,000 square feet in size. They serve as transitions from higher
densities of residential development to low density areas. An attempt has been
made to plan these areas where the full range of utilities is likely to be developed
within the planning period.
The SF-H (High Density Single and Two Family) designations are intended to
occur on minimum lot sizes of between 8,000 and 10,000 square feet for single
family uses and 20,000 square feet for duplexes, and correspond to the existing
R5 and R6 zoning classifications. They are intended to serve the market for the
most affordable single family homes. They are situated where sanitary sewer and
water facilities are present or impending and are generally nearest the major
transportation arteries and commercial services.
Photo 4-3
Single Family Home Under Construction

Photograph by Stephen Gobbo

Multiple Family Residential Areas: The majority of MFR (Multiple Family Residential)
designation illustrated on Map 4-1 are for the most part already developed or zoned that
way. The Zoning Ordinance presently allows densities ranging from 2 to 24 units per
acre.
Multiple family areas are intended to satisfy the demands for apartment and attached
dwelling units, while serving as transitional uses from commercial areas and
transportation routes to the lower density residential uses. Several of the proposals
along US-27BR are recommended as alternatives to commercial strip development. It is
recommended that all multi-family developments be provided with public water and
sewer facilities to ensure public health.

DeWitt Township Comprehensive Development Plan - 2005
4-9

�Photo 4-4
Multiple Family Housing

Photograph by DeWitt Township Planning Department

MHP (Manufactured Housing Parks): The Future Land Use Map recognizes the
existing mobile home parks within the Township and identifies areas for their expansion.
Map 4-1 shows an area north of the existing mobile home park between Wood Road and
US-127 for expansion, as well as areas east and north of the existing park on Turner
Road.
Given the ability to expand several of the existing mobile home park developments, it is
felt that the existing parks and the proposed additional area contain adequate land area
to satisfy long-range demands, while attempting to avoid conflicts between these uses
and adjacent low, medium, and high density single family residential areas.
Photo 4-5
Manufactured Home Park in DeWitt Township

Photograph by Jane DeHoog

Housing Mix: In 2001, the Township adopted a supplement to the 1991
Comprehensive Development Plan entitled, High Density Residential: Multiple Family

DeWitt Township Comprehensive Development Plan - 2005
4-10

�Residential and Manufactured Housing. This Plan supplement documented the amount
of high density development in the Township and made projections of the number of
units and land needs for multiple family and manufactured housing through the year
2020. This information is specifically summarized in Table 3 of the Plan supplement.
Table 4-1, below provides an update of this information, based on the population
increases projected in Table 2-3 of this plan.
Table 4-1
Land Planned for High Density Residential

Multiple
Family
Manufactured
Housing

Current
Planned
Acres

Current
Uncommitted
Planned
Acres

Year
2005
Units

Year
2020
Units

Add’l
Units
2020

Gross
Acres
Anticipated
2020 (1)

Surplus
(Deficiency)
Acres (2)

259

167

659

1149

490

155

12

292

76

1026

1629

603

94

(18)

1. Acres based on 4 dwelling units per acre for multiple family and 8 dwelling units per acre for
manufactured housing. Also factors in 25% of the lot area for roads and other amenities. If undeveloped
lands develop at maximum densities (24 d.u/acre for MFR and 10 d.u./acre for MHP), the gross acres
anticipated in 2020 would decrease to 26 acres and 75 acres, respectively.
2. Current Uncommitted Planned Acres less Gross Acres Anticipated in 2020.

Clearly, it will be necessary to monitor the actual population growth over time in the
Township to assure that adequate land will continue to be planned for high density
residential uses. There certainly is an adequate amount of land shown on Map 4-1 to
accommodate these uses for the next 10 years, and likely through 2020.
All the key policies of that Plan supplement have been incorporated into this Plan update
and the projections and analysis of that supplement remain important determinants of
Township policy for high density land uses. As a result, the projections and analysis of
the supplement are incorporated into this Plan by reference.
Commercial Land Uses
Typically, commercial establishments seek out major streets with high traffic volumes to
maximize their visibility and encourage drive-in trade. However, when a major street
begins to develop commercially, traffic congestion too often occurs and conflicts result
between through traffic and the vehicles entering and exiting driveways.
This Plan recognizes that the demands for a wide variety of commercial types of
development are likely to increase within the planning period as more and more
residents move into the area. These demands are most likely to be greatest along the
entire length along US-27BR, where traffic volumes are greatest, and where commercial
establishments can take advantage of a more concentrated consumer market.
Unless careful site planning and access controls are instituted, conflicts between uses
can occur, opportunities for integrated uses lost, and the capacity of streets can be
greatly reduced. It is therefore recommended that the rezoning of land designated on the
Future Land Use Map for commercial purposes be done cautiously to help assure that
development is not done prematurely or haphazardly, with disregard for the lack of
utilities or the uses that are in existence or could develop on an adjoining site.

DeWitt Township Comprehensive Development Plan - 2005
4-11

�Goals:
1.
Encourage high quality commercial development (in terms of design materials,
construction and management) to locate in appropriate areas.
2.
Achieve a balanced variety of neighborhood, community, and regionally oriented
facilities that will meet the shopping and service needs of the community and
nearby metropolitan area populations without unnecessary duplication.
3.
Promote the redevelopment of under-utilized and blighted commercial land along
the US-27BR corridor.
4.
Promote green development that meets LEED standards.
5.
Accommodate limited yet appealing shopping facilities that provide a sufficient
amount of goods and services to meet the daily needs of a growing Township
population, as well as a growing regional, highway-oriented market.
6.
Promote the physical clustering of commercial establishments rather than strip
development, thereby providing for joint use of parking facilities, more convenient
shopping, pleasant pedestrian spaces, and minimal extensions of utilities.
Policies:
A.
Refine zoning regulations to group related and compatible business uses
together in suitable and properly located areas.
B.
Discourage commercial developments in areas along major streets where
inadequate lot depth is provided for turning movements because of the conflicts
that develop between through-traffic and commercial traffic.
C.
Locate highway service areas to serve motorists without creating traffic
congestion or harming adjacent properties.
D.
Encourage pedestrian facilities, sufficient parking and attractive appearances for
commercial buildings and properties in business districts.
E.
Discourage additional commercial sprawl and strip development.
F.
Commercial areas, outside the US-27BR corridor, will be small in scale, with a
limited range of uses intended to support nearby residential areas.
G.
Commercial development related to the US-27BR corridor will be consistent with
the principles and practices of the US-27 Corridor/Subarea Access Management
Plan and any of the subarea access management plans adopted by the
Township, and will be carefully planned to include such provisions as:
• Generous building and parking setbacks
• Front or rear service drives
• Carefully placed, single driveway locations for multiple properties
• Extensive landscaping; and
• Modest signs to avoid distraction from the roadway.
H.
The I-69 interchanges will include the same access management provisions as
the US-27BR corridor, but will be limited in scale to the areas nearest the
interchange, without encroaching on nearby planned residential development.
I.
Encourage planned commercial expansion in limited areas on the west side.
• Continue implementation of planned neighborhood commercial and freeway
commercial uses according to the Northwest Area Plan and zoning map;
except add a small neighborhood commercial area in the northwest corner of
the Township.
J.
Explore a range of tools to assist with the rehabilitation, reuse and/or
redevelopment of blighted and polluted commercial properties through possible
creation of a brownfield redevelopment authority and/or a downtown

DeWitt Township Comprehensive Development Plan - 2005
4-12

�K.
L.

M.

development authority.
Until public water, sanitary sewer, and storm sewer systems are provided, major
development should not be permitted.
Landscaping should be provided along the street edge to enhance aesthetics
and screen parking areas. Specific landscaping requirements should be
incorporated to ensure adequate and uniform landscape treatment among
businesses.
Where appropriate, sidewalks or paths should be provided to link businesses
with each other and residential areas.
Photo 4-6
Commercial Development in DeWitt Township

Photograph by Gregory White

Following are descriptions of the various categories of commercial land use that appear
on the Future Land Use Map and where applicable their relationships to existing zoning
classifications.

DeWitt Township Comprehensive Development Plan - 2005
4-13

�Photo 4-7
Site Plan Review Standards Should
Guide Sign Number, Size and Location

Photograph by Stephen C. Musselman

NC (Neighborhood Oriented Commercial): The NC designation applies to areas
intended to support retail and personal service establishments catering to the day-to-day
convenience needs of residents in the immediately surrounding residential areas. The
areas are generally intended to be developed under zoning provisions outlined under the
existing BL (Business, Local) district contained in the Township Zoning Ordinance.
CC (Community Oriented Commercial): The CC designation is applied to those areas
of the Township that have both good regional access and easy access to several
existing and/or emerging neighborhoods. The designation is intended to accommodate a
wide range of commercial land uses ranging from retail to service establishments that
are primarily destination oriented, as opposed to drive by business. The areas illustrated
are envisioned to be developed under the provisions of the BC (Business, Community)
and BSC (Business, Shopping Center) zoning districts as depicted on the Township
Zoning Map.
There is an area of land on the east side of US27-BR, north of I-69 and south of the
Twinbrook subdivision that, because of its proximity to the I-69 interchange, is
particularly suited for CC (Community Oriented Commercial) use. However, the limited
access right-of-way of the interchange extends along the US-27BR frontage of the
property, denying it direct access to US-27BR. The Township will consider rezoning this
property for uses consistent with the CC (Community Oriented Commercial) designation
where a developer elects to provide a service drive consistent with the Access
Management standards that connects to the access drive associated with the
commercial properties north of the Twinbrook neighborhood.
In the absence of such a connection, the property only has access through the existing
subdivision. In such a case the property is better suited to be developed as it is currently
zoned, in a mix of residential, local commercial, and agricultural zoning districts.

DeWitt Township Comprehensive Development Plan - 2005
4-14

�HC (Highway Oriented Commercial): The HC designation is applied to areas in which
free standing drive-by or highway oriented uses such as convenience stores, motels and
automobile sales and services are now being provided and where infill by similar uses
should be encouraged.
ACOM (Airport Commercial): The ACOM designation is provided as illustration of
those areas on Capital City Airport property that are designated on the Airport Master
Plan to support land set aside for airport facilities and private airport related
commercial/industrial development that may occur on property leased from the airport.
Photo 4-8
Highway Oriented Commercial Development in DeWitt Township

Photograph by Mike Nolen

Office Land Uses
The areas designated on Map 4-1 for office uses are intended to accommodate a wide
variety of office types. These include single office buildings on one or more parcels,
unified office park developments, and large corporate office facilities. In general, these
areas are intended to provide employment opportunities and necessary services for
Township residents, as well as to diversify the Township’s tax base.
Development within these areas is expected to minimize adverse traffic and
environmental impacts. Developments are intended to locate in areas where they will be
compatible with surrounding land uses, even serving in some instances as transition
areas between incompatible land uses.
Goals:
1.
Provide for a variety of different kinds of high quality office developments from
small buildings on existing lots (such as along US-27BR) to office parks and
corporate office developments.
2.
Allow office developments to buffer residential areas from commercial areas.
3.
Promote green development that meets LEED standards.
Policies:
A.
Create a new POD (Planned Office District) zoning classification to
accommodate office campus developments with related mixed uses.

DeWitt Township Comprehensive Development Plan - 2005
4-15

�B.

C.

D.
E.

F.

Discourage office developments in areas along major streets where inadequate
lot depth is provided for turning movements because of the conflicts that develop
between through-traffic and office traffic.
Locate office developments by minimizing traffic congestion and preventing
nuisance impacts on adjacent properties through careful site design and effective
landscape buffering.
Ensure there is adequate utility service and access to appropriate transportation
facilities in all office areas prior to approval of new office uses.
Revise residential PUD regulations to permit office as a buffer use where it has
access from an arterial or collector, and it can be done in manner that is
compatible with the area.
Apply access management principles and regulations the same as for
commercial uses.

Industrial Land Uses
The Industrial Land Use areas shown on Map 4-1 are intended to identify and provide for
future industrial areas as a means of diversifying the tax base and promoting local
employment opportunities. The industrial areas must be situated for easy highway
access and to minimize potential conflicts with residential uses. Industrial development
should also be supported by the provision of adequate sewer and water.
The Future Land Use Map reflects the continued desire of the Township to build on
existing industrial uses adjacent to the Capital City Airport, along US-27BR and Wood
Road in the south central portion of the Township.
Goals:
1.
Allocate appropriate land areas for new high quality industrial development while
minimizing land use conflicts with abutting development in order to achieve
improved local employment opportunities and a more diversified tax base.
2.
Promote green development that meets LEED standards.
3.
Encourage most new industries to locate in well planned industrial park settings
thereby maximizing the efficiency of providing for the necessary infrastructure
and minimizing environmental and land use conflicts.
Policies:
A.
Ensure there is adequate utility service and access to appropriate transportation
facilities in all industrial areas prior to approval of new industrial uses.
B.
Group industries together in specific areas with attractive site planning,
landscaping, building setback and coverage controls.
C.
Separate industrial areas from residential areas with buffer areas, formed by
some combination of off-street parking, parks, open space or parkways.
D.
Explore a range of tools to assist with the rehabilitation, reuse and/or
redevelopment of blighted and polluted industrial properties through possible
creation of a brownfield redevelopment authority.
E.
Industrial development that occurs in previously zoned industrial areas where
public utilities are not present should be carefully monitored for environmental
impacts.
F.
Incorporate provisions in the Zoning Ordinance that would discourage extensive
outdoor storage areas and other unenclosed uses that may detract from the
character of the Township, and harm the value of surrounding properties.
G.
Discourage the development of industries which, because of their scale or type of

DeWitt Township Comprehensive Development Plan - 2005
4-16

�H.

operation, could have adverse environmental impacts or overburden public
services.
Incorporate access control mechanisms similar to those discussed in the
Commercial Land Use element into zoning provisions relative to the industrial
districts.
Photo 4-9
Granger Landfill and Recycling Operations is
an Industrial Use in DeWitt Township

Photograph by Granger Waste Management Company

Institutional
The Institutional designation contained on the Future Land Use Map primarily reflects
those areas of the Township that are presently put to a Public or Semi Public use. These
include the Township Administrative Offices, existing parks, the wastewater treatment
facility, existing and planned Capital City Airport properties, several of the more isolated
cemetery sites and religious institutions, and school sites.
Photo 4-10
Greater Lansing Area Airport in DeWitt Township

Photograph from the 1993 Airport Master Plan

This Plan does not attempt to direct the precise location of future institutional uses, but
recognizes the importance of careful site selection and site design in locating public and

