Manchester township officials and public discuss future growth
Manchester Township Hall
submitted by Sybil Kolon on behalf of the Manchester Township Board and Planning Commission
Several members of the public were at the third meeting held to discuss Manchester Township’s identity and how to direct future growth. Most members of the Township Board and Planning Commission were present, as well as the township’s planner, Alissa Starling.
Planning Commission Chair Mike Walter introduced maps that were presented as discussion points and as a visual representation of what future uses could look like. The maps suggest most future development in the township be along the three major transportation corridors: M-52, Austin Road, and US-12. The intention is that the interior portions of the township would remain mostly rural. Walter said this is the latest version of the map “laying out the different types of growth we could see happening 10, 20, 50 years from now.” There are planning decisions that could target growth in these areas and provide incentives to developers for using options that conserve open space.
Everyone recognized that more growth is coming, especially residential, now that the entire Township will have high-speed internet available. Many in the audience want to limit or even discourage growth. In response to that concern, Supervisor Ron Milkey said, “There are tools we can use to stop that sprawl.” He mentioned PUDs (planned unit developments) and cluster housing, which puts homes on smaller lots and preserves most of the open space.
Everyone who spoke put a great deal of emphasis on maintaining our rural character, which draws people to this area. The challenge is how to allow for some growth in a way that does not erode the rural character that helps define Manchester Township.
The Township Board recently established a Land Preservation Committee (LPC) that has been charged with identifying areas for preservation and methods for doing so. The committee has been meeting monthly since September.
Sybil Kolon, chair of the LPC, indicated the LPC is working to identify areas that should be preserved, including agriculture and environmentally sensitive areas. One important feature that is not often considered is groundwater recharge areas, which is how our aquifers are replenished. A township survey two years ago shows 87% of respondents value our rural character. Kolon stated, “In order to keep what people come here for we have to preserve some of it. We have to make that a priority and then figure out where these other areas can fit.”
The decision of the residents of the Village of Manchester to become the City of Manchester was mentioned. The discussion recognized that more concentrated development should be closer to the City. The Joint Master Plan between Manchester Township and the Village was discussed. Walter indicated the most recent communication with the Village, before the vote on cityhood, indicated the Village wanted to extend the Joint Master Plan if the Village becomes a City. A meeting of the group will take place in December to continue the process of updating that plan, which is now more than five years old.
Township Supervisor Ron Milkey discussed the possibility of having more concentrated residential development closer to the City. This could be done using a cooperative “425 agreement” that would define terms between the developer, Township, and City. That would allow these areas to be on smaller lots and have access to services from the City and would establish how that development would be administered between the Township and City.
The meeting concluded at 8:30, with everyone agreeing another meeting is needed. Milkey and Walter were pleased with the public input. The next meeting will be on Monday, January 8, at 7pm. Public comment can have the most impact during this planning period and can be reflected in zoning and planning decisions that will affect residents for many years to come. Your participation is encouraged.
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