By: Gordon Hayward
Why I think the PRESERVATION of natural resources such as farmland and open space is such an important issue in planning.
I like to think of natural resources in terms of LIBERTY, LIFE, and the PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS as they relate to National, State, and Local perspectives.
NATIONAL PERSPECTIVE: LIBERTY American farmland is a national treasure, a "Strategic Farmland Preserve"- needs to be created for National Security!
- It is absolutely essential that productive agricultural land be available for the production of food and fiber in the future as well as today.
- What will the future be for a society that does not preserve its resources for future generations? What will the future be like if there is no investment in maintaining or enhancing present resources?
- In a recent article, The National Geographic, predicted that in our lifetime there will be wars over fresh water. There are a number of nations in the world that are dependent on rivers that originate in other countries for their only source of fresh water. A similar case can be made for nations that must depend on other countries for the importation of food.
STATE PERSPECTIVE: LIFE Few things are as important as food and fresh water. We in Michigan and the Midwest have the ability to grow food - we have a combination of land and fresh water that has few equals in the world.
- THIS ALONE SHOULD MAKE US PAUSE BEFORE WE CONVERT ONE MORE ACRE OF PRIME FARMLAND TO OTHER USES.
- What is the value of short-term economic gains by converting prime and unique lands to other uses, if the result is that there is no longer an opportunity for the long-term gains of productive agriculture?
LOCAL PERSPECTIVE: PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS Every place is special.
- Every community has a characteristic that makes it a special place: it may be a building; a river; an historic event; a business; a house; a person; an entranceway along a road.
- In many cases this "Special Characteristic" has to do with a natural resource.
COMMUNITY CHARACTER
Community character is the foundation of any master planning effort. These Special Characteristics contribute in a major way to what is called "Community Character" and the Community Character is defined in terms of these special characteristics. One of the goals of a Community Plan is to identify which of those special characteristics needs to be preserved or protected in order to sustain the desired Community Character as changes take place over time.
QUALITY OF LIFE IS NOT JUST A DREAM - BUT CAN BE A REALITY The future can be better than the past. The future needs to be predictable in a fundamental sense. People need to have a feeling that the future is something to look forward to, not to fear. It seems reasonable that the current generation should make some investments in order to insure or even improve the quality of life for the long term.
PSYCHOLOGICAL WELL BEING IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF "COMMUNITY" Should we not strive to be able to say this to others and ourselves about our community?
Our community is a desirable: place to live, play or recreate, work, raise children, worship. Should we not also say about our living environment? This is an attractive road to travel to work, this is a quality pleasant school for our children, this is a safe enjoyable place to meet people, this is a permanent scenic view to keep in our minds when we are away, this is a quite peaceful, safe place. It doesn't matter what "community" you are talking about - it may be a street - it may be a neighborhood or it may be a nation - the response should be the same; "isn't this a nice community!"
THE MASTER PLAN The master plan is a pathway to a desirable future. Planning reduces future conflicts. The master plan keeps options open for future generations. The master plan provides for a sustainable future. Natural resources are a fundamental ingredient to a desirable future
I believe that ONE OF THE ROLES OF GOVERNMENT is to address resource preservation issues where the balance of short-term goals and long-term goals is determined.
Since the local unit of government is responsible for the public decisions regarding land resource issues unless the county, state or federal government decides to also become involved, Peninsula Township asked its residents and property owners to participate in a process to determine the issues and concerns that should be included in a Master Plan.
It was determined by policy committees that Peninsula Township should attempt to preserve those critical scenic views and unique farmlands that contributed to the rural character and the quality of life of Peninsula Township.
The Peninsula Township Board adopted an ordinance incorporating the above ideas and asked the voters to consider a property tax increase to preserve farmland and open space in perpetuity by purchasing conservation easements on those farms identified on the Agricultural Preserve Map that was adopted by the Planning Commission and to set as a priority for purchase, those unique farmlands that made up the critical scenic views identified on the Scenic View Map also adopted as part of the Master Plan.
Township residents have twice voted increases in property taxes to preserve some unique agricultural land and scenic views within the Township for future generations.
The "Sense of Community" that has been achieved in Peninsula Township has resulted in an attractive enjoyable community with a sense of permanency.
People are moving into Peninsula Township with the expectation that the COMMUNITY CHARACTER, QUALITY OF LIFE and PSYCHOLOGICAL WELL BEING will continue into the future.
Gordon Hayard is the Planner for Peninsula Township.
You can also listen to an interview with Gordon on the Scenic Viewsheds and take a photo tour of Peninsula Township in the November Issue of Your Place.