DeWitt Township Comprehensive Development Plan - 2005
4-17

�quasi-public uses to ensure compatibility with adjacent uses. Various zoning district
provisions of the Township's Zoning Ordinance contain standards for the review and
approval of most institutional uses, prior to their development. All proposed institutional
uses should go through site plan review.
Goals:
1.
Appropriately plan ahead for the establishment of institutional land uses.
2.
Promote green development that meets LEED standards.
Policies:
A.
All Township owned and operated institutional facilities should be planned and
sited consistent with this Plan and the Township Zoning Ordinance. The site plan
review process should be the principal vehicle for guiding review of specific
facilities.
B.
All Township owned and operated institutional facilities should be incorporated
into the annual capital improvement program.
C.
All Township owned and operated institutional facilities should be designed with
a high degree of attention to quality architecture and civic design so as to set a
high standard for future private development.
D.
All Township owned and operated institutional facilities should be carefully
designed and sited so as to minimize nuisance impacts on abutting properties.
E.
All Township owned and operated institutional facilities should be carefully sited
to maximize access to the facility for Township residents and to ensure a wide
variety of possible connections to alternative means of transport if the facility is
one likely to be used by a diverse citizenry.
F.
All other institutional uses shall be reviewed for consistency with this Plan and
the Township Zoning Ordinance prior to approval. All such uses shall be
encouraged to use site planning processes that take concerns of neighbors into
account, prior to preparation of the site plan submitted to the Township for
review.
G.
Promote awareness of Township Future Land Use and Infrastructure Plans with
the Capital City Airport Authority.
H.
Remain aware of changes in the Capital City Airport Authority Plans and
wherever feasible, influence those plans to be consistent with Township Plans.
I.
Pay particular attention to the future location of DeWitt Road, to the northeastern
boundary of the airport, to the future location of a new terminal, and to the
location and size of a new northern runway as it may relate to attracting
compatible nonresidential uses south of Stoll Road.
COMMUNITY FACILITIES
Four categories of community facilities follow with associated goals and policies.
Recreational facilities; transportation systems; public utilities, facilities and services; and
regional cooperation and coordination are addressed. Some of these facilities are
depicted on Map 4-1 under the INS – Institutional category, and three new roads are
also depicted. Additional new roads and road expansions are presented on Map 6-2.
Recreational Facilities
Goal:
1.
Provide parks and recreation facilities that are in tune with the needs and desires

DeWitt Township Comprehensive Development Plan - 2005
4-18

�of all age groups of residents within the Township and through land use planning
and regulation ensure the preservation of important natural features for use as
open space.
Policies:
A.
Encourage open space areas and recreational facilities as part of future
subdivisions, planned unit developments, and other major residential
developments.
B.
Explore development of combined or adjoining school-park and recreational
facilities in order to ensure maximum and efficient use and to reduce land costs.
C.
Fully develop existing parks and acquire and develop additional recreational land
so as to offer residents a full spectrum of recreational opportunities.
As identified in the Township’s Parks and Recreation Plan, it is important that planning
and decision making for the provision of additional recreational facilities begin at an early
stage. This is especially important in terms of land acquisition, where early acquisition
can greatly reduce overall costs and better assure the ability to acquire land in the most
desirable location.
It is therefore recommended that the Township take the following measures in
maintaining a parks and recreation program, in fulfillment of the above goals and
policies:
1. Regularly update the Township's Parks and Recreation plan to qualify the
Township for the receipt of Land and Water Conservation Funds (LWCF) and
Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund (MNRTF) grants from the Michigan
Department of Natural Resources.
2. Identify and pursue potential park and recreation funding sources such as private
foundations and other local, state and federal programs.
3. Continue to work with the Clinton County, the City of DeWitt and other adjacent
communities and school districts to ensure a coordinated approach to providing
facilities with organized recreational activities.
4. Continue to provide recreation programs that meet the needs of the community
through the DeWitt Area Recreation Authority (DARA).
5. Monitor citizen needs and concerns.

DeWitt Township Comprehensive Development Plan - 2005
4-19

�Photo 4-11
Encourage Open Space Areas as Part of PUDs and
other Major Residential Developments

Photograph by Stephen C. Musselman

Transportation Systems
Goals:
1.
Maximize the capacity and function of the existing arterial and collector streets
and to minimize the conflicts between their functions by regulating land use,
building setbacks, and driveway openings, and where appropriate, by requiring
the development of front or rear access service drives.
2.
Through on-going planning, cooperation with state and county agencies and
capital improvements programs to establish priorities for ongoing maintenance,
and the construction of necessary improvements or additions to the street
network.
3.
To acquire wherever feasible right-of-way along designated roads for future road
use and non-motorized trails.
4.
Achieve a well coordinated and interconnected street system by ensuring that as
each new development is reviewed and approved, it connects with abutting
development and existing or planned streets.
5.
Develop access management standards for those portions of the US-27BR
corridor that are not currently addressed in the Zoning Ordinance.
Policies:
A.
Maintain the road classification system in Chapter 2 that focuses on ensuring
arterial roads are built and expanded concurrent with needs of land development
in the area.
B.
Direct the majority of road improvements to areas of the Township where it is
most practical for growth to occur, or where road improvement spending will
provide the greatest return in improving traffic safety and reducing traffic
congestion.
C.
Direct the remaining road improvements toward areas where traffic volumes will
increase because of new development both within and outside the Township.
D.
Maintain rural gravel roads at current capacity standards.
E.
Assess the traffic impacts of all proposed developments, including the logical

DeWitt Township Comprehensive Development Plan - 2005
4-20

�F.

G.
H.
I.
J.

K.

future street locations which development may obstruct.
Ensure the capacity and function of existing roads and minimize conflicts
between through traffic and local traffic by regulating land uses, building
setbacks, driveway openings, and where appropriate, encouraging the
development of front or rear access service drives.
Coordinate the road system with those of adjacent communities to ensure an
economical and functional system.
Continue to require each new development to connect its roads with abutting
development and to use stub streets as the planned connection points.
Plan for transit stops in appropriate locations along US-27BR in cooperation with
a future transit provider.
Develop a subarea plan or plans for access management for the US-27BR
corridor north of Webb Road to the northern Township boundary and south of
Solon Road to the southern Township boundary.
It is recommended that zoning and subdivision controls officially recognize the
hierarchy of the road network by taking into consideration the traffic volume,
noise, speed and clear vision requirements of each roadway class. Such
requirements could translate into larger minimum lot frontages and building
setbacks along major streets than those along local platted streets.
Photo 4-12
Achieve a Well-Coordinated and Interconnected Street System

Photograph by Stephen Gobbo

The primary objective of the existing street system of DeWitt Township is to provide a
street network which will encourage the most logical orderly development of the area
while providing for the safe and efficient movement of people and goods. The major
problem with the street system is increased traffic volume on 2-lane collector and minor
arterial streets. Other factors that are increasingly significant include the need for better
traffic and access controls to avoid traffic and land use conflicts.
In considering the street system, it is important to remember that the Township does not
have jurisdiction over the public streets. Most of the surface streets are under the
jurisdiction of the Clinton County Road Commission. The freeways, US-27BR and Grand
River Avenue are subject to the jurisdiction of the Michigan Department of

DeWitt Township Comprehensive Development Plan - 2005
4-21

�Transportation (MDOT). Necessary improvements will need to be coordinated with the
appropriate agency.
Photo 4-13
Most of the Streets in DeWitt Township are Under the
Jurisdiction of the Clinton County Road Commission

Photograph by Stephen Gobbo

The following transportation related recommendations are intended to address existing
problems and to avoid problems in the future:
1. Within zoning and subdivision regulations maintain access controls intended to
reduce traffic conflicts along the major and minor arterials and collectors thereby
preserving their volume and function.
2. Establish road improvement priorities. Through cooperation with the Clinton
County Road Commission, monitor traffic volumes and road conditions as part of
a program to establish road improvement priorities. In this way, the Township can
objectively allocate its limited resources to those areas already having the
greatest need.
3. Consider the ability of existing roadway conditions to handle projected traffic
volumes resulting from new development when reviewing site plans and rezoning
requests.
4. Add right-of-way dedication standards to subdivision and zoning ordinances and
consistently implement these requirements as new development occurs.
In addition to the above recommendations, the Future Land Use Map depicts three new
major roads. The first is the relocation of DeWitt Road from Sheridan Road to I-69 to
accommodate runway extensions and a new airport terminal location, as well as to
expand its capacity as a parkway that respects the natural character of the area. The
second is the new road from south US-27BR to Wood Road through the new Granger
Development. The third is an extension of Herbison to Wood Road. The final location of
these new roads is likely to differ from that depicted and should only be viewed as
approximations.
Public Utilities, Facilities and Services
Goals:
1.
It is the goal of DeWitt Township to promote an adequate level of public services

DeWitt Township Comprehensive Development Plan - 2005
4-22

�2.

and facilities to protect the public health, safety and welfare, and to ensure a high
quality of life for residents.
It is the goal of DeWitt Township to encourage the majority of new development
to locate in areas where public utilities can be most efficiently and cost effectively
provided.

Policies:
A.
Provide the necessary public utilities and public safety services to accommodate
the growth of the Township's population while minimizing costs to the taxpayer
through proper planning.
B.
Locate public facilities in relation to the population they serve.
C.
Before approval of land development projects, the Township will seek from
applicants and other sources, information about utilities, sewer and water
systems, drainage, roads, fire and police protection, and other Township services
to ensure that they are adequate to serve the proposed project and future
development in nearby areas. In the event they are not adequate, the project will
not be approved until such time as they are determined to be adequate.
D.
Private sewage treatment systems beyond those necessary to serve an
individual home are not permitted in the Township.
E.
Applicants for subdivision and zoning approval for all uses are responsible for the
costs of extending public sewer and water to their property as a prerequisite to
development, except for those portions of such costs that can be reasonably
assigned to the public or other abutting property owners as determined by the
Township.
F.
The Township will continue utility payback procedures as an option for a
developer to get paid back for the portion of a sewer or water line extension that
also benefits other property owners.
Regional Cooperation and Coordination
Goal:
1.
Closely coordinate growth management policies with those of neighboring
communities.
Policies:
A.
Community cooperation with the City of DeWitt will be promoted to provide an
adequate level of services that does not duplicate efforts, conserves Township
and City resources, acts to improve the quality of life of both communities, and
ensures that growth considers the direction established by the Master Plans of
each community.
B.
The Township will participate in regional planning efforts in utility, street
transportation, drainage, and land use planning to encourage consistency with,
and further implementation of, the Township’s Comprehensive Development Plan
as well as other regional plans.
RELATED LAND USE ISSUES
Historic preservation and greenways are two related land use issues that are not
depicted on Map 4-1. However, goals and policies follow in order to improve aspects of
quality of life in the Township related to these issues.

DeWitt Township Comprehensive Development Plan - 2005
4-23

�Historic Preservation
Goal:
1.
Identify and protect important historic structures in the Township.
Policies:
A.
Inventory important historic structures in the Township.
B.
Adopt zoning regulations that prevent destruction of historic structures.
Photo 4-14
Protect Historic Resources in DeWitt Township

Photograph by Kimberly Smelker

Greenways
Goal:
1.
Develop a greenways plan, and then implement an integrated system of
greenways that include both improved trails for non-motorized use and natural
greenways that primarily protect important wetlands, woods and other open
spaces in a planned, coordinated fashion.
Policies:
A.
Develop a network of trails within all parts of the Township that connect with trails
in adjoining jurisdictions.
B.
Develop a network of natural open spaces for wildlife and environmental
protection.

DeWitt Township Comprehensive Development Plan - 2005
4-24

�Photo 4-15
Develop Connected System of Greenways that Includes Parks

Photograph by Gregory White

SPECIAL PLANNING AREAS
While the Future Land Use Map and corresponding designations provide goals and
policies for the general development of the Township, it is recognized that there are
some smaller geographic areas that require additional specialized analysis. In some
cases, that analysis has been conducted and is provided in the subsections that follow.
In other cases, it will be necessary for the Township to complete area plans in the future
with participation by neighborhood residents, property owners, and developers. The
special planning areas are listed below and depicted on Map 4-2.
• Traditional Neighborhood Development (TND) Area
• Neighborhood Conservation Area
• Commercial and Industrial Revitalization Area
Traditional Neighborhood Development (TND) Area
Goal:
1. Work cooperatively with the large landowners east of US-27BR, north of
Webb Road, south of Round Lake Road and west of Wood Road to develop
a subarea plan for a high density TND around the existing gravel pit ponds
which includes:
• A multi-story downtown styled commercial area that faces the TND on
the east side and also serves passersby on the US-27BR side of the
road;
• A wide range of residential housing types including row house designs
that target seniors, singles and young married couples--unless it also
includes an elementary school;
• Thorough design controls and design guidelines that require formbased zoning in both the TND portion of this area, as well as along
the portion of US-27BR that is adjacent to the TND area.
2. Depending on what is learned by exploring TND under Goal 1 above,
consider allowing TND in other parts of the Township.

DeWitt Township Comprehensive Development Plan - 2005
4-25

�The primary initiatives needed to implement this goal are as follows:
1. Township officials should take advantage of opportunities to become much
more familiar with TND (also known as New Urbanism and Neo-Traditional
Town Design) by:
a) purchasing books and downloading some of the rich material on the
subject from the Internet;
b) attending workshops and conferences on TND;
c) monitoring TND projects proposed or under development around the
state;
d) raising the option to potentially interested developers and urging them to
get well informed on the option.
2. Informally begin conversations with landowners in the area to better ascertain
their interest and current use plans. If there is no interest or outright
opposition, the TND initiative should probably be abandoned.
3. When the time is right, prepare an RFP for consultant assistance to create a
TND subarea plan. The consultant (team) to be hired should have:
a) demonstrated commitment to and experience conducting a TND design
charrette that fully embraces property owner, township official and broad
public input;
b) experience with creating the necessary design templates to achieve the
desired architectural features;
c) experience with drafting a form-based zoning code to implement the
consensus TND design;
d) experience in costing the public elements of the selected TND design and
be able to provide assistance with cost-effective financing options.
Neighborhood Conservation Area
Goal:
1. Develop and aggressively implement a housing conservation and rehabilitation
program.
The primary initiatives needed to implement this goal are as follows:
A. Identify boundaries for residential conservation and rehabilitation as roughly
illustrated on Map 4-2 and labeled as Neighborhood Conservation Area.
B. Work with neighborhoods throughout the quadrant to build support for a major
housing conservation and rehabilitation program targeted at neighborhoods in
the south central portion of this quadrant.
C. Promote expansion of affordable infill housing in this area.
D. Explore the full range of programs that might be utilized to improve the
neighborhoods, including a property maintenance code, a brownfield
redevelopment program, and a Downtown Development Authority (DDA).
E. Aggressively remove substandard housing that is not brought up to code within a
reasonable time.
F. Tie into county and regional housing rehabilitation programs.
G. Identify sites where housing should be removed and commercial uses expanded
and begin an acquisition program if the private sector does not.
Commercial and Industrial Revitalization Area
Goals:
1. Prepare and implement a detailed subarea plan for commercial rehabilitation and
expansion along US-27BR south of I-69.

