By JAMES MITCHELL
Sunday Times Newspapers
TRENTON – The absence of a current community Master Plan represents more than just having an outdated document that covers a range of local concepts including community development, zoning and parks and recreation plans.
The public is invited to share thoughts on the updated outline that, officials said, can make or break chances for funding various projects.
“The Master Plan hasn’t been updated in a number of years,” City Administrator Jim Wagner said. “It’s critical for obtaining grants that we have a viable, current plan that reflects what’s happening in the community.”
As an example Wagner said recent attempts to obtain federal grant funds for assessments at the former McLouth Steel property met resistance that, in part, challenged the absence of a plan that hadn’t been updated in nearly 15 years.
“The Environmental Protection Agency did not look fondly at our request to do something at McLouth because the plan was outdated,” Wagner said. “We lost a couple of grants that could have gotten dollars to do assessments.”
Known as the Trenton Coast Resiliency Master Plan, city officials invite the community to share their thoughts at workshops en route to an updated document. Workshops will be held at 6 p.m. May 10 at Trenton High School, 2601 Charlton Road; May 17 at Westfield Center, 2700 Westfield; and May 18 at Trenton Middle School, 4000 Marian Drive.
Wagner said that once complete, the plan will steer funding and decisions for years to come.
“This plan does pertain to residents and whether we develop a park or not in a neighborhood, or where we zone property for commercial use,” Wagner said. “It’s better to have input before rather than after the fact.”
For information on the plan workshops call city hall at 734-675-6500 or go to www.trentonmi.org.
(James Mitchell can be reached at [email protected].)