Proactive city planning is better than reacting to problems as they are presented, Mackinaw City planning commissioners say, and they have determined that they want to strive for a more forward-thinking approach to their role. At their Thursday, January 26 meeting, commissioners created a list of issues they would like to address in the coming year, including improving the appearance of intersections, improving store merchandising, and revitalizing Ni- colet Street. They want to prepare the foundation for a plan of action in 2012 and future years.

Commissioner Bo Whipkey said he wanted to preface the brainstorming session by reminding the commission they have mostly taken a reactive approach to city planning in the past.

“The big players in town usually present issues to us, and we react to them,” Mr. Whipkey said. He said that often keeps them busy enough that they do not have time to address other issues.

“That’s not always in the best long-term public interest,” he said. Being reactive works fine in the short term, he noted, “but in the long term, we need to think proactively about what’s best for the general public.”

Mr. Whipkey said he believes the planning commission should, instead, take a more proactive approach to city planning.

Commissioner John Riemer agreed with Mr. Whipkey’s observation and thinks that type of planning would stimulate forward, instead of lateral, vision. He said he’d like to see what other cities have done successfully and what their concerns have been. He believes the planning commission now lacks forward vision.

Commission Chair Rob Most also agreed the commission should become a “long term thinking body.” He said if commissioners do more long range planning, they would have fewer small issues to attend to. But, he said, they may need to hold more meetings to keep up with current business and any new topics.

“It will take a significant time commitment,” Mr. Most said.

The commission launched into making a list of topics they would like to address this year and in the future.

During public comment, citizen Ron Wallin brought up several issues he would like to see addressed by the planning commission. He said summer parking needs to be enforced and improved because tourists park on sidewalks and large trailers block the view of the water. He also said continued attention needs to be paid to decreasing light pollution. Last, he said he would like to see the village work on drawing in young families by diversifying the types of jobs available. He said they could accomplish that by trying to bring in more professional jobs that pay well year-around.

The next city planning commission meeting will be Thursday, February 23, at 7 p.m. at the village hall.

Mackinaw City Planning
Commission Issues to Address:
Preserve waterfront visibility.
Improve quality and diversity in
merchandising in the village’s
stores.
Improve quality of the exterior of
stores.
Theming or creating a sense of
place in Mackinaw City.
Revitalize Nicolet Street.
Improve the appearance of main
intersections and street corners.
Lose grandfathering.
Advertise for tourists. Possibly
collaborate with other nearby communities in the effort.
Improve signage to draw people
to outlying areas such as the Headlands and McGulpin Point.
Make an effort to draw young
people to Mackinaw City.
Boat parking.
Reassess and increase enforcement of building height regulations.
Time limits on site planning and
completion.
Medical marijuana.
Solar energy.
Define zoning for sexually oriented businesses.
Management of light pollution.