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News from the Keweenaw Peninsula May 16, 2005 Text and photos © 2005 Michele Anderson. Group photo © 2005 Bill Fink. Photos and drawings from Design Guidelines to Enhance Community Appearance and Protect Natural Resources © 2005 Michigan Technological University. Reprinted with permission.*

Local residents, community leaders discuss design for better development

By Michele Anderson

HOUGHTON -- The first of two "Better Development by Design" workshops attracted about 60 residents, local government officials and planners, who discussed citizen concerns about preserving what is attractive about the local area while developing communities economically.

At the May 10 workshop, held in the Ballroom of Michigan Tech's Memorial Union Building, speakers on the topic, "How Are We Doing?" included Robert Poirier, Lake Linden Village clerk; Sue Cone, Calumet Village comptroller and member of Main Street Calumet; Jim Johnson, Calumet Village zoning commissioner and Historic District Committee coordinator; Phil Musser, Keweenaw Industrial Council executive director; and Scott Mac Innes, Houghton city manager.

Joan Chadde (at podium) of the Western Upper Peninsula Center for Science, Mathematics and Environmental Education welcomes local government officials, residents and planners to the first "Better Development by Design" workshop May 10 in the ballroom of Michigan Tech's Memorial Union Building. (Photo © 2005 Bill Fink. Reprinted with permission.)

"It was a great turnout -- a lot of positive energy," said Joan Chadde of the Western Upper Peninsula Center for Science, Mathematics and Environmental Education, an MTU-based organization that offers a multitude of educational opportunities to local schools and communities.

"There's so much hidden talent -- a lot of skills -- and just this sharing between communities," said Chadde, facilitator for the workshop. "There's obviously a lot of concern as well as a really strong sense of appreciation. People know what they've got (a mix of history and natural resources), and they're trying to be pro-active about protecting this unique place where we live."

Kristine Bradof of the Gem Center for Science and Environmental Outreach presented a slide show to summarize the contents of a recent MTU publication, Design Guidelines to Enhance Community Appearance and Protect Natural Resources. Chadde co-authored the booklet with teachers Linda Rulison and Ruth Ann Smith of Hancock Middle School and Jean Dunstan of Stanton Township Schools, Atlantic Mine. Each person who attended the workshop received a free copy of this guidebook, which is directed at both adults and youth interested in the topic of community design. Bradof was co-editor of the guidebook.* 

The first page of the book is a letter from Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm, who expresses her excitement about the guidebook and its examples of how citizens can enhance the visual appearance of communities and protect natural resources.

"Change is on the horizon," Granholm writes. "Michigan's land is being developed at a rate eight times faster than Michigan's population is growing. This rapid consumption of land threatens the livability of our communities and the protection of important habitats, water quality, and open space."

In her slide presentation, Bradof gave an overview of the guidebook's three main topics: natural resource protection, landscape character, building appearance and streetscape.

At the May 10, 2005, "Better Development by Design" workshop at Michigan Tech, Kristine Bradof of the Gem Center for Science and Environmental Outreach presents a slide show with highlights from Design Guidelines to Enhance Community Appearance and Protect Natural Resources, a guidebook presented free to those who attended the workshop. (Photo © 2005 Michele Anderson)

"One of the issues with development and design is figuring out where development should go," Bradof said.

She noted it is important to share ideas on what can be done to assure that new growth fits in with what's already in the community visually and also protects the natural resources. If this isn't done, you can end up with something that looks like "Anywhere, U.S.A." -- the franchise architecture that appears outside many communities -- a contrast to the present downtown areas of several Copper Country communities.

Bradof pointed out the economic effects -- costs of infrastructure, services, roads, etc. -- as well as the health effects of development designed only for motorized access, as opposed to walkable communities that allow people to get the exercise they need.

As an example of natural resource protection, the guidebook gives examples of lakeshore and riverbank landscapes and how keeping natural vegetation can filter out contaminants to protect water quality and help prevent erosion and loss of natural plant and animal diversity.

Under landscape character, Bradof's slides included an example of ridge development in the design of the The Bluffs Senior Community on M-26 in Houghton. While residents may have a good view of the area from the front of the building, the removal of vegetation in front gives an exposed view of the building and impacts the visual corridor.

