Joint Planning Effort Gains Momentum - Project Update

Bear Lake Joint Planning Process

By Harry Burkholder 

In May, YourPlace Magazine brought you a story about three local jurisdictions working together on a proactive community-wide approach to land use planning.

Under the guidance of the recently established Bear Lake Community Planning Commission, representatives from the Village of Bear Lake, Bear Lake Township and Pleasanton Township have been collaborating on the development of a single comprehensive plan for all three communities.

This past October, after over a year of hard work, the Bear Lake Community Planning Commission has finally completed the new comprehensive plan. Among other things, the comprehensive plan outlines several strategies that work to preserve the unique and valuable natural and cultural resources of the greater Bear Lake Community. Several of the plan's strategies were developed in direct response to the substantial amount of public input that was received throughout the community planning process. Public input was collected through a series of brainstorming and visioning exercises at three large public meetings and a community-wide survey.    

The new comprehensive plan will now be sent on to the legislative body of all three jurisdictions for their approval to initiate the public comment period. Following the public comment period and a formal hearing, the planning commission and the legislative body of each jurisdiction will then formally adopt the new comprehensive plan.

A full copy of the plan can be viewed and copied at the Bear Lake Public Library. A full copy of the plan can also be viewed on the project website: http://www.partnershipsforchange.cc/bearlake/.

For more information about the plan and the adoption process, including how to submit comments, please contact the Bear Lake Community Planning Commission or visit the project website.

Contact:

Bernard Ware - Chairman, Bear Lake Community Planning Commission

231-864-3242

Harry Burkholder is a Planner at Land Information Access Association