DeWitt Township Comprehensive Development Plan - 2005
4-26

�2. Incorporate detailed access management guidelines for the portion of the
corridor that does not already have such guidelines in place.
The primary initiatives needed to implement this goal are as follows:
A. Investigate interest of the City of Lansing to work cooperatively in the preparation
of a detailed commercial land analysis subarea plan from Lake Lansing Road to
the I-69 interchange. If the City is interested, do it cooperatively, if it is not,
prepare a detailed commercial land analysis from Sheridan Road to I-69
interchange.
B. Compare existing building footprints to zoning setbacks and existing and planned
future right-of-way.
C. Decide on which land uses to permit/encourage in the planning and why; and
what ‘fallback’ there is if the market is not receptive to these ideas. Focus initially
on residential and business services such as home improvements and repair
businesses such as plumbers, electricians and heating and cooling companies.
D. Create a new zoning district that focuses on service businesses with minimum
quality design standards and encourage its use along US-27BR.
E. Identify incentives to encourage the market to develop these lands (especially
the larger undeveloped parcels) for the desired uses specified in the subarea
plans.
F. Restructure zoning regulations for the use, size, scale, height, bulk and design
characteristics to allow the development of new, desirable, nonresidential or
mixed use development in these areas.
G. Establish a mechanism to deny all other uses that would underutilize the
development potential of properties within the planning area, except for de
minimus uses that could be easily removed once more substantial development
opportunities emerged.
H. Identify areas where commercial lots should be expanded to permit better
redevelopment, moving buildings back and buffering the back of commercial
property from residential uses.
I. Develop incentives for redevelopment including property acquisition and zoning
changes.
J. Pick key places for stimulating changes and initiate action.
K. Explore the full range of programs that might be utilized to encourage
redevelopment and revitalization, including a property maintenance code, a
brownfield redevelopment program, and a Downtown Development Authority
(DDA).

DeWitt Township Comprehensive Development Plan - 2005
4-27

�Map 4-2 Special Planning Areas

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1401 W. Herbi~-on Rd.
DeWitt, MIi 46620
(517} 669-6576

DeWitt Township Comprehensive Development Plan - 2005
4-28

�Chapter 5
ZONING PLAN
INTRODUCTION
This chapter opens with a general description of a zoning plan. It is followed by a brief
explanation of the relationship between this Comprehensive Development Plan and the
Zoning Ordinance of DeWitt Township. The intent and key dimensional standards of the
zoning districts are briefly described.
WHAT IS A ZONING PLAN?
A “zoning plan” is another term for a “zone plan” which is used in the Michigan planning
and zoning enabling acts. Section 1(a) of the Township Planning Act, PA 168 of 1959,
as amended, requires that the plan prepared under that act serve as the basis for the
zoning plan. Section 7 of the Township Zoning Act, PA 184 of 1943, as amended,
requires a zoning plan be prepared as the basis for the zoning ordinance. The zoning
plan identifies the zoning districts and their purposes. It must be based on an inventory
of conditions pertinent to zoning in the township and the purposes for which zoning may
be adopted (as described in Section 3 of the Township Zoning Act). This Plan fulfills that
purpose for the Township.
RELATIONSHIP TO COMPREHENSIVE DEVELOPMENT PLAN
This Comprehensive Development Plan sets forth the vision, goals and policies for
growth and development in DeWitt Township for approximately the next twenty years. It
includes a specific strategy for managing growth and change in land uses and
infrastructure in the area over this period, and will be periodically reviewed and updated
at least once each five years. This chapter presenting the Zoning Plan, along with the
rest of the relevant parts of this Comprehensive Development Plan, is intended to guide
the implementation of and future changes to the Zoning Ordinance. Existing permitted
uses of land, including density, setbacks and other related standards are as established
in the Zoning Ordinance.
As a general policy, it is recommended that the rezoning of any land in support of the
Future Land Use Map be deferred until specific applications are made. This will allow
maximum opportunity to ensure that appropriate levels of public utilities are available to
support the development. Similarly, no rezoning should be made that is inconsistent with
the Future Land Use Map and/or text of this Plan, unless this Plan is first amended after
careful study to establish the appropriateness of the change. As a general rule, this
means if the proposed use is dense or intense enough to require public sewer and/or
water and both are not present at the site, a rezoning request to permit the use should
be denied, until the necessary public utilities are available to the site.

DeWitt Township Comprehensive Development Plan - 2005
5-1

�FUTURE LAND USE MAP DESIGNATIONS COMPARED TO ZONING DISTRICTS
Following is Table 5-1, a comparison of the designations on Map 4-1, the Future Land
Use Map and comparable districts in the Township Zoning Ordinance.
Table 5-1
Comparison of Map Designations on Future Land Use Map and Zoning Map
Future Land Use Map Designation
Environmental Protection and Conservation
Conservancy

Agricultural Land Uses
AP – Agricultural Preservation
A – Agricultural
Residential Land Uses
SF-L - Low Density Single Family Residential
SF-M – Medium Density Single Family
Residential

SF-H - High Density Single Family
Residential

MFR - Multiple Family Residential
MHP - Manufactured Home Park
Commercial Land Uses
NC - Neighborhood Oriented Commercial
CC - Community Oriented Commercial
HC - Highway Oriented Commercial
ACOM - Airport Commercial
Office Land Uses
O - Office

Industrial Land Uses
I-L - Light Industrial
I-H - Heavy Industrial
I-P - Industrial Park
Institutional Land Uses
INS - Institutional

Zoning District
No comparable district, but there are
separate regulations over floodplains
and wetlands
Agricultural District
A District: Agricultural
A District: Agricultural
Residential Districts
R1 and R2 Districts Residential
Single Family
R3 District: Residential Single
Family
R4 District: Residential Single
Family and Two Family
R5 District: Residential Single and
Two Family
R6 District: Residential Single
Family
M-1 through M-4 Districts: Multiple
Family Residential
MHP District: Mobile Home Park
Development
Commercial Districts
BL - Business, Local
BC - Business, Community and
BSC – Business Shopping Center
BC – Business, Community
BC – Business, Community
I-P – Industrial Park
Office Districts
PO – Professional Office
OP – Office Park
POD – Planned Office Development
Industrial Districts
IL - Industrial, Light
IH - Industrial, Heavy
I-P - Industrial Park
Includes properties in any district that
are owned by public or nonprofit
institutions

DeWitt Township Comprehensive Development Plan - 2005
5-2

�ZONING DISTRICTS
Following are the general purposes and characteristics of zoning within DeWitt
Township. The specific purposes of individual zoning districts and permitted land uses
are listed in the specific district provisions of the Zoning Ordinance. The Section
references indicate where detailed ordinance language for each district is located within
the Zoning Ordinance.
Agriculture District
One zone is an agriculture district:
Section 5.4
A District: Agricultural
This district is intended to preserve, enhance and stabilize existing areas within the
Township which are presently used for general farming and areas which, because of
their soil characteristics and flora, should be conserved for agricultural purposes. In
addition, premature urban development within rural areas can result in increased public
costs because of the necessity of serving scattered urban development with water,
sewer, schools, roadways, and other public services. It is, therefore, the intent of this
district to preserve essential rural land from urban development and to safeguard these
lands and their essential economic value as agricultural lands. The Township might
consider creating a second agricultural district that focuses on preservation of the
agricultural lands in the northeast quadrant of the Township per the recommendations in
the last chapter, and retain this agricultural district for other agricultural lands in the
Township.
Photo 5-1
Agricultural District

Photograph by Bruce Keilen

Residential Districts
The following zoning districts are residential districts:
Section 5.5
R1 District: Residential Single Family
Section 5.5A
R2 District: Residential Single Family
Section 5.6
R3 District: Residential Single Family
Section 5.6A
R4 District: Residential Single and Two-Family

DeWitt Township Comprehensive Development Plan - 2005
5-3

�Section 5.7
Section 5.7A
Section 5.8
Section 5.9
Section 5.10
Section 5.10A
Section 5.11

R5 District: Residential Single and Two-Family
R6 District: Residential Single Family
M-1 District: Multiple Residential
M-2 District: Multiple Residential
M-3 District: Multiple Residential
M-4 District: Multiple Residential
MHP District: Mobile Home Park Development
Photo 5-2
Residential District

Photograph by Stephen Gobbo

The principal purpose of these districts is to provide for a range of residential dwelling
types at various densities within individual zones tailored for specific uses. The
“Residential Single Family” districts are categorized through density, with “R1” being the
least dense and “R6” as having the greatest amount of density. The “R1” district is
established to encourage the development, on fairly large lots, of residential properties
of semi-rural character within areas of the Township which presently have public water
and sewerage services or will receive such services shortly. The “R2”-“R6” districts
establish higher density through building on smaller lots and include areas within the
Township which presently have or will have within the reasonable future, public water
and sewer facilities.
The “Multiple Residential” districts follow the same pattern in regards to density, with “M1” having the least amount of density and “M-4” as having the greatest. These districts
are provided to accommodate a mixture of two-family and multiple family dwellings on
specified lands. These districts can also serve as transitions between low and high
density residential areas. The allowable density within the “Multiple Residential” districts,
range from 2 units per net acre to 24 units per net acre.
The “MHP” district is intended to provide for the development of Mobile Home Parks and
Planned Mobile Home Park developments in areas of the Township where public utilities
are available and to insure that the residents of such communities shall be provided with
certain minimum standards for quality of their living environments.

DeWitt Township Comprehensive Development Plan - 2005
5-4

�Office Districts
The following zoning districts are office districts:
Section 5.12
PO District: Professional Office Services
Section 5.12A
O-P District: Office Park
Section 5.12B
POD District: Planned Office Development
The “PO” District is intended to provide for quiet, non-retail types of business and public
health uses that do not generate constant high volume traffic from the general public.
The “O-P” District is intended to provide for the development of a variety of office uses of
a business and professional nature as well as to provide for the development of certain
related activities in proximity to office uses. The regulations contained in the “O-P”
section are designed to ensure a harmonious relationship between the Office Park
District and the abutting land uses and to promote efficient functioning for uses located
within the Office Park District. A new “POD” District has been created to address siting
issues with the new Auto Owners campus and similar office development that may be
attracted to the Township
Commercial Districts
The following zoning districts are commercial districts:
Section 5.13
BL District: Business, Local
Section 5.14
BC District: Business, Community
Section 5.15
BSC District: Business, Shopping Center
The general purpose of these districts is to provide retail shopping opportunities for
Township residents and those living within the region. The “BL” district is designed to
provide convenient day-to-day retail and personal services to persons living in local
adjacent residential areas with a minimum impact upon that surrounding residential
development. This district accommodates a major portion of the existing strip
commercial development, but it is the intent of this district that future local business
development be placed in planned centers rather than small scattered local business
zones. The “BC” district is designed to facilitate the needs of a larger consumer
population than is served by the local business districts; and typically, accommodates
those retail and business establishments that serve the community at large rather than
localize residential areas as would be served by local business activity. In regard to the
“BSC” district, the intention is to provide for and encourage the development of grouped
retail sales and service establishments at logical and sound locations. Typically, such
planned centers are located on a single unified site and are designed and constructed as
an integrated unit for shopping and other business activity.
Industrial Districts
The following zoning districts are industrial districts:
Section 5.16
IL District: Industrial, Light
Section 5.17
IH District: Industrial, Heavy
Section 5.17A
I-P District: Industrial Park
The “IL” district is established primarily to accommodate wholesale, warehouse, and
industrial activities which, if properly buffered, can function with a minimum of
undesirable and detrimental effects on surrounding districts. It is also intended to
accommodate certain limited commercial uses that offer convenience to persons
employed in the industrial district as well as those commercial uses that have
characteristics which are recognized as being detrimental to other retail activities and

DeWitt Township Comprehensive Development Plan - 2005
5-5

�residential uses. The “IH” district is intended to encourage and facilitate the development
of industrial enterprises in a setting conducive to public health; economic stability and
growth; and to protect from blight, deterioration and incompatible non industrial
encroachment. It is the intent of this district to allow for heavier industrial enterprises that
generally require larger areas, greater outside storage and inherently produce greater
levels of noise, odor, dust and smoke. The “I-P” district is designated to accommodate a
variety of light industrial, applied technology, research and related office uses within a
subdivision setting. The use of this specialized district is intended to provide a campus
environment through the coordinated application of development standards such as
building height, gross area coverage, signage, landscaping and other unifying elements.
SITE DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS
Standards related to bulk, height, density, and building setbacks for each of the zoning
districts are listed in the aforementioned sections of the Zoning Ordinance and/or
Section 5.18 of the Zoning Ordinance. The Zoning Ordinance also includes chapters
that address signs, landscaping, parking, and the like for developments in the respective
districts.
PROPOSED CHANGES TO ZONING ORDINANCE
Following is a list of changes that could be made to the Township Zoning Ordinance to
be consistent with the policies in this Plan.
• Add a new planned unit development office district (POD).
• Add a new PUD for mixed use residential and open space.
• Add lock-in driveway’s regulations along undeveloped land throughout Township
through an approved Access Management Plan.
• Establish right-of-way preservation standards in the zoning and subdivision
regulations.
• Increase zoning setbacks along arterials and collectors based on future ROW.
• Add site plan review standards that will allow future transit stops to be provided
for uses along the US-27BR corridor.
• Add interconnected bicycle and pedestrian circulation system (non-motorized
transportation) standards to the site plan review standards of the Zoning
Ordinance.
• Review veterinarian hospital and kennel regulations.
• Review standards for auto-oriented businesses such as drive-through oil
changes.
• Review fence regulations.
• Review current regulations regarding in-home child care in residential districts.
• Determine whether reductions are appropriate for rear yard setbacks in
residential districts.
• Examine the minimum number of parking spaces required for the various uses in
the Township and determine whether any adjustments, deletions, or additions
are necessary.
• Consider adding a comprehensive set of lightning standards to the Zoning
Ordinance.
• Review the landscaping standards to assure that the Township’s rural character
will be adequately protected.

DeWitt Township Comprehensive Development Plan - 2005
5-6

�•
•

Conduct a review of the uses allowed in the various districts to assure that
modern uses are adequately addressed.
Review regulations and update as needed to assure that the private sector can
provide necessary services to an aging population, including housing and health
care.

DeWitt Township Comprehensive Development Plan - 2005
5-7

�Chapter 6
GROWTH MANAGEMENT STRATEGY
INTRODUCTION
This chapter describes the infrastructure, community facilities and services strategies
and initiatives that will be necessary for the vision in Chapter 3 and the future land use
arrangement in Chapter 4 to become a reality. It discusses the importance of ensuring
that public investments in land and infrastructure contribute to building the kind of
community desired by Township residents and paid for as each new increment of growth
occurs. It describes the importance of adopting an adequate public facilities ordinance,
maintaining an annual capital improvements program and helping ensure major
investments are made into the Township road system according to Township design
standards. The importance of adequate public sewer and water, fire, police and park and
recreation services is also stressed. These measures replace the urban growth staging
strategy promoted in the 1991 Plan.
INFRASTRUCTURE AND PUBLIC LAND INVESTMENTS
Background
Where a municipality does and does not spend public money to improve roads or extend
sewer and/or water lines is one of the most effective tools available to guide growth.
However, it is very expensive for municipalities to build new infrastructure to stimulate
growth in an area and may create a situation where existing residents are paying for
most of the infrastructure costs of growth rather than the new residents served by the
new infrastructure. Partly as a result, it has long been the policy of DeWitt Township that
new development pay all the incremental infrastructure costs associated with new
development. This is especially fair given that existing and former property owners of the
Township have paid for the existing major infrastructure framework, such as the sewer
and water mains, the treatment facilities, the fire stations, Township Hall and major
Township parks—which for the most part served existing development when they were
constructed. This Plan is based on a continuation of the policy that the Township does
NOT pay for the incremental costs of infrastructure expansion, except perhaps in the
following instances:
• Where it is an extension of a sewer or water main that will serve much more than
the new development, and there is some major physical problem giving rise to
unusual costs, such as topographic relief requiring extra large lift stations. The
normal policy is for the developer to construct the expanded infrastructure at a
size determined by the Township to be able to serve the additional property, and
the Township will incur those costs associated with over-sizing the system to
serve beyond the new development.
• Where right-of-way acquisition is involved on properties not proposed for
development and the right-of-way is not being acquired by a road authority to
address an existing congestion or safety problem, but rather is for the purpose of
ultimately building a new road at a higher standard than the road authority would
otherwise build it.