This is an example of a common approach to ridge development, which, if possible, should be avoided, according to the Design Guidelines to Enhance Community Appearance and Protect Natural Resources. The scenic view is impacted by clearing of natural vegetation and placement of access roads in front of the ridge. (Image © 2005 Michigan Technological University. Reprinted with permission.*

On the other hand, road access behind the Bluffs follows the design guidebook's recommendations for shielding the road from view, Bradof noted.

The Bluffs Senior Community at the top of the ridge along M-26 gives the ridge a "scalped" look and impacts the visual corridor. A good point, however, is that the access road to the facility is located behind the building. (Photo reprinted with permission from Design Guidelines to Enhance Community Appearance and Protect Natural Resources © 2005 Michigan Technological University.)

Using photos of more attractive fast food franchises, described two years ago during a visit by Ed McMahon, land use planner and director of The Conservation Fund's "American Greenways Program," Bradof contrasted the "Anywhere, U.S.A." look with buildings that fit the community character -- resulting from voluntary or required site plan (design) review or incentives for historic renovation.

This McDonald's® restaurant is an example of a franchise design that can be altered to blend in with local character if a community requests it prior to issuing permits. (Photo reprinted with permission from Design Guidelines to Enhance Community Appearance and Protect Natural Resources © 2005 Michigan Technological University.)

Parking lots, lighting, signs and cell towers are also discussed in the guidebook, with recommendations for improved design or concealment.

"We're getting a lot more parking lots in the area now than we used to have, particularly with the development of strip malls in a lot of areas," Bradof said.

Bradof pointed out the guidebook's four main conclusions:

• Development is both necessary and desirable
• Local residents can choose how their community develops
• Guidelines represent "Smart Growth" techniques and Best Management Practices
• With proper planning, the historic architecture, visual character, and natural resources of the region can be protected.

Beginning the discussion on ""How Are We Doing?" was Robert Poirier, Lake Linden Village clerk, who used a large map of Lake Linden to illustrate the Village's recent reclamation of land and shoreline through Superfund re-vegetation of areas of stamp sand left by previous copper mining activities. 

Poirier noted the Superfund cleanup in Lake Linden has provided the community with 200 acres of open space -- the Lake Linden Sands -- that have caused residents to become more involved in the village's potential for recreation. The village park, created over the past several years with the help of grants, includes a marina, a campground, a 2.5 mi. nature trail, an athletic course-pavilion area and a large playground area. The projected $3.2 million Linden Dunes golf course project, if funded, could make big change in the recreation plan and planning for the village, Poirier added.

Poirier said the Village Council, in the last two years, has started to look at the bigger picture more often and taken into account a bigger goal. He noted on the map the large area now available to the village -- 250 acres, or half of the total land area of the village.

Robert Poirier, Lake Linden Village clerk, talks about the large area of open space -- 250 acres -- now available to the Village for potential recreational use. At left is a map of Lake Linden, which Poirier used to illustrate his presentation. (Photo by Michele Anderson)

"So we have approximately 50 percent of our land area that's sort of a blank canvas, as it were, with regards to recreational possibilities," Poirier explained. "I think we've done a good job in diversifying the types of recreational opportunities that are available."

He also noted the Houghton County Historical Museum, near the park, has plans for future projects.

Poirier added the historical aspects of the area are related to protection of natural resources because of history of the mining communities, which "were not entirely environmentally friendly originally," so in restoring those areas and structures special attention has to be paid to protecting the natural resources as well.

"I think one of the biggest hurdles, in my opinion, in our future development, is something that is referred to in our local restaurants as 'the Z word,' which is zoning," he said.

The Village currently has no zoning and presently must rely on sensible choices in the areas of landscape character and residential development, he explained. While many older, longtime residents are opposed to zoning and resistant to change, a comprehensive plan is difficult without zoning.

Planner Pat Coleman, president of U.P. Engineers and Architects, and his company have recently been contracted for a streetscape project which calls for narrowing the 100-block of Calumet Street to slow down traffic at the gateway to the Village and increase visibility and safety. The project will also include tree planting, creating a town square and installing historic lighting, with hidden electric wires. 

"Pedestrian accessibility is a big part of the plan," Poirier said.

