DETROIT, Michigan - Wednesday, October 20, the Michigan Association of Planning (MAP) recognized two League members for their outstanding planning efforts to promote assets such as excellent physical design, multimodal transportation options and environmental sustainability. The Village of Onekema was honored with the Daniel Burnham Award for a Comprehensive Plan for its joint master plan with Onekema Township. This plan, which is connected to the establishment of a joint planning commission and shared ordinance, includes goals related to downtown walkability, quality schools and natural resource conservation.  MAP cited the effort for its "originality and innovation" and for its value as a "model for collaboration". Auburn Hills' Riverwalk Master Plan was recognized as an Outstanding Planning Project for Best Practice. The City developed this Plan, which communicates a vision for a riverfront park system linked to regional trails and downtown, through a public process that MAP cited as "open, inclusionary, interactive". The Master Plan includes a detailed resource guide for sustainable design and water conservation.

Congratulations to the City of Auburn Hills and the Village of Onekema for your outstanding planning vision and hard work.

Luke Forrest is project coordinator for the Michigan Municipal League's Center for 21st Century Communities. He can be reached at 734-669-6323 or lforrest@mml.org.

The Center for 21st Century Communities’ (21c3) “eight assets” that make cities and towns attractive places to live and work have been included among the “core values” of the City of Saline, Michigan’s 2010-2011 Strategic Plan for city governance! 

This means that the ideas, goals, and solutions presented on this website are really starting to have a tangible impact on communities that are looking for ways to become more vibrant places in the 21st Century. The Michigan Municipal League, which created 21c3 and identified the “eight assets,” is particularly pleased to see a community in Michigan so whole-heartedly embracing its effort to help communities “place-make.”

Included among Saline’s “core values” is a call to “Review Potential Components of 21st Century Communities,” and they are using 21c3’s “eight assets” as a model or a jumping off point. The “eight assets” that you can learn about on this website include; Physical Design & Walkability, Green Initiatives, Cultural Economic Development, Entrepreneurship, Multiculturalism, Messaging & Technology, Transit, and Education - all of which appear in Saline’s 2010-2011 Strategic Plan.

Beyond including 21c3’s “eight assets” in the plan, it also sets out a few other goals and objectives throughout the rest of the document that relate to 21c3’s efforts. The city wants to do things like “enhance downtown music activities,” “increase non-motorized traffic, including pedestrian and biking,” “ensure that Saline is a model for environmental efforts,” and improve city government's communications and online presence. If you’ve been keeping up with this site, you’ll notice that these are some of the topics we’ve been blogging about, and you can find many related resources, multimedia resources, and solutions on this site. 

Browse the “eight assets," by clicking around the flash image on the top of this page, or find out more about the Technical Services that the League has started offering communities in Michigan who want to develop as strong, vibrant 21st Century Communities.

Jennifer Eberbach is a professional journalist and writer. Find contact information on her website www.jenthewriter.info