DeWitt Township Comprehensive Development Plan - 2005
6-1

�Photo 6-1
Road and other Public Infrastructure Investments will be Necessary

Photograph by Stephen Gobbo

Adequate Public Facilities Ordinance
Communities that reach the level and rate of suburban development that DeWitt
Township has, usually consider adopting an adequate public facilities ordinance (APFO)
to ensure that as new development occurs, developers are fairly and equally treated as
relates to paying for new infrastructure. This way, existing Township residents do not
experience deficiencies in infrastructure and public service needs or have to pay higher
taxes for infrastructure that developers should have provided. An APFO sets level of
service thresholds for new development in each of the service areas it covers, such as
paved and gravel roads, public sewer and water, storm drains, and often parks,
recreation and school facilities. Each new development above a certain size threshold is
required to be reviewed for its impact on these public facilities and if found to be
inadequate, are not approved unless the project is scaled back to an acceptable impact
level, or the public facility or service is improved to the point the impact is acceptable.
This approach requires new development to pay for the incremental cost associated with
the new development, without saddling existing taxpayers with subsidies for the new
development. Not all costs of new development could be fairly charged to developers.
For example if a water main is needed on a road, that line may need to be larger than
necessary to service a particular development, so only the cost of the line associated
with the service needs of the development could be charged—or the developer could
pay for it all and get paid back as adjoining lands are developed. The same is true of a
lane widening or intersection improvement.
APFO's are common in many parts of the country but are just starting to come into use
in Michigan. They require communities to carefully plan and know the excess capacity of
each public service included in the APFO, and to set and uniformly apply fair standards
for the application of the ordinance. They are often effectuated through development
agreements signed by the developer and the Township Board. The ordinance usually
permits the Township Board to waive certain standards when the public benefit is great
enough to warrant doing so. This may be the case where a developer volunteers to build
a new road segment at an oversized standard as a substitute for mitigating another
facility impact. Or, perhaps a developer has proposed an affordable housing project with
an especially good design in an area that is both planned for affordable housing and at a
time when the need in the Township for such housing is not being adequately met. An

DeWitt Township Comprehensive Development Plan - 2005
6-2

�adequate public facilities ordinance should be in place before public sewer is extended
up US-27BR to Round Lake Road.
Capital Improvement Programs
Communities use capital improvement programs (CIP) to help make infrastructure
investment decisions. A CIP is a schedule of public infrastructure improvements for the
next six years. The CIP is updated annually by removing the just completed year and
adding one more year at the end. The CIP lists each new public facility or expansion to
an existing facility, where it will be located, how much it will cost, what the means of
financing is and relevant information related to the project. Each project is scored
against criteria that include conformance with this Plan. A CIP allows a community to
stage development and spread infrastructure investment over time so the community
does not overextend its finances. Some communities only include the community cost
portion of infrastructure in the CIP, others include any infrastructure expansion, including
that by developers.
The most important public infrastructure as relates to development are: roads, sewer,
water, storm drains, fire, police and schools. Each is briefly discussed in the next few
sections of this Chapter.
Future Road Improvements
Three major highways, US-27BR, US-127 and I-69 run through the Township. These
highways give the Township exceptional accessibility within both a regional and statewide context. Map 2-15 shows the existing street classification system in Township.
Due to its geographical relationship to Lansing and the highway network, DeWitt
Township is inherently tied to the future development of the overall Lansing Metropolitan
area. DeWitt Township has a good system of arterial roads and collector streets to
efficiently move people and goods. Numerous north/south routes are most important for
journey-to-work travel, especially for persons from DeWitt and adjoining jurisdictions to
the north that travel into Lansing on a daily basis. The major problem with the street
system is that it is not designed to accommodate the increased traffic volume on arterial
and collector streets that will come if the Township and adjoining jurisdictions build out
as planned. As the Township grows, better traffic and access controls will be necessary
to avoid traffic and land use conflicts. Several roads already have congestion problems,
especially during peak hours. These include Herbison Road and Airport Roads, and
parts of Clark Road. Many of the roads within DeWitt Township have just two lanes,
some with paved shoulders. In the more rural areas of the Township, some of the
east/west collector streets are gravel. For example, Howe Road is gravel on the east
side of US-127 and is of diminishing quality eastbound until it intersects with Chandler
Road.
The Township’s Planning Department conducted two buildout analyses to provide an
estimate of the number of homes that might result if all property in a community
developed at the maximum allowable density. The first analysis examined the total
buildout if the Township fully developed under the current Zoning Map. The second
analyzed the total buildout under the current Future Land Use Map. Assuming the trend
of approximately 2.49 persons per household remains constant, the population of the
Township under the two buildout scenarios would increase to between 38,500 and
nearly 53,000 people. The roads within the Township are not adequate to accommodate
such growth. Any section in the Township with over 800 dwelling units will be a

DeWitt Township Comprehensive Development Plan - 2005
6-3

�significant problem. The average household makes about ten trips per day. This would
result in 8,000 trips per day per section, not counting through trips starting and ending
outside the Township. The numerous two-lane roads throughout the Township will start
to be congested over time as buildout occurs. Generally, a two-lane paved road can
handle a maximum of about 15,000 vehicles per day.
The system of roads in DeWitt Township will require improvements to better handle the
increasing traffic and congestion from within the Township and through traffic from
adjoining jurisdictions. At a minimum, the road segments in Table 6-1 will need major
lane additions, from two lanes to four or five lanes or boulevards. These and other new
roads are illustrated on Map 6-2.

DeWitt Township Comprehensive Development Plan - 2005
6-4

�Map 6-1
Future Road Improvements

Future Road
lmp1
rovem,ents
Pl'O!lcoled Roa.I I m

a• _ fll!t1i"

1.\,/t.J,::,,v Mar;:

N

:H.al'lll rrarne Cslrned or 3-lafte
E,p ond le 4,Lane
'f er Rc-.1 NgJnQll EJqu y;ud

·

81 .

7v'oorrvl!11 10 Bowk!Vara

Q

PiJe:si ~ Flo!ZUl'i:lbout

t
April 13, 2005

Piao · , 9 D
merit
1401 W. Hl!ltii.Uln FM.
DeWin. Ml 45820
(517) &amp;69•6576

DeWitt Township Comprehensive Development Plan - 2005
6-5

�Table 6-1
Proposed Road Improvements
Location of
Segment

Existing
Design
Character
2-lane paved

Proposed Design
Character

Existing ROW

Future ROW

4-lane boulevard
with separate bike
path on one side

Mostly 66 feet,
but varies with
80-100 feet at
subdivisions

US-27BR from
Lansing to
Round Lake
Road

5-lane paved

4-lane boulevard
by filling center
lane wherever
feasible

Clark Road, from
Airport Road to
US-27BR and
from Wood to
Chandler

2-lane paved

DeWitt Road
from Lansing to
Interstate 69
Herbison Road
from Airport
Road to US27BR
Herbison Road
should also be
extended from
US-27BR to
Wood Road
Stoll Road from
Airport Road to
Wood Road

2-lane paved

4-lane with
separate bike path
on one side (may
be better as 3 lane
with path on both
sides)
4-lane boulevard
with separate bike
path on one side
2- or 3-lane paved
with traffic calming
with separate bike
path on one side
4 lane boulevard
with separate bike
path on both sides
of road

Varies widely
with 100 feet
min. and much
130-170 feet,
and some 225350’
Mostly 66 feet
but varies with
80-100 feet at
subdivisions

120 - 150 feet at
intersections and
boulevard
openings if semitrucks are likely
Same

2-lane paved

2- or 3-lane paved
with traffic calming
with separate bike
path on one side

Mostly 66 feet in
the middle with
100 feet on the
west end and 80100 feet on the
east end

State Road from
DeWitt Road to
US-127

2-lane paved

4-lane with
separate bike path
on one side (may
be better as 3 lane
with path on both
sides)

Mostly 66 feet

Airport Road
from Grand River
to Cutler Road

2-lane paved

Does not yet
exist

100-120 feet at
intersections

Mostly 66 feet

150 feet

Mostly 66 feet by
the City, but 80100 elsewhere

100 feet with 120
feet at
intersections if
feasible
150 - 200 feet
necessary to
accommodate
large semi-truck
turns
100-120 feet at
intersections

NA

100-120 feet at
intersections

Examples of road cross sections consistent with these rights-of-way follow (see Figure
6-1).

DeWitt Township Comprehensive Development Plan - 2005
6-6

�Figure 6-1
Future Road Cross Sections

4 Lane -1:50' Right--of-Way

P·a,rkway

4. il ane -1100 1' Right-of-Way

Graphic by Planning &amp; Zoning Center, Inc.

DeWitt Township Comprehensive Development Plan - 2005
6-7

�The Township will have to work diligently to acquire a significant amount of right-of-way
to expand some roads to four-lanes or boulevards. Boulevards with raised medians
separate opposing traffic and reduce conflict points by eliminating left-turns into and out
of driveways along an arterial. In fact, when properly designed, a roadway with limited
median crossovers is the safest design with the maximum traffic carrying capacity.
Rebuilding Airport, DeWitt and creating the as yet the unbuilt Herbison Road extension
from US-27BR to Wood Road as boulevards will not only improve traffic flow and safety,
but will also serve to give DeWitt Township a more clearly defined regional identity.
The Township will carefully monitor improvements at Capital City Airport. A proposed
new terminal building near the current intersection of State Road and DeWitt Road will
place increased emphasis on State Road between DeWitt Road and US-27BR as an
entrance to the Airport. This may necessitate the expansion of State Road to as many as
four lanes, in an area where existing development may make right-of-way acquisition
difficult. As development is proposed at the Airport, the Township will explore the
feasible roadway profiles in this area, up to and including, four lanes.
One way to acquire the needed right-of-way is to ask developers to donate it as a part of
local plat or site plan approvals. In some cases, development incentives may need to be
offered in the form of higher density or intensity of use of the site in order for the
donation to be made. In other cases where no additional development is contemplated,
the Township may need to buy it, and a fund should be created soon for that purpose.
Clear guidelines for the circumstances under which Township funds will be used to
purchase right-of-way will also need to be created. Opportunities to use federal, state
and county road commission funds for obtaining the needed right-of-way should be
actively sought. The Township should work cooperatively with all road authorities and
developers to ensure that actual road improvements are paid for using funds from road
authorities and developers wherever feasible. The Township may need to assist road
authorities with the process of applying for and securing these funds, especially when
discretionary and/or competitive.
Similarly, the Township will need to review the setback standards in all districts and
establish greater setbacks on those roads which are planned for a wider right-of-way, so
there is still an appropriate setback once the planned road segment is constructed. No
arterial or collector right-of-way should be planned for less than 100 feet in width. This
permits not only a five-lane roadway, but also space for separated sidewalks/bike paths
on both sides. That would mean minimum setbacks that are now 35 feet from an existing
66' right-of-way, would need to be 35 feet from a future 100' right-of-way, or 17' more on
each side than now.
In some locations, existing development near the road will make it difficult to acquire the
additional right-of-way needed to widen roads and add capacity. It may be appropriate to
consider a major tree planting effort along these roadways as an alternative to raod
widening. A substantial tree canopy can have the effect of “calming” traffic, encouraging
drivers to lower speeds and choose alternate routes with greater capacity. A major tree
planting effort will have the additional benefit of helping the Township to retain its rural
character.
In addition to the lane additions noted above, major intersection improvements will also
be needed. Roundabout designs should be seriously considered in some locations. They
are much safer and move traffic better. However, they require more right-of-way and

DeWitt Township Comprehensive Development Plan - 2005
6-8

�may cost more to create. As the above road improvements are made, roundabouts
should be studied for placed at the following intersections:
• DeWitt Road and Stoll Road.
• Round Lake Road and US-27BR.
Figure 6-2
Roundabouts should be Considered for Some Locations

Graphic by Planning &amp; Zoning Center, Inc.

The border roads of Airport Road and Chandler Road, should be carefully watched for
volume increases, and measures taken to plan for road improvements long before any
improvement work actually begins. DeWitt Township will need to work closely with its
neighbors to maintain the efficiency of the circulation system, especially along boundary
roads or traffic will use other routes to cut through the Township.
As mentioned earlier, access management plans are recommended for the following
road segments and property along all roads in the Township should be required to
conform with state, county and Township access management regulations.
• US-27BR north of Webb Road to Round Lake Road
• US-27BR south of Solon Road to Sheridan Road (perhaps in two segments)
Any access management study in these road segments should be done in concert with
other studies conducted in the special planning areas described in Chapter 4.
As previously recommended, access control standards should be designed to regulate
and coordinate access to undeveloped land along US-27. These standards should
address such items as driveway placement, width, and number; acceleration and
deceleration lanes; driveway distance from intersections; joint driveways; frontage roads
and service drives; and pedestrian movement. In establishing access control standards,
the Township must enlist the support of Michigan Department of Transportation officials
in jointly reviewing site plans for new developments so that the access control standards
developed by the Township can be implemented.

DeWitt Township Comprehensive Development Plan - 2005
6-9

�It will also be important to continue to require that each new development have a road
and pedestrian system that connects to abutting property. If there are existing stub
roads, they need to be connected to, and if the abutting property has not yet been
developed, stub roads need to be appropriately designed and constructed.
Private Roads
Private roads are only permitted in site condominium developments, multi-family
developments and the new Planned Office Development zoning district. They must be
constructed consistent with County Road Commission standards.
Transit Services
When Township residents express a sufficient demand for expanded transit services, the
Township will work with the Clinton Area Transit System (CATS) and Capital Area
Transit Authority (CATA) to explore scheduled bus service in the Township. It is
recommended that all new development along major arterials and collectors, particularly
US-27BR be reviewed to ensure that it is transit friendly, and includes locations for future
transit stops. Appropriate provisions should be placed in the Zoning Ordinance site plan
review standards to ensure such a review takes place.
Public Sewer &amp; Water
Map 2-12 illustrates the present extent of public sewer service in the Township while
Map 2-11 depicts the service area for public water. Large areas of the Township remain
unserved with either public sewer or water. As was noted earlier, it is the Township’s
policy that the costs of infrastructure associated with new developments will generally be
paid by the developers of those projects. Among the exceptions to this policy are
instances when issues such as topography make it impractical for developers to
accomplish the infrastructure extension without assistance from the Township. For
example, the Township has been planning the extension of sanitary sewer (and
coordinating the extension of public water) along US-27BR due to the topography
associated with the Looking Glass River
While the Township will continue to plan for the eventual extension of these utilities
along US-27BR, it does not appear that there is an immediate need to proceed with an
expenditure of public funds for the project, based on the following observations:
• There is a considerable amount of land along and adjacent to the US-27BR
corridor that is planned and/or zoned for commercial use, that is presently served
with public water and sanitary sewer, and is undeveloped or underdeveloped.
• There is also a considerable amount of land just north of Webb Road along the
US-27BR corridor that is planned for commercial use that can be served with
privately funded extensions of public water and gravity sanitary sewer.
• Last, there is a considerable amount of land in the Township off from the US27BR corridor, such as at the intersection of Clark and Airport Roads, that is
planned and/or zoned for commercial and office uses, already served with public
water and sanitary sewer, and is presently undeveloped.
It is important that development utilize this existing infrastructure before the Township
invests public money into new extensions. The Township will continue to use its annual
Capital Improvement Program (CIP) process to identify the areas in which public sewer
and water will be extended.

