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Wightman Professional Planning Services

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Wightman Professional Planning Services

It’s all about people.

About our firm…

Wightman Professional Planning Services

The Wightman Way

Wightman Professional Planning Services

• Wightman has been serving communities in Michigan since 1946.
• Our firm has 120 + employees and 3 locations: Benton Harbor, Allegan, and Kalamazoo.
• Wightman is truly a “one stop shop” with Engineers, Architects, Planners, Interior

Designers, Surveyors, and Landscape Architects all under the same roofs!

• Our motto is “It’s all about people”.

Natalie Dean Planner, MSA Public Administration Central Michigan University

• 12+ years with the City of Marshall as

Planner/Director of Community Services (Recreation, Senior Living, Transportation, Building, Code Enforcement)

• Composed most City ordinances including

Hospital Campus Overlay District.

• Assistant City Manager-City-wide projects, and

represented City Manager in his absence

• Branched out from Marshall to assist a variety of

municipalities with Planning and Public Engagement needs.

Carl Baxmeyer Senior Planner, AICP, REFP

Grand Valley State University Colorado State University

• First Planning Director, LaPorte County, IN
• Established the Planning Department including
• perations, policies and procedures
• Updated Master Plan and Zoning Ordinance
• Wrote the first Park and Recreation Plan
• Founder – Baxmeyer Associates
• Provided planning services to municipalities and

commercial clients

• Master Plans, Zoning Ordinances, Feasibility

Studies

• Economic Development – Targeted

commercial/industry studies, TIF and EDA creation

• Educational Facility Planner

Clawson…

Wightman Professional Planning Services

Wightman Services For Clawson

+ EXPERIENCED MUNICIPAL PLANNERS + ACCESS TO A VARIETY OF SERVICES, AS NEEDED + FAMILIARITY WITH COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT AND GROWING DOWNTOWNS + REDEVELOPMENT EXPERTS-RRC CERTIFICATION + YEARS OF EXPERIENCE WITH ZONING ORDINANCES, MASTER PLANS, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIES, AND IMPLEMENTATION PLANS + GRANT WRITING EXPERIENCE + EXPERIENCE PRESENTING TO PLANNING COMMISSIONS, ZBA’S, AND CITY COUNCILS

Wightman Professional Planning Services

Redevelopment Ready Communities & One Stop Ready Assistance

Wightman Professional Planning Services

• Assisted Marshall in becoming the 8th certified RRC community in Michigan.

The process took approximately 20 months from start to finish.

• Maintain good relations with RRC staff to date.
• Excited to work with the One Stop Ready program.

Site Plans

Wightman Professional Planning Services

Each site plan that comes into the City is unique. A site plan is always a balancing act between the developer’s ideas and the City’s ordinances. While development is good, it has to be the right development for the City!

• Clawson’s process/timeline/flowchart for site plan review is to be applauded.
• Review of the plan is coming from several different sources—necessary for a

thorough review.

• The process calls for the Planner to initially meet with the developer and

serve as a continuous liaison through the site plan review and Planning Commission process. The process of review Clawson uses is familiar to us and we are impressed by the thoroughness and transparency.

Zoning Ordinances

Wightman Professional Planning Services

A Zoning Ordinance is a living, breathing document. As time changes, laws change, and the City’s needs change, it is necessary to amend the ordinance. We have experience writing and amending City ordinances. In 2014-2015, Natalie served on the Urban Livestock task force, commissioned under State Senator Joe Hune.

• The task force was developed to take a close look at the affects of livestock in urban

areas (soils, livestock health, livestock housing, waste management, slaughter and pest control.

• Chickens were a large part of the discussion.

The taskforce voted to recommend a comprehensive Urban Agriculture Act.

Grants!

Wightman Professional Planning Services

Municipalities require the use of grant money to implement successful projects within the City.

• 1. Environmental grants
• 2. Public space improvement grants
• 3. Housing grants
• 4. Recreational grants

Clawson’s community goals

Wightman Professional Planning Services

• 1. Attract new business and industry to the City.
• 2. Prioritize development and revitalization along the main road corridors.
• 3. Preserve, protect and enhance the residential character of Clawson’s

neighborhoods.

• 4. Encourage transitional development adjacent to commercial and

industrial uses.

• 5. Maintain and enhance community facilities, recreation programs, and

city parks to meet present and future needs of all residents.

• 6. Promote a safe and efficient transportation network within and through

the community.

• 7. Minimize overuse and reliance on private access drives and parking

lots, promote greenspace, and minimize environmental impacts.

• 8. Pursue alternative forms of transportation where appropriate.

Marshall, MI Redevelopment Ready Communities certification Celebrated on: December 2, 2016 Contractual Planner: Natalie Dean

Wightman Professional Planning Services

Schoolcraft, MI Vision Plan, Master Plan, Zoning Plan Contractual Planner: Natalie Dean

Wightman Professional Planning Services

Thank you, Clawson! Questions?

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