Residents Shaping the Future of Highland as Master Plan Process Continues
(Crystal A. Proxmire, Feb. 7, 2024)
Highland, MI – What do Highland residents want? That’s the fundamental question posed by the Township’s Master Planning process. The answer, so far, has been mainly to keep things as they are.
On Wednesday Jan. 24 the Township Board had a joint meeting with the Planning Commission, Zoning Board, and the Downtown Development Authority to discuss ideas for the Master Plan.
The process began in 2023 with a survey to residents and a public workshop in June where 63 residents attended and shared their opinions.
A Master Plan is a document required by the state’s Zoning Enabling Act, which tells communities that zoning must be based on a plan. It’s a document that outlines the desired physical development of a community, which is a land use plan that guides a wide range of municipal decisions and activities. The Master Plan outlines the vision and sets a guide for local government decisions, but Zoning Ordinances, ideally in line with the Master Plan, are the actual laws. They tend to look at what is a community’s vision 5, 10, and 20 years down the road.
The last time Highland went though the Master Planning process was in 1999, with a plan guiding the community to 2022.
Highland Township is 36.18 square miles, 2.07 of which are water. There are about 19,172 residents, 92% of whom are white. The median age is 45.1 with clear population trends showing an increasing older adult population.
The median income is $88,061 and of the residences, 83% are owner-occupied.
“Where are we? Where are we going? Where do we want to go?” said Highland Township Supervisor Rick Hamill. “This is an opportunity for folks not involved in the process to hear what’s going on.” He added that the plans are not his, but a community effort. “The reality is I’m just here to help everyone.”
With the Master Plan setting the direction for the next two decades, it’s an opportunity for thoughtful change and added amenities. However most of those serving on the boards and committees, and the residents who completed the survey, seem to prefer maintaining the status quo.
Topics that have been floated include bike lanes, safety paths, increased internet infrastructure, sewers, housing options (particularly for older adults and those looking for affordable options), and purchasing greenspace for the sake of preservation.
The survey last year showed that 82% of respondents were satisfied with variety of goods and services available in the community. Most residents agree that Highland Township is “a safe, quiet, family-friendly place with rural charm.”
55% disagreed with the need for adding more multi-family housing. And 67% wanted to maintain the rural atmosphere.
34% were in favor of a tax millage to preserve environmental resources, and 48% support using local tax money to preserve natural areas for public use.
Pedestrian and bicycle paths showed up as the number one need, and 46% of respondents agreed that improving local roads should be a priority.
At the Jan. joint board meeting, Brian Howe suggested it “would be nice to expand the bike path to Milford. There’s only a few mile to go to connect to Milford.” He said there are “so many bikers around here,” and noted that “some places have sidewalks, some places don’t.”
Yet Guy York shared another priority. “I’m not saying we don’t need more bike paths, but our roads are bad,” he said. “How can we maintain paths long term,” York added. “Make sure we don’t build paths if we can’t maintain them.”
Even with residents desiring it, there doesn’t seem to be the appetite to fund them. “Has the board considered a millage for pathways? No,” Hamill said. “We can’t get this town to pass a millage.”
Sewers are another topic of discussion where change does not seem likely. “If we keep sewers out, that helps maintain that character. If we open that up, we start changing like they did in Oxford and Milford,” said one of the residents. Supervisor Hamill also said that Oxford’s population “blew up in the past few years,” because of sewers.
A member of the DDA noted that without sewers, Downtown Highland cannot have a café or coffee house, something that has been suggested by residents.
Across the county, the state, and the country a housing shortage means there are more people than available homes, and a place like Highland with undeveloped land could be an attractive spot for those who want to invest in housing development. However, residents that have been participating in the process don’t want that to happen.
Supervisor Hamill is proud that Highland is not attracting new residents. “We’re maintaining that population around 20,000 and it will probably stay that way the next 20 years,” he said. “[There’s] not a community around here that has had that slow of growth.”
One resident said it would not be a problem because Highland maintains a larger lot size than other communities. “Everybody’s talking about affordable housing, but there’s never going to be affordable housing on 3-5 acre lots.”
Supervisor Hamill did add that Highland Hills, a mobile home community, has been purchased by a new owner who is extending it to include 300 more units reserved for adults aged 55 and older. The project includes new landscaping, clean up, and improved roads through the whole development.
The subject of internet access also came up, as some residents are unable to connect to the system. Hamill is working with the cable company to identify the extent of the challenge. In recent years the Township was approached with the possibility of adding high speed fiber-based infrastructure similar to a program implemented in Farmington Hills, but declined due to the disruptive nature of underground installation and concerns over maintenance.
One thing that Highlanders do love is the green space, with members of the public emphasizing the importance of nature both in the survey and in the discussions.
“We had the opportunity to be a scenic blvd,” said Supervisor Hamill. “I think of Bloomfield on Woodward. That’s all done by setbacks and other things. It’s intentional.” That feel happens along M-59, with Highland’s lush forests being a contrast to the strip malls, gas stations, and restaurants of Howell and White Lake.
The challenge, however, is how to maintain it. Residents have been clear about not wanting to use tax money to maintain parks, recreation, and natural areas. Supervisor Hamill explained that nature preserves across America have come from tax dollars. “If we look back at the National Parks, we would not have that open space if it weren’t for part of the government. We’ve captured them, we don’t get taxes for them. They’re there for everyone to enjoy.”
“We don’t have a parks and recreation millage,” he said. “Almost every other community has one.”
However, he said that asking for a millage was like “political suicide.” “I’m not a politician and I’m not afraid to do right things, but I am conscious that it is not my money,” Hamill said.
A parks and recreation millage could be used for pathways, parks, and maintenance. “A millage is not out of the question, but you have to have a really good plan,” he said.
The Master Planning process continues with a draft Master Plan that the public will have the opportunity to review. For the latest in the process, as well as related documents, visit the Highland Township website at www.highlandtownship.net.