DeWitt Township Comprehensive Development Plan - 2005
6-10

�Above-Ground Utilities
Utilities that are placed above ground on utility poles can have significant aesthetic and
economic impacts on an area. The Township will explore programs to encourage, and
perhaps require, existing and future electric, telephone, cable, telecommunications
utilities to be placed below-ground.
Fire and Police Services
The Township has recently completed thorough reviews of its fire and police services. In
2003, the Township completed the Fire Department Apparatus Study to examine
apparatus needs and staffing levels for the department. The Township has already
begun implementation of the study by making necessary apparatus purchases and
implementing a firefighter recruitment and retention program.
In 2004, the Township partnered with the city of DeWitt to examine police services in the
two municipalities. The two communities formed a joint Police Services Exploratory
Committee to review the manpower, equipment, and services of the two departments.
The Committee considered options for delivery of services, including joining the two
departments together and partnering with the Clinton County Sheriff’s Department. The
Committee completed its Study Regarding Police Services Options in May of 2004,
concluding that the two departments function very efficiently and recommending that the
departments remain autonomous, but explore joint training and equipment purchases to
further increase efficiencies.
Greenspace, Parks, Open Space
The Township should move forward soon with the development of a Greenspace Plan
that identifies both passive and active greenspace areas and connections between
them. Connections should range from sidewalks to bike trails to walking paths and
simply natural animal corridors. As new residential development occurs in the Township,
it will also be necessary to ensure that each new development is contributing to meeting
the need for future parks and open space, and for connections to the greenspace
system. This can be done by requiring the need to be met with private recreational
facilities on site, by building connecting trails or pathways, and/or by permitting
developers to contribute land or money to public recreational facilities to be constructed
in the area. Of course, this means the Township needs to be vigilant about tracking
growing recreational needs and acting long before the need is acute to acquire key
property for recreation, permanent open space, or trails. This effort should be a tandem
effort with the load carried by both the Planning Commission and the DeWitt Area
Recreation Authority (DARA). The Township Park Plan should continue to be updated at
least once each five years and the Township should be vigilant in watching for federal
and state grant programs to help meet local recreation needs.

DeWitt Township Comprehensive Development Plan - 2005
6-11

�Photo 6-2
Develop Greenway Connections such as this one in Western Michigan

Photograph by City of Grand Rapids Park and Recreation Department

SUMMARY OF PUBLIC LAND INVESTMENTS
Many of the public infrastructure investments in this chapter will require public land
investments by the Township to become a reality. Notable among them are the
following:
• Acquisition of right-of-way for future road improvements where the land is not
donated by the landowner or developer, nor acquired by the road authority;
• Public parks;
• Trails, where land or easements are not donated.
These investments need to be included in the annual Capital Improvement Program
(CIP) the same as any other infrastructure investment. The Planning Commission should
always review all proposed capital improvements for consistency with this Plan, as
required by the Township Planning Act, prior to approval of the CIP by the Township
Board.

DeWitt Township Comprehensive Development Plan - 2005
6-12

�Chapter 7
IMPLEMENTATION RECOMMENDATIONS

INTRODUCTION
This Plan was prepared to protect and improve the quality of life in DeWitt Charter
Township. However, as important a benchmark as this updated Comprehensive
Development Plan represents, the initiatives proposed in this Plan will not implement
themselves. It will take continued support and commitment for many years.
The central ingredients to successful Plan implementation will be:
• Commitment by the Planning Commission, the Board of Trustees, and staff of the
Township.
• A citizenry educated on the vision in this Plan. Information about farmland
protection options, neighborhood conservation and implementation of the growth
management strategy need to reach citizens or they may not understand why
and how local decision-making is directed to implementing this Plan.
FOCUSING ON PRIORITIES
As the body principally responsible for preparing and maintaining a Comprehensive
Development Plan for a community, but one which also has substantial responsibilities in
review of proposed developments for zoning compliance, it is easy for a Planning
Commission to become distracted with ongoing tasks or ad hoc, controversial issues.
Still, the Planning Commission needs to prioritize its tasks relative to implementation of
this Plan. Time needs to be set aside for high priority items. These include the
preparation of an annual report and work program for the next year, drafting updates to
the Zoning Ordinance, assisting the Township Board with any capital improvements or
public land acquisitions or disposals, and the five-year Plan update. These are
discussed below.
ANNUAL TASKS
As required by the Township Planning Act, the Planning Commission should prepare an
annual report to the Township Board on all the activities it undertook in the previous
year, with a special focus on actions taken to implement this Plan. A proposed work
program that identifies priorities and projected expenses for the next year should also be
prepared and submitted in time to be included in the annual budget process.
TOP PRIORITIES
The Planning Commission cannot be expected to implement all of the measures listed in
Chapter 3 (Vision, Goals, and Policies), Chapter 4 (Future Land Use), and Chapter 5
(Zoning Plan) alone. Many of these can only be accomplished with support from the
Township Board and with help from other agencies or groups both within and outside of
the Township. It is essential that discussions begin with each of these entities so that

DeWitt Township Comprehensive Development Plan - 2005
7-1

�they understand the goals, find agreeable common ground where there are differences,
and obtain a commitment to a common action.

Photo 7-1
Preserving the Natural Environment, while Accommodating New Homes and
Linking them throughout the Township are Key Priorities of this Plan

Photograph by Stephen C. Musselman

LIST OF RECOMMENDED PRIORITIES
The following activities should be the key priorities of the Planning Commission and
Township Board for the next five years:
1.
•

•
•
•

•
•

South Central Neighborhood Conservation and Commercial Revitalization
Plan (see Special Planning Areas Map 4-2)
Create a South Central Neighborhood Conservation and Commercial
Revitalization Plan. One portion would be a subarea plan for neighborhood
conservation and improvement in the south central portion of the Township on
each side of US-27BR. The other portion would be a subarea plan for
revitalization, reuse, and redevelopment of commercial and industrial uses along
US-27BR.
Adopt and implement a housing conservation code and enforcement program.
Select the best option for linking interested homeowners (existing and
prospective) to state and federal low interest loan and home improvement
programs.
Explore the costs, benefits and feasibility of establishing a brownfield
redevelopment authority and downtown development authority to assist with
improvements in the subarea. If appropriate, establish and implement one or
both of these entities.
Prepare an access management plan for south US-27BR.
Select the best option for linking interested business owners (existing and
prospective) to state and federal low interest loan and business improvement
programs.

DeWitt Township Comprehensive Development Plan - 2005
7-2

�2.
•
•

•
•
•
•
•
•

3.
•

•
•

4.
•
•

Zoning &amp; Related Ordinance Amendments
Update the Township Zoning Ordinance to be consistent with this Plan as
outlined in Chapter 5 and other relevant parts of this Plan.
Review other land development regulations in the Township (such as land
division and subdivision regulations) and update as necessary to be consistent
with this Plan. Especially require interconnected streets and trails with each new
development.
Add lock-in driveway’s regulations along undeveloped land throughout Township
as part of the access management regulations in the Zoning Ordinance.
Establish right-of-way preservation standards in the zoning and subdivision
regulations consistent with the recommendations in Chapter 6.
Increase zoning setbacks along arterials and collectors based on the future ROW
line as discussed in Chapter 6.
Add transit friendly design standards to the zoning ordinance to improve safety
and convenience for children and seniors who use transit service along US-27BR
and implement through site plan review.
Add interconnected bicycle and pedestrian circulation system standards to the
site plan review standards of the Zoning Ordinance.
Adopt an adequate public facilities ordinance to ensure that each new increment
of development will be adequately served by public facilities at the time it is ready
for occupancy.
North Central Commercial Development and Mixed Use TND Plan (see
Special Planning Areas Map 4-2)
Facilitate public and property owner input into a north central area Traditional
Neighborhood Development (TND) Plan, as described in Chapter 4. Based on
the public and property owner input, prepare a conceptual TND Plan for
development east of US-27BR, north of Webb Road and west of Wood Road
with appropriate form-based code zoning amendments to ensure the desired
development occurs as intended.
Prepare an access management plan for US-27BR north of Webb Road on both
sides of the road.
Determine and then adopt development restrictions to accompany expansion of
public sewer along north US-27BR and the timing for such an extension. Clearly
identify desired commercial uses along the corridor along with the scale and
mass of desired development. This activity should be done concurrent with, or as
a part of the preparation of the access management plan (described above), and
depending on the timing, possibly coincident with the development of the TND
plan as well.
Opportunity-Based Initiatives
Work closely with MDOT, the Clinton County Road Commission, the Capital City
Airport Authority, the City of DeWitt and other abutting jurisdictions to implement
the road improvements proposed in this Plan.
Develop a Greenway Plan which identifies trail locations and options for creating
the trails, as well as identify appropriate implementation tools for acquisition of
title or development rights from willing sellers, and set up funding mechanisms
for implementation. Link all parts of the Township and insert trail connections with
trails in similar plans of adjoining jurisdictions.

DeWitt Township Comprehensive Development Plan - 2005
7-3

�•
•

5.
•

•
•
•
•
•
•
•

Create bike paths along key Township roads as they are
repaved/extended/restriped where warranted.
Design and implement a major tree-planting program along Township Roads in
order to preserve rural character, slow traffic, and thereby improve travel safety
and the visual interest of each drive.
Duty-Based Initiatives
Educate all citizens about the vision, goals, objectives, and policies of the
updated Comprehensive Development Plan and provide technical assistance in
the integration of these elements into property owner development and
redevelopment efforts.
Use capital improvement programming process to assist with staging
infrastructure improvements.
Work with adjoining jurisdictions to ensure affordable housing needs in this part
of the County are met.
Use this Plan in the analysis and review of proposed rezonings, zoning text
amendments, site plans, and new or amended master plans of adjoining
jurisdictions submitted to the Township for statutory review and comment.
Exercise the inter-jurisdictional review authority of draft plans and plan
amendments in ways to improve local decisions by guiding them toward
integrated and coordinated solutions based on the core policies in this Plan.
Monitor neighboring jurisdiction and County agency decisions and periodically
inform other local governments and the County Board of Commissioners on the
status of efforts to implement this Plan.
Join efforts with others outside the Township to modernize planning and zoning
enabling legislation and to authorize or use new tools to better manage growth
and preserve open space.
At least once each five years, the Comprehensive Development Plan should be
thoroughly reviewed and jointly updated by the Planning Commission and the
Township Board.

DeWitt Township Comprehensive Development Plan - 2005
7-4

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                    <text>�July, 1973

TO:

DeWitt Township Board of Trustees,
other Governmental Officials, and
Interested Citizens

The members of the DeWitt Township Planning Commission take pleasure in presenting the Comprehensive Development Plan for use in guiding the future growth
of our community. This document represents the culmination of two years of extensive effort in research and study on the part of your Township Planning Commission and the staff of the Tri-County Regional Planning Commission.
Due to our location within the urbanizing realm of the Lansing metropolitan area,
and because of the new freeway facilities which will be built, DeWitt Township is
confronted with the p0ssibility of unprecedented growth. This plan will provide
the Township with an. excellent means With which to guide in a sound and intelligent manner the numerous changes and improvements that will inevitably take
place in the Township. It will provide a firmer base for planning activities than
has been heretofore available, and will serve as a framework of reference for the
numeratis decisions to be made by public officials and business and civic leaders
of the community.
sincere desire tn.at the docume11t will be used frequently to guide future
laJllQ de\r.elopment decisions so as to create a living environment of which we can
all be g;,rwd. 'Thee Planning Commission is confident that the presented Comprehneive P an emtiraees the community's welfare and is capable of satisfying the
i[t is -

ds of DeWitt T~sloip residents

��TOWNSHIP BOARD MEMBERS
Dale Emerson
Donna Syverson
Oliver Angell
Eileen. Carr
Jack Kzesld

Roger Pline
Purves
*William Johns
*Ted Powell
*Ronald Zeeb

wnuam

Supervisor
Clerk
Treasttrer
Tl'IIStee

Trustee
Trustee
Trustee
Tl'Ustee

Truatee

Trustee

PLANNING COMMISSION MEMBERS
WUUam Purves

CanBa.Jdwin
loel Feltenberger
Frank Horvath
Klchael Mceasey
Tbomaa Nitzsche
Cllarles Bademacher
Jack Svend$en

Forrest Wicks
~ JaJtna

"lackXz~
*Leo Wbttr:dcer

Chairman

��TABLE OF CONTENTS

.

Introduction . .

,

. .

........ ..

"

.

..

. . . .

..

Plan Summary

vi
vii

YESTERDAY- HISTORICAL AND REGIONAL PERSPECTIVE
Historical Perspective
Regional Setting. . . .
TODAY - EXISTING SITUATION
Physical Features . . . . .

5

Population Characteristics .

6

Existing Land Use . . • . . .

10

Community Facilities and Utilities

18

Transportation Facilities

....

. . . . .

Maj or Trend and Problems - A Summary .

23
28

TOMORROW - COMPREHENSIVE DEVELOPMENT PLAN
Development Policies

3:l

Population Projections

38:

Comprehensive Development Plan

40

Community Facilities Plan •

41

Transportation Plan .

46

.....

Future Land Use Plan
APPENDICES
Plan Implementation

. .. ....

The Citizen's Role in Planning .

.. ..

....

47

�TABLES
vi

vii

Table
1

2

1 Residential Classifications .

12

Table 2 Commercial Classifications

12

Table 3 Industrial Classifications .

15

Table 4 Recreational Classifications

15

Table 5 Public/Quasi Public Classifications

16

5

Table 6 Transportation Classifications . . . .

6

Table

.....

7 Selected Land Use and Zoning Acreage Comparisons

16
17

10

Table 8 Population Projections . . . . . . . . . .

39

18

Table

42

23

Table 10 Projected Land Use Allocations . . . .

9 Standards for Park and Recreation Areas

51

28

33

FIGURES

8

Figure 1 Generalized Soils Map . . . . . . .

7

0

Figure 2 Generalized Existing Land Use Map
1

6
7

13

Figure 3 Community Facilities Map
Figure 4

Transportation Facilities

19

...