Another problem is that, while the village has several historic structures, it has no historic ordinance.

Joan Chadde pointed out two positive events in Lake Linden. Recently middle school students have become involved in cultural landscape through a historic scavenger hunt in which they trace on pictures of buildings the parts they want to keep and draw in what they would like to add. Also, she noted, the community is fortunate that Dick Taylor, Houghton County Historical Society president, recently purchased the historic Lindell's soda shop.**

Ed McMahon's phrase, "If you don't ask for it, you won't get it," cited by Chadde at the beginning of the workshop, was quoted again by Sue Cone, Calumet Village comptroller since 1986, in her account of how Calumet asked for -- and got -- both Keweenaw National Historical Park and the Main Street designation for economic development through historic preservation. Cone is also a board member for Main Street Calumet and Calumet Village zoning administrator.

Calumet's historic Fifth Street has benefited from the Calumet Village Historic Ordinance and the Main Street program, which encourages economic development through historic preservation. (Photo reprinted with permission from Design Guidelines to Enhance Community Appearance and Protect Natural Resources © 2005 Michigan Technological University.)

"We had a wonderful group of people that got together as we were trying to move the Park forward, and worked very very hard and continued to work," Cone said. "And when we had an opportunity to go for the Main Street designation, they came together again."

Cone said the Village of Calumet did not have the opposition to zoning that other communities are experiencing now, perhaps because Calumet is very small. (The Village includes a clearly designated residential area and a clearly designated historic downtown area. Just outside this area, Calumet Township has its own zoning.)

"What we need to talk about is what we're doing with the historic district ordinance," Cone said.

This ordinance, adopted in January 2002, basically governs the downtown area. An example is the replacement of street bricks and street lights on Fifth Street to resemble the original ones (characteristic of Calumet's historic mining boom era of the early 1900s). The idea for the ordinance, Cone noted, goes back to 1990, but wasn't possible then. It was a long process; but now that it is in place, it really is working well, she added.

"Most people, I find, are very receptive to these kinds of things," Cone said. "We try to work with them, and most people now realize, too, that what happens to your neighbor's property is going to affect the value of your property."

Cone noted that now, with the Main Street designation, received in 2003, the Village has many volunteers for its various committees.

Jim Johnson, Calumet Historic District Committee (HDC) coordinator and Calumet Village Planning Commission chair, said he has been involved in land use planning for about 15 years and finds that almost everyone knows what is the best use for their property, i.e., people believe in land use planning for someone else.

"They tell me that all the time: They don't need a community vision; they know what is best for their property," he quoted people as saying.

Both zoning and the historic ordinance are really a community vision, and sometimes what people want doesn't fit the community vision, Johnson explained. Eventually, though, when the rules are clarified, most of the people walk away happy.

"Because they start to see how their project fits within the community," Johnson said, "and that's a great thing."

Johnson said the Village is now in the final editing stage of the guidelines for the historic district, which is strictly a commercial area. 

During the small group discussion period of the May 10 design workshop, Carol Kurz, left, of Calumet discusses historic building renovation with Jim Johnson, Calumet Historic District Committee (HDC) coordinator and Calumet Village Planning Commission chair, and Sue Cone, Calumet Village comptroller, zoning administrator and board member for Main Street Calumet. (Photo by Michele Anderson)

"We're not trying to build a museum. Calumet is a live town. That means that things have to change," Johnson added. "We want it to be a live, vibrant community to come to, but we want to keep that (historic) feel." 

Johnson said the HDC is a type of quality control, but it works hand in with Main Street Calumet, part of a national program that seeks economic revitalization through historic preservation.

"They're the go-getters," he said.

Continued on Page 2: Learn more about Main Street Calumet, Houghton and residents' views

*Editor's note: *The source of some material in the design booklet is the Grand Traverse Bay Region Development Guidebook, prepared in Sept. 1992 (and updated since) for the Grand Traverse County Planning Commission under an agreement with the Planning and Zoning Center, Inc., of Lansing. Geared to the northern Great Lakes Region, now under development pressures because of its discovery by people from congested urban areas seeking open space and recreation opportunities, the guidebook states its purpose is "to share ideas of what can be done to assure that new growth fits in with the visual appearance and environmental protection of local communities."