"

25

Figure 5 Community Facilities and Transportation Plan

43

Figure 6 Future Land Use Plan . . . . . • . . . . . . •

49

�INTRODUCTION
The Coinprehensive Plan for DeWitt Township has been prepared to aid
decision-makers in shaping the physical growth of the community. It is
based on the assumption that changes will occur in the Township's development pattern as a result of increased urbanization and tha~ such change can

be channeled in.to an orderly, economical, aesthetic, and healthy environment, if given proper guidance.

Th~ i'bm. is based on the attainment of community goals which have origin-

atea ib the ihinking of various citizens and public officials concerned with
i:J.e Townshfp 's future development and welfare. The Plan actually represents
a ~ayal of community goals and policies. These provide the framework

for ilntegt-atmg new developments into the existing land use pattern.
'fhe Platt represents the second of three phases in the Town.ship's comprehetJ,sil'vie planaag program which includes the inventory and analysis phase,

Ute. l)Jiami.Q.g p~e, and the plan implementation phase. Each of these

~ t s ls of equal -i:mpc:&gt;rtanee in providing present and future populations
a'tl a en~ent in which they can live and work with the assurance that
lhmt
di be protected.

--sts

~ v e llnelQP:ro:ent Plan ts a schematic illustration which

a.vatlaNe P:~jeettons, the existing developltfent
~ NS(denls.

m-.11 wftieh ha,r,

�PLAN SUMMARY
In 1938 the city of Lansing prepared a City Development Plan.

The Plan was based

upon trend analysis and assumptions about the future which were considered valid
during this period. An important component of this plan or any plan for that matter,
population projections, utilized the assumption - "Statisticians agree that the United
States will have a stationary population by about 1960. " Further in the text the
planners projected an increased automobile dependency which would figure to about
50,000 cars in the city by 1965.

With the benefit of hindsight we see where the "baby

boom 11 following_World War II caused an exploding population which will not level
out for decades.

The impact of the automobile was also underestimated.

Nobody fore-

saw the massive freeway network, the two and three car families, the concept of
commuting 20 miles to work, or the economic dependency on autos and related industries.
These figures and assumptions highlight one of the inherent limitations of planning.
Planners do not have an inside track on projecting the future, but systems have been
devised and tested over time which can limit the adverse impacts of unforeseen events.
This system which DeWitt Township has to administer is called simply the "Planning
Process."
The Planning Process will involve diligent effort on the part of the Planning Commission and the Board of Trustees to effectively guide development.

The Plan itself will

need continuous updating and review based upon future events and proposals.

The

hoped for end results of the planning process as stated in the Township's Policy Plan
is a balanced, attractive community, and community services provided economically
to new and existing developments.

The Plan Map and document themselves will not

attain these goals - A PLAN IS ONLY AS EFFECTIVE AS THOSE WHO USE IT.
The Comprehensive Development Plan for DeWitt Township is divided into three major
sections.
1.

The Historical and Regional Perspective -

This section analyzes

the Township's role in the region and historical influences upon it.
2.

The Existing Situation - Here the reader will find data and information utilized by the Planning Commission in their deliberations
vii

�to develop the Comprehensive Development Plan.
3.

The Future Land Use Plan - This is the heart of the report with
specific recommendations and strategies for Transportation,
Community Facilities, and Land Use.

Goals and Policies adopted

by the Planning Commission are also included in this section.

���HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE
Trends and problems in existing development patterns are more easily understood if the historical perspective in which they occurred is identified. Every
community is formed and shaped by many factors such as past transportation
systems, early industrial activities, and influence exerted upon the community
by other settlem.ents. The following historical sketch will hopefully provide in-

sight into the manner in which, and the reasons why, DeWitt Township has developed as it is today.

During the settlement of the Northwest Territory, in the early 1800's, the
primary means for a settler to earn a living was to harvest and use the natural
resources. Settlements and livelihoods revolved around mining, agriculture,
lumbering, hunting, and fur trapping. Many towns and villages evolved into
industrial centers because of certain physical features like good transportation
and close proximity to natural resources. Other areas, because of the lack of
physical features conducive to industrial growth or because of other fact.ors,
continued to use the land for less intensive uses.

DeWitt Township's early settlers had a variety of problems to overcome. They
had to clear heavy forests before they could farm the land. There were few
rivers and the ones that existed were not navigable by boats much larger than
canoes._

Mineral deposits were sparse in the area. Roads were expensive and difficult to
construct. For many years the Township was miles from a major population
center, the closest being Detroit. Another problem affecting the Township's
development was the large tracts of swamps and marshes. These areas were
generally used for hunting and trapping.

Several small communities were founded within the present boundaries of the
Township 1 but only the city of DeWitt has withstood the movement of time. Three
villages were platted during the 1830's. "New Albany 11 was platted in 1833 by

1

�Hiram SbeldGD... Its location on the south' side of the Lookingglass River appar-

ently did not attract the anticipated residents; it was sold for back taxes in
184'0. t~iddleton" and "Old DeWitt" platted in 1836 and 1837 respectively,
eqffsi,ed the same fate as

"New Albany" and were sold for taxes in 1842.

An. aluJ:ldance of #lgricultural land coupled with the problems of the rivers, the
lack of mine1'8ls, and distances (both communicative and physical) from large

eeaters of population stl,;tctured the economic base of the settlers. Lumbering WQ an important by-product from the developing agricultural situation.

Many :farmers cleared their lands and sold the lumber.

In many settlements,

one oi the first structures built was a sawmill.

fa 184?, an event occurred which from that year forward shaped the develop-

tnent of DeWitt Township~ In that year the State Capitol was moved from

Detroit to Laltsing. This decision coupled later with the establishment of

MmhiPlii: stat.e Umve:rsftJ and the automotive industry helped to set the stage
W the TOWll$hip"s role as a subQ:rban 001nmunity in the Lansing metropolitan

,tl SETTING
1

lte :bJ its PG~hioal relatwnshtp to La.nstttg, ts b1be

~ deve~.t of this Jitl&amp;tropolftan ama.

'fhe effe4ts

t i n ~ the :metrop()Jitaa ~ liJlQll the

•

�While recognizing its role in :Che Tri-

area, DeWitt Townehip mwst not lose siflbl of t.M
urbanizing township. Develqnuebtp~,

~

for growth in suburbanizing anas, ~ k l •t ~
on the part of township deeisi•i..naakar$

It ta -.,

to adequately analyze all deve~ent p~oaals Ill:
policies in order to promote orde:r-ly ,at

�REGIONAL GROWTH TRENDS

URBANIZED AREAS
1920

-----,

I

I
I

I

I
'

DEWITT TOWNSIIlP

I
•

____ .J
r----- ---,

__

I

I,_,.._
URBANIZED AREAS
1970

I
I

I
I

4

�EXISTING SITUATION

�INTRODUCTION
Planning implies an application of rational thought to future conditions. When
an individual business or a government plans for the futu.re, they mu.st take
into acoount probable trends and forces which will affect their plans. They
also have to establish goals for themselves, for, witho.u t goals their planning
would have no .meaning. A critical component of planning is an accurat.e understanding and realization of where they are today, and what trends or forces
caused them to be there.

The following section is an analysis of ''where II De Witt Township is today.
Physical features, population, community facilities, transportation, and
existing land use are basic parts of any human settlement. These are investigated and analyzed to ascertain their present cl_iaracter and problems.

�PHYSICAL FEATURES
A look at selected physical features provides some insight as to the development

potential of the Township. Topography and soil conditions are considered important in terms of their capability to support future growth and development.

Topography
Much of the topography in central Michigan is an asset, not a deterrent, to
development. Less than one percent of the total area in the Tri-County region
presents development problems due to extreme topographic variations. DeWitt
Township possesses very little topography too severe for building construction.

Although gentle topography is conducive to building construction, other developmental problems may arise from land being too flat. Sanitary sewer and storm
drainage systems become very costly to install and operate if insufficient natural
gradient necessitates mechanical pumping for proper operation. Thus, surface
drainage problems may be accentuated in areas of flat terrain. Excessive water
accumulations during spring thaws may also cause localized flooding and flooding of basements where insufficient runoffs exist.

Approximately 75 percent of the land area in the Tri-County region is in a medium or high fertility range.

However, many of the good soils are being encroach-

ed upon by urban development, with DeWitt Township being a good case in point.
As a result, large acreages of productive soils are being isolated by urban or
suburban development. When this occurs the tax assessment on the land becomes
too great to continue cultivation of the soil. The land is then either sold to a
developer who converts it to an u:Eban use which produces a higher economic
return, or it is left unused.
Two soil characteristics inherent in varying types of soils, permeability and
bearing capacities must be carefully evaluated in planning for residential

�IOI runttaBoa areas

wll1 le flequtna wwi',o

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�rate. Between 1960 and 1970 the population increased 128 percent in Delta
Charter Township, while Meridian Charter Township in Ingham County increased by 71 percent.

DeWitt Township grew from a population of 7,649 in 1960 to 11, 738 in 1970,
(figures inclusive of DeWitt City which was 1,238 in 1960 and 1,829 in 1970,)
DeWitt Township added the most significant amount of people comparatively
than the other townships in Clinton County - nearly one-fourth of Clinton County's
residents live in DeWitt Township and DeWitt City.

Employment

In the past ten years the male work force has changed from one made up predominantly of blue-collar workers, to a work force which is much more diversified. This trend is most clearly reflected in the proportion of blue-collar workers
in the work force.

The proportion has dropped from 60 percent in 1960, to 34

percent in 1970. Correspondingly, the share of professional and technical workers
has almost doubled, and those in clerical positions has risen markedly. The implications of these figures seem quite straightforward, whereas in 1960 bluecollar workers made up a majority of the work force, they no long-er occupy such
a position. It should be understood, however, that blue-collar Workers are still
the most numerous single occupational type in the township.

There has been a significant increase in the number of women employed in the
labor force in the past ten years. There are two ways of showing this increase
by comparing census data from 1960 to 1970; first, in 1960 30 percent of the
employable females held jobs, while the 1970 figure is 45 percent. These percentages make it clear that not only has the number of working women incr~ased,
but a great.er proportion are employed outside the home. Secondly, females also
make up a greater share of the total work force in 1970 than they did in 1960.
Percentage has risen from 24 percent in 1960 to 34 ,percent in 1970. Over this
ten year period the number of employed females has almost tripled. The number
of employed males has increased only by about 60 percent.

9

�1,,

Education
The median education level of the population is rising significantly in the township, as is the number of college graduates. In 1960 the median level of education for DeWitt Township was 10. 9 years, and this figure rose to 12.2 years
in 1970. Part of this increase can be attributed to the national rise in median
education over the same period of time, but it should be stated that the rate
of increase in J?eWitt Township is higher than that of the region. In the region,
the mean rose from 12. 0 in 1960 to 12. 4 in 1970. Although the township still
trails the regi.Qn in this respect, this is likely to change in time with the increasing urbanization in the township. Since the census ,only polls people
over 25 years in respect to education, it is hard to relate these figures to
quality of education. That is because most of those attending school are not
averaged in. Instead, this figure says more about the type of people who have
recently migrated. This is one way to account in part for the sharp rise in
proportionate college graduates in the past decade, 3 percent in 1960 and 8
percent in 1970.

Income
The median income in the township has increased significantly in the past ten
years. In 1960 the median income of families and unrelated individuals was
approximately $6,300. This figure has doubled by 1970, as the median income
approached $11,500. Not all of this increase can be attributed to inflation,
as this rate of increase is greater than that for the county and the region. It
seems much more closely related to the changing character of the township's
population. As noted in discussing employment, the proportion of blue-collar
workers in the population has decreased, while the incidence of professionals
and technicians has risen. Migration of new residents contributes greatly to
'

both the level of income and the level of education in the community.

EXISTING LAND USE
One of the most important steps in the planning process is the collection and

10

�'

mapping of information on existing land use. The land use map is a graphic
portrayal of existing development at a given point in time. It is a view of
what already exists, and should not be confused with the land use plan which
will indicate land use arrangements for the future.

Each township has its own distinctive pattern of land uses according to its
geographic location, topography, and its individual economic and social
charact.er. The early location of a grist mill, the routing of a railroad or
highway, and other historical factors oft.en have an important effect in the
shape of the present land use pattern.

Present conditions and trends also provide some of the best indicators available to predict what might happen in the future. Therefore, an analysis of
the present use of land will provide a general basis for reference in working
out a plan for future land use. When conducting a land use study, the positive
and negative features of past development are recognized. Planning can
then be built upon positive features, and policies and programs can be suggest.ed which will help minimize the effects of past developmental problems
and encourage more desirable growth patterns for the future.

Existing Land Use Patterns
The total land area of De Witt Township, excluding the city of De Witt, is
approximately 21,720 acres. Of this total area, slightly more than 5,300
acres, or about 24. 7 of the township area has been developed. The majority
of DeWitt's growth in recent years has been concentrat.ed near Lansing and
along U. s. 27. This is directly relat.ed to the high percentage of people
living in De Witt and working in Lansing or Ingham County.

(According to

the 1970 census, 63 percent of DeWitt' s labor force commutes to Lansing,
and an additional 14 percent drive elsewhere in Ingham County.) Figure 2
shows the generalized land uses existing in the township while the following
descriptions indicate the acreage relationships of developed land.

11

�- Residential Uses
Residential development in the township is primarily in the form
of single-family units. Tabulated residential uses account for
approximately 52 percent of the developed land in the township
and occupies slightly over 2, 700 acres. Table 1 shows the
various classifications of residential types occurring within
the township •
Table 1
RESIDENTIAL CLASSIFICATIONS
DEWITT TOWNSillP - 1972
Percentage of Total
Residential Acreage

Classifications
Single Family (non-farm)
Farmsteads
Multi-family
Mobile Homes

89.5
3.5
.2
~

TOTAL

100. 0%

As illustrated, single family and mobile home dwelling types are
the two foremost users of residential acreage within the township.

- Commercial Uses
Commercial uses are primarily located adjacent to U.S. 27. The
area near Capital City Airport also contains significant commercial
acreage. Table 2 points out the various commercial classifications
existing within the township and illustrates their proportional
relationships.
Table 2
COMMERCIAL CLASSIFICATIONS
DEWITT TOWNSillP - 1972
'

Percentage of Total
Commercial Acreage

Classification
Retail
Vehicle Sales and Service
Commercial Residential
Commercial Recreation

72.6
15.6
3.3
8.5

TOTAL

100. 0%

12

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Prepared by the

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DEWITT TOWNSHIP

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PLANNING COMMISSION

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City of DeWitt Source:
The Master Plan for DeWitt,
Michigan, 1971

�- Industrial Uses
Approximately 220 acres is used for various industrial acttvi-ttes.
Table 3 shows classifications of major industrial activities occurring
within tl;le t.ownship. Four quarrying and mining sites comprise the
largest segment of industrial usage within the t.ownship. The :remaming industrial uses are scattered throughout the township

Oil

small

sites.
Table 3
INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATIONS
DEWITT TOWNSHIP - 1972
Classification

Percentage of Total
Industrial Acreage

Manufacturing
Non-Manufacturing

Quarrying and Mining
TOTAL

29,0
3.!
&amp;'l.8

100.0%

- Recreational and Public-Quasi-Public Uses
Recreational and public-quasi-public land uses 11tilize

IW)~••lf

185 acres of t.ownship land. This figure represeats aloot 3.5-pe~

of the total developed area. Table$ 4 and 5 show epeeifio clUtd8~
of recreational and public-quasi-public usea. The
cation is a horse riding range and th.e Jackj

Religious land uses comprise tie most • ~
Ult[istra.ted. This ts high because of

to the city of DeWitt.

�I

I

'

Table 5
PUBLIC-QUASI-PUBLIC CLASSIFICATIONS(Institutional)
DEWITT TOWNSHIP - 1972
Percentage of Total
Institutional Acreage

Classification

16.9
13.3
60.2
9.6

Educational
Administrative
Religious
Cemeteries

100. 0%

TOTAL

- Transportation
Street and hi~hway rights-of-way combined with railroad and airport
rights-of-way, represent the second most significant land use in terms
of developed land area. Approximately 1,875 acres within the township

are devoted to transportation facilities. Airport facilities account for
the largest portion of transportational uses, with slightly over 1,000
I
I

I

acres. Table 6 shows the classifications of the transportational uses
occurring within the township.
Table 6·
TRANSPORTATION CLASSIFICATIONS
DEWITT TOWNSlllP - 1972
Percentage of Total
Transportation Acreage

Classification
I,;

State Trunk Lines
County Primary Roads
County Secondary Roads
Railroads
Air'ports

8.3
11.9
23.7
1.8
54.3

TOTAL

100. 0%

The following graph shows the perc~ntage relationship between the major land
use activities existing in De Witt Township. As can be noted, Residential and

Transportation land use activities comprise the largest percentage of developed land area in the 'Fownship.

16

�PERCENTAGE RELATIONSHIP OF LAND USE BY MAJOR ACTIVITY

1972

DEVELOPED
LAND
51. 7%

Residential

35.0%

Transportation

75.3%

UNDEVELOPED

Commercial
Industrial
Recreational
Institutional

&amp;

AGRICULTURE
LAND

Land Use Related to Zoning
DeWitt Township is presently operating under a countywide zoning ordinance
adopted in 1971. Table 7 shows the major districts involved within the ordinance , as well as township acreage estimated in each zone classification.
Table 7
SELECTED LAND USE AND ZONING
ACREAGE COMPARISONS
DEWITT TOWNSHIP - 1972

Classification

Residential
CollUDerm.al
llldu&amp;trial

Approximate
Acres in Use

1,686
307

2:21

, Approximate
Acres Zoned

Percentage of Laad
Utilized b_y
tlae

�purpose. The remaining land area zoned for residential is vacant, unusable, or
devoted to some other use.
,I''

Commercial land use accounts for approximately

10 percent of the total commercially zoned acreage. This means that 90 per-

cent of the commercially zoned area is not utilized in commercial activities.
The same principle that affects commercially zoned lands also is inherent in
the industrial zoned lands. About 21 percent of the land area zoned industrial
1' :,

:,1:

is being utilized for that purpose.

COMMUNITY FACILITIES AND UTILITIES
In order to conduct daily governmental activities and furnish the essential
public services to the citizenry of the community, public buildings are requirI

ed. The provision of these important community assets require both space
and structures adequate in size and composition to allow the proper' perform-

ance of their respective functions.

Of paramount importance is their location.

With regard to location, public facilities may be categorized as follows:
1.

Those that serve the en!ire community and are consequently
most advantageously located near its center.

2.

Those that serve sections or neighborhoods within the
community and are, therefore, dispersed in strategic
neighborhood locations.

A township hall, city library, municipal auditorium would fall in the first

category, with the second group comprised of elementary schools, neighborhood parks, etc. Such facilities, regardless of function, should be located

where they are economically, aesthetically and conveniently most advantageous
to their users. Figure 3 points out public facilities in the Township.

Education

The plilblie sch.ool is often the most important facility in the community. Two

soclalizatiCffl processes occur in ponjunction with this type of facility. Schools
serve the educational ru.ucti:on so necessary in the upbringing of young children.

Dey ean Jrtrtlier act as a 1o~tized center for commlilllity and neighborhood

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�social and recreational activity.
Presently, DeWitt Township is served by four school districts: DeWitt,
Lansing, East Lansing, and Bath. DeWitt and Lansing serve the bulk
of the school age children with about 90 percent of the total split evenly
between them .
Four elementary schools are within the boundaries of the Township. Secondary school students either attend classes in the city of De Witt at the district
facilities or travel outside of the Township to attend school.
DeWitt has experienced a large amount of in-migration which is reflected
by enrollment increases in elementary school levels. This trend is con-

trary to national trends which have shown declining enrollments in elementary schools since 1966. Trends of this nature raise the possibility of
future construction of new facilities to meet these higher demands.

Recreation
Many factors tend to increase demand for outdoor recreation facilities.
Population, growth, more leisure time, higher incomes, increased mobility, and changing social patterns have influenced the demand for a greater
variety and quantity of such facilities.
This higher demand level is presently not being met by present Township
facilities. The only areas for active recreation are at four elementary
school sites. These sites now serve as neighborhood playgrounds, bit they
do not offer the range of facilities required by a growing population. This

situation has been recognized by township officials and plans have been
Pl'epared to provide additional recreational facilities. Basically J these

plaas call for the development of four park sites, the first of wlllch is

ll'llder coutructi.on.

��service today.

Water Supply
Private wells are the primary means of supply in the Township. At the present
time, this method appears adequate but the picture for the future suggests the
desirability for a public supply system.

Drainage
The Township· is faced with problems with its drainage system. Few roads have
adequate drainage, these include U.S. 27 and Wood Road, and this is due mostly
to natural gradient.

Other major roads such as Clark, Schavey and Stoll, which

also depend on natural conditions, are poorly drained.
One problem associated with the provision of storm drainage is, of course, the
cost involved. Construction costs are high and additional costs will be added
for the structural improvement of ,drains as development occurs and for maintenance costs.
In order to provide an adequate, coordinated system, it is imperative that cooper-

ation exist between the County and the Township. This is a necessity because the
County maintains the responsibility for providing drainage to the county road system
which comprises the most heavily traveled roads in the Township.

TRANSPORTATION FACILITIES
The extent and condition of the De Witt Township transportation network is perhaps
one of the more critical determinants of its future growth. To accelerate growth,
people must have access to the Township. Without this access, growth is retarded
and the Township remains static.
Transportation serves people who are engaged in activities of all sorts Working,
playing, shopping, living, etc. It is no wonder, then, that we find transportation

23

�rout.es connecting land uses which generate such activities. This movement
by people and goods between activities or places of activities is caused by a
d1'ect transportation-land use relationship •

Sy.st.em Inventory
For the purpose of _inventory, four categories are used to identify the trans-

portation network: Freeways, State Trunklines, County Primary and Local,
md .Alternate Modes. The basic street and highway system is graphically

noted in Figure 4.

- Freeways
Although the Township presently has no operational freeways, it
is important to note their potential impact. U.S. 127 east of

eXisting U.S. 27 is now under construction and will become a

major link in the proposed I - 69 freeway bisecting the Townsilip eut and west.

Figure 4 illustrates the U.S. 127 (southern

portion) as an existing facility since construction is nearing

c0ml)letion. Also shown, is an extension of U.S. 127 north
p ~ l to Wood Road. At this time, it is not known whether

Ws will be constructed m De Witt Township _or in Watertown
Township. This extension has been shown to illustrate its
locaition in tke event it is developed in DeWitt Township.

~

traveled road in the township , is the

a etate tl"l:llDk line. The M.ghway bise;ots

s a direct

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�or highway service type. They are orientated toward vehicular
traffic as it is their basic purpose to attract vehicles. Activities
common to the commercial protion of U.S. 27 include motels,
restaurants and various types of automobile service centers.

- County Primary and Local Roads
With U. S. 27 bisecting the Township in a north.,.south direction,
the county primaries run either parallel to the highway and serve
as direct lines to Lansing, or perpendicular as main arteries of
the east-west flow. In this system, north-south roads seem to
be of greater importance because they provide access to Lansing,

the center of employment opportunities and most commercial
development in the area. Four north-south roads are presently
classified as County Primaries; these include Airport, Turner,
Wood and Chandler Roads. The east-west roads that function
as County Primaries are: State, and parts of Clark Road,
Webb, and Round Lake Road.
County local roads are designed to carry tr.fUfic at lower $peeds

and volumes than county primary roads. DeWitt Road, Scba-vey
Road, stoll Road, Herbison Road, and parts of Clark Bo.ad and
Howe Road fall into this classification.

- AU:ernate Modes of Transportation
,._

lit should be -noted that 1:llen

wltid:a the T ~

ue

�immediate links with Chicagu, New York, Detroit and other major
cities in Michigan and the midwest by air. The other facility is the
Penn Central Railroad whose tracks cut through the Township, but
to which there is no direct access in the Township.

Commuting and Travel Patterns
Much comment has been expressed on overall reliance of the automobile as a
means of transit. This, of course, is the primary mode of transportation in
most communitieis.

Consideration of commuter traffic to and from work by

automobile is of importance in the respect that it can provide substantial insight into the activity patterns of the Township's residents. This provides a
base from which to make observations about the existing and future circulation
system.

According to the 1970 census, 92 percent of the Township's employed labor
force commutes by automobile. Of this total, 63 percent drive to jobs in
Lansing and an additional 14 percent commute elsewhere in Ingham County.
Only 11 percent drive to their place of employment in Clinton County.

These figures highlight two important relationships, first, with such a high
percentage of driving to the Lansing area to work, the suburban relationship
between DeWitt and Lansing beomes more readily apparent. Second, these
figures also indicate a concentrated southerly flow of commuter traffic.
Since U.S. 27 is the major north-south road, its use for this purpose should
be expected. Traffic generators which attract a high percent of the vehicular
traffic to the Lansing area include shopping centers, employment centers,
like Oldsmobile, State Government, and Michigan State University. These
facilities have a major influence on traffic to and from DeWitt Township and
will continue to have significant impact in the future.

MAJOR TRENDS AND PROBLEMS - A SUMMARY
The identification of trends and problems is the first step to planning for the

28

�fQture. This identification provides the basis from wldcb d.evelqpmeat olJjeetlVBB
can be created and assessed. For the purpose of this summw,:, trends and

problems will be identified for land use , community facilities Uld

tr~•~

Land Use - Trends and Problems

- Strip Commercial Development
The Township faces potenti~ly serious consequences if the snil&gt;
commercial development along U.S. 27 is permttt.ed to confiliue
and expand. Since 1962 when the last aompreheuiv:e land 1188
survey was completed, visual observations show a large inerease
in commercial developments along U. S. 27. This can b'e puttaily
attrihlted to excess amounts of land zoned along the h.fgbwa.f.,

Serious problems result from strip commercial development
similar to the type in DeWitt Township. DevelQPment of tlds
nature creates excessive t~affic congestion by redueiul the
traffic carrying capacity of a street to a portion of its de~ll
potential, because of the increased number of 1aniQ mo:,e,,,,
ments and cars moving at slower speeds ent.e~ and ~ g :
commercial establishments. Problems saob: as these e• lie
measured in terms of high.er accide,nt ra.te&amp; Pd eo~
community facilities. In addition, aestbetiiies amt~~
of environment are ~ r cos.ts a,~dly...,

which earmot be measl.ll'Bd diteeU,r,..

��As the Township increases in population and develops its
land areas, the provision of all facilities and utilities will
become essential. These services must meet both qu.anitative and qualitative requirements to handle extensive development trends.
- Service Areas

In order to minimize costs and improve efficiency, tt is
critical that development occur in areas that can be servi~d
with the least amount of difficulty. Trends i.ndi9ate develop-

ment in areas that are difficult or costly to service. This
pattern must be minimized if quality service is to be r ~ .

- Service Improvement
Various services now exist in the TownshiP (eg. Police and
Fire. protection), however, as the gro~ ocClt~s, these D!Ul&amp;t
be expanded and unproved to meet increased demands ..

Transportation - Trends and Problems
- Facility Im.provement
As pQPU.lation increases and land is devel

me•ts can be e ~ d t0 m ~
ship need •rove._

to_.

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�the proposed freeways will create increased demands and development possibilities within the Township. Whether or not problems
associated with the development of new facilities will occur depends
largely on.the effectiveness of the Township's development policies.

��DEVELOPMENT POLICIES
The forces of growth are operating continually in the Metropolitan Region.
Every day more people move into the Region from the outside, and perhaps
as importantly they move from one jurisdiction to another inside the Region.
Freeways are constructed, shopping centers built, subdivisions developed,
industries located and expanded -- the sum of all these actions is a Region
in dynamic transformation.

Of course, if no plans are developed, the Region and DeWitt Township will
continue to grow. What has to be decided is how DeWitt Township will grow
and what its function will be within the Region or, more importantly, "What
would DeWitt Township look like after twenty years of relatively uncoordinated
growth?"
A view of DeWitt Township today reveals predictable trends which could

characterize it twenty years hence. More land will be consumed in a manner
which disperses people, jobs and services than should be. Good agricultural
lands will be converted to urban uses. Public services will not be provided
in logical arrangements and their costs will be excessively high. Strip devel-

opment, both commercial and residential, will abut major thoroughfares
thereby rendering interior parcels of entire sections mtually inaoeesstble
and unusable for agricultural purposes.
To accept unplanned development as a reasonable flitul'e
by the DeWitt Township Planning Commission.
ment policies and proposed land use patterns for
t.o guide future development in a logical and econo

118' bee'n" dj,a

���-

HIGHWAY SERVICE AREAS SHOULD BE LOCATED TO SERVE
MOTORISTS WITHOUT CREATING TRAFFIC CONGESTION OR
HARMING ADJACENT PROPERTIES.

-

ADEQUATE UTILITY SERVICES AND ACCESS TO NEEDED
TRANSPORTATION FACILITIES SHOULD BE PROVIDED IN
ALL INDUSTRIAL AREAS.

-

INDUSTRIAL PLANTS SHOULD BE GROUPED TOGETHER IN
SPECIFIC AREAS OR BELTS WITH ATTRACTIVE SITE PLANNING, LANDSCAPING AND BUILDING SETBACK AND COVERAGE
CONTROLS.

-

BUFFER AREAS, FORMED BY SOME COMBINATION OF OFFSTREET PARKING, PARKS OR PARKWAYS, SHOULD SEPARATE
INDUSTRIAL AREAS FROM RESIDENTIAL AREAS.

��-

PRIME AGRICULTURAL LAND SHOULD BE PROTECTED FROM
URBAN ENCROACHMENT.

SPOT DEVELOPMENT IN AGRICUL-

TURAL AREAS SHOULD BE DISCOURAGED SO AS TO ENSURE
THE VIABILITY OF AGRICULTURAL ENTERPRISES.

-

AGRICULTURAL LAND SHOULD BE CONVERTED TO URBAN
USES ONLY WHEN IT IS DETERMINED THAT A SUBSTANTIAL
DEMAND FOR DEVELOPMENT EXISTS AND WHEN URBAN
SERVICES CAN BE PROVIDED.

POPULATION PROJECTIONS
Population projections provide an indicator of anticipated growth which allows t,he
Land Use Plan to consider appropriate facilities and services that will be required
in the future years. It must be cautioned that projections are only estimates based

upon trends that either exist or are anticipated. In the event these trends do not
materialize, then the population estimates will certainly vary from those contained within this document.

Population estimates for a particular community depend upon three basic factors:
(1) natural increase or decrease, (2) migration and (3) annexation. Natural
increase or decrease encompasses the number of live births and the number of
deaths that occur within a community. Migration is the movement, by people,
into or out of a community. Lastly, a gain or loss of population may occur by
annexation to or from adjacent territbries. By assuming data for these basic
factors over a certain time period and adding these to those of the previous
time period, projected population figures can be determined.

38

�Table 8 identifies anticipated population increases in DeWitt Township between
1970 and the year 2000. Also indicated is the Clinton County population increase
for the same time period.

Table 8
POPULATION PROJECTIONS
DEWITT TOWNSHIP 1970 - 2000*

De Witt Township

Clinton County

1970

1975

1980

1990

2000

9,909

11,190

13,760

21,100

31,000

48,492

53,325

58,690

70,730

82,500

*1970 Population Figures based upon 1970 Census
Projected Population Figures based upon Tri-County
Regional Planning Commission staff update-1973.

As Table 8 indicates, the population estimate for De Witt Township is over three
times the present population. This means the Township must plan to accommodate
the services and improvements necessary to provide for an expanding community.
The population estimates will be utilized later in this document to base land use
estimates and related needs.

'
'

ii

'

39

��COMMUNITY FACILITIES PLAN
The Land Use Plan addresses four basic facility concerns - 1). education,
2). recreation, 3). administration, and 4). utilities. A brief discussion of
each concern vvi.11 highlight its importance in the future of De Witt Township.

-

Educational Facilities
As noted in the Existing Situation portion of this document,
the Township is presently served by four school districts
inclusive of the Bath, DeWitt, East Lansing and Lansing
School Districts. Approximately 46 % of the school age
population in the Township attend in the De Witt School
District (includes the city of DeWitt) while an additional
44% attend Lansing Schools. The remaining school children
attend in the Bath and East Lansing Districts.

In order to foresee future school facility needs, the
following standards were applied to the anticipated school
population as reflected by the Land Use Plan Map.

SCHOOL SIZE STANDARDS
Min.

Ideal

Max.

Elementary

230

700

900

Middle School

750

1000

1500

High School

900

1500

2500

(Pupils)

Figure 5 illustrates the generalized location and type of school
facilities as projected within the Land Use Plan intent (Figure 6).
The standards are intended for guideline purposes - detailed
development plans should be closely coordinated with the school
district(s) officials.

41

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TRANSPORTATION AND
COMMUNITY FACILITIES
PLAN

==--

- - - Major Arterial
Freeway
111111111 Proposed Freeway
- - - Minor Arterial
•····•·•• Proposed Minor
Arterial
Existing Collector

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Proposed Collector

�- Administrative and Service Facilities
Furore needs for administrative and service facilities (e.g., township
hall, fire barn, and police station) depend largely on several factors
inclusive of desired service level, type of and location of development
to be served and service technology available. The provision of
administrative and service facilities directly relates to the quality of
service desired which is a community policy decision.

One important concern is the location of the facilities in respect to
the population to be served. In the case of the township hall, police
and fire facilities, a centralized location is desirable. The Community
Facilities Plan (Figure 5) illustrates that the present location of administrative facilities conforms well with the intent of the Land Use Plan
(Figure 6). Furore space needs should be considered as expansions
to the present facilities as opposed to new construction in less centralized locations.

Cooperative arrangements with other governmental units (DeWitt City)
may aid to eliminate the need for excessive facility development and
may yet provide the desired quality of services.

- Utilities
The provision of utilities (sewer, water and drains) represents one
of the most significant factors necessary to stimulate and service
development. It further represents a significant investment of public
monies, thus it is imperative that the development, improvement and
maintenance of utility systems reflect efficiency and sound community
economics.
The entire Township cannot be economically serviced with utility
systems either now or within the time per:tod covered by the Land
Use Plan (year 2000). This situation encourages the concentratfon of
45

��Minor Arterial

at•--•••••

Moves through. traflle
to and from tnajo.r arte:ri;a1s.
access to individual alxtfflng-pm

Major Arterial

Moves through traffic at lnod'.es•
volumes to and from ex,.resswa~ 1.1.f c,
traffic generators.

Expressway

Moves through traffic at .bJ®h speeds ad
to and from other e~res:sways and otfler
traffic generators with fwl .or p ~ y
access.

- Airport Expansion
Capital City Airport is a major air faeility 'Witlii:D

bath~

the Region. Plans call for the potential. e;q,llUiQn :o-1 ilds,
of the present installation and,, as s11:ch.,

my; have a I

on the development potentia.li of the ~ -..
unknown about the reality of eJq&gt;ansil&gt;-n, tile,
reserves the land :aorth of ~ present famBty
The continuance of thfs policy de~ o.n
airport expansion ;plan.s,.

FUTURE LAND USE PLAN
Figure 6 provides a generalized
Township. It mu.st be n
detailed and UPDATED P

�provides a logical perimeter to restrict the extension of certain services.

The residential configuration embodied in the concept suggests a clustering of
varying densities around a focal point, usually a commercial center. Buffering
between uses incompatible with residential is also suggested and graphically
portrayed.
Commercial and industrial activities are planned to advantageously exploit the
tranSPortational facilities available in the Township. Industrial activity is primarily located near airport facilities. Commercial uses are designated in
grouped arrangements near major thoroughfares. Lands which have been indicated
as open space, not including buffer strips, are primarily drainage ditches and poor
soils for intensive development. Many existing woodlots have also been incorporated

into the open space plan for the Township.

Smee residential uses account for the greatest intensive land activity and because
different densities are applied, Table .!.Q is provided to convey detailed information on density definitions and acreage estimates.

The Land Use Plan Map reflects a greater amount of developed land than is

:a.mu.ally anticipated (about 20%). Approximately 35,000 - 40,000 people could be

,~po$d in the Pbm concept while actual projections indicate a year 2000 popu&amp;tt~II: ef 31,(l)QO. This overage was purposely included to allow locational choice

lldi t o g ~ ievelopmeut eontim:Lity in the event of underestimation.

��Table 10
DE WITT TOWNSHIP
PROJECTED RESIDENTIAL LAND ALLOCATIONS

Low Density
Medium Density
High Density

\JI

......

2.
3.

4.
5.

Plan
Design
8
Acres

3.7

2,932

4,398

2

21,700

3,665

70

517

4

3.0

775

6,200

646

20

108

135

10

2.6

162

3,100

---

3,557

4,446

5,335

100%

31,000

11

D. U. == Dwelling Units - Units averaged from the Clinton County
Zoning Ordinance , Adopted 1971 .

1.

Projected
Gross
7
Acres

Population
per
5
Household

1
D.U. /
2
Net Acre

Density

Projected
Net
6
Acres

Projected
Year 2000
4
Population

Percentage
Population
3
Distribution

Net Acre - Does not include land for public streets and highways.
Determined by the Township Planning Commission as part of development policy.
Projection discussed in Population Projections Section of this document.
Based on analysis by the Tri-County Regional Planning Commission.
Household Size)

D. U. Per Net Acre.

6.

Projected Net Acres == (Pop.

7.

Gross Acres = Net Acres x 125% (allowance for streets and highways).

8.

Plan Design Acres = Gross Acres x 120% (expansion and choice factor for
residential land areas illustrated on the Land Use Plan Map).

��PLAN IMPLEMENTATION
The Comprehensive Development Plan is a graphic statement of policy objectives
concerning the future physical development of the community. Positive actions
are required on the part of both public and private interests, acting in concert,
so that the plan proposals can be realized. Private actions take the form of
investments in homes, stores, factories, and farms pursuant to regulatory controls established by government. Public action in implementing the plan generally
follows five courses: Adoption by the Township Planning Commission to give the
plan official recognition as the document for future developmental guidance; the
development of a public improvements program; and citizen support and participation. Of the four, only public improvements (streets, schools, parks, sanitation facilities and protective services) constitute a direct investment of local tax
monies for plan implementation.

Adoption of the Plan
State law grants planning commissions the power to draft and adopt comprehensive development plans. The DeWitt Township Planning Commission has so
acted. Now, what remains is for the Planning Commission to submit its plan,
for review and comment, to the Township Board and the public, to receive
suggestions for final modification. Final adoption, thereafter, by the Planning
Commission will incorporate the Comprehensive Development Plan as a document
of formal governmental policy.

Zoning
The Zoning Ordinance is the major tool available to local government to structure
the land use element of the Comprehensive Plan. The Plan indicates population
densities for the residential area,s and general locations for major commercial
and industrial areas of the community. These policies are translated into
precise, although short-range, land use patterns through the application of the
zoning regulations. The purpose of zoning is to regulate the use of land and
buildings to protect areas of uniform development from the adverse effects of

�disruptive land uses of any type which would tend to lower the economic value,
efficient operation, and the physical and social amenities of the surrounding
properties. This applies equally to residential, commercial, industrial, and

�harmful land use encroachments adjacent to and within the subdivision which would
lessen its desirability as a place to live, shop, or work.

The Capital hnprovement Program
Public improvements are investments made by the community in facilities which
will benefit all citizens. These include schools, libraries, parks, fire and
police stations, sanitation facilities, streets and highways, and all of the many
physical components which go into a balanced community. It is for the Comprehensive Development Plan to relate these properly to each other in their location
and distribution to the other components of the Township environment.

The Capital hnprovements Program establishes a short-range priority schedule
of needed public improvements in accordanee with budgetary capabilities. Thts
tool should be very comprehensive in scope by assessing future needs and programming improvements for streets, st.orm and sanitary sewers, water semce,
recreational space, fire protection, and other community facility needs. It 1:s
actually a short-range plan which is utilized to effectuate the Comprehensive
Plan in increments of five to six years. It outlines impro:ve.ments which will be
required and establishes the most desirable economical sequence required ro
fulfill plan objectives. The Capital Improvements Program also proee~ Qille
step further by assessing the Township's abiltty to pay, therefore, guW.:mg "hlta
improvements within the budgetary constraint. It is. in acoo~ wt$. SD:
law, the responsibility of the Townshtp ~ g Oommt&amp;&amp;i~ t0 ~li!Me su.eh

a program for the elected Township offtcfaJis.

THE CITIZEN'S IQ E

�importance to public understanding, acceptance and support of the planning
proposals set forth in the plan document.

There are many areas in which citizens can aid in guiding desirable growth in
the .fu1ure and make other very valuable contributions to the planning process:
1. Forming citizens committees to aid and cooperate with

local officials in the decision-making process.
2. Helping to formulate community goals and objectives.

3. Soliciting and encouraging broad citizen interest in the
planning process.

4. Participating in the hearings on the plan to insure that
it reflects community-wide rather than special interests.
5. Supporting the plan after adoption to insure that the
community interest is being served,
6. Cooperating with the governing body in plan enforcement.

7. Protectmg the plan from indiscreet or piecemeal change
which will cause the disintegration and subsequent ineffectiveness of the document.

8. Ba.eking financial support for plan effectuation, when needed.

P-lmmm;g f'o-r the oomm1mity does not terminate when the plan is completed.
Ing fs a ~ g process. Periodically, new data must be collected,

vised pfan to assure that it will not perish
rest~ P8.l'tie4&gt;a-tion should also be a
QI&amp; to. the 'Citizen and bis mterest

��</text>
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                    <text>Grand Valley State University
Veterans History Project
Al DeWitt
(01:00:02)
(00:19) Background Information
•
•
•
•

Al was born in Grand Rapids, MI in April
His stepfather was in the gladiola business, but they lost their farm and had to move
Al stopped going to high school so he could help his family with money
He joined the Air Corps in 1942 and went into the cadets

(04:55) Training
•
•
•
•

Al was assigned to be a glider pilot in Roswell, NM
He was sent to Walker Air Force Base and had civilian pilot training
Al took a test not knowing what it was and then found out he had an IQ of 143
They had to do KPs even though they had too high of a rank because there wasn’t anyone
else to do it

(14:48) After Glider School
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•

He was sent to Fresno, CA and then to Sioux Falls, SD for radio school
Al didn’t want to go through basic training again, so he wrote a letter to a general to get
back into cadets
The general approved his request and he was sent to Denver, CO
He didn’t do much in Denver, but he met some soldiers coming back from the war in
Europe
Al was then sent back to Santa Ana, CA and they let him pick up where he left of in cadet
school
He was sent to King City, CA to fly Stearmans and then sent to Drew Field in Tampa, FL
In Tampa he got the badge for the 8th Air Force and flew P-51s
Next he was sent to Bakersfield
He then got out of the Air force and went home to start a family and buy a farm

(31:40) Korean War
•
•
•
•
•
•

In 1951 Al got called back into service because the Korean war
He spent another 21 months in the Air Force
Al was first sent to Roswell, NM where he was a test pilot
He flew AT-6s and would sometimes bring people up to do acrobatics
In December he was sent to Rapid City where they did training flights
Al was a B-36 crew member

�•
•
•
•

On one occasion an engine caught fire and they had to make an emergency landing in a
field
The B-36 was a large plane with 6 prop engines and 4 jet engines
They simulated electronic bombings
Al would fly over Russia at a very high altitude and the Russians didn’t have anything
that could go that high

(57:35) Discharge
•
•
•

Al left the Air Force in 1953
He Farmed in Allendale, MI
The Air Force gave him discipline and made him strong

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                  <text>The Library of Congress established the Veterans History Project in 2001 to collect memories, accounts, and documents of U.S. war veterans from World War II and the Korean War, Vietnam War, and conflicts in the Middle East and elsewhere, and to preserve these stories for future generations. The GVSU History Department interviews are part of this work-in-progress, and may contain videos and audio recordings, transcripts and interview outlines, and related documents and photographs.</text>
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                  <text>Afghan War, 2001--Personal narratives, American</text>
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Boring, Frank</text>
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                <text>Al Dewitt was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan and joined the Army Air Corps in 1942.  Al was assigned to be a glider pilot and received his glider wings.  He then trained as a fighter pilot but remained based in the US. He became a farmer after the war, but was called back into duty for 21 months during the Korean War.  He was first a test pilot for the AT-6 and then was put on a B-36 crew.  They did training runs and went over Russia at high altitudes, and Al survived a particularly dangerous crash landing.</text>
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                <text>Smither, James (Interviewer)</text>
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                <text>World War, 1939-1945--Personal narratives, American</text>
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                <text>United States. Army. Air Corps</text>
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                <text>Veterans History Project (U.S.)</text>
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                <text>2008-08-07</text>
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                <text>DeWittAl</text>
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                <text>&lt;a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/455"&gt;Veterans History Project Collection, (RHC-27)&lt;/a&gt;</text>
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                <text>Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Lemmen Library and Archives</text>
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