TABLE OF CONTENTS

Chapter 1

Introduction 1

The Brooks Township Master Plan 1

The Brooks Township Master Plan - Legal Basis 2

The Master Plan and Zoning Relationship 2

Building on a Foundation of Prior Planning Activity 3

How Does the Plan Impact Residents and Property Owners? 4

Updating the Plan 4

Chapter 2

The Community 5

Brooks Township History 5

Land Use Trends 6

Brooks Township Historical Land Divisions Map - (prior to) 1955 7

Brooks Township Historical Land Divisions Map - 1955 8

Brooks Township Historical Land Divisions Map - 1982 9

Brooks Township Historical Land Divisions Map - 1998 10

Brooks Township Today 11

Land Use Trends 11

Existing Land Use 12

Single Family Residential 13

Multiple Family Residential 13

Existing Land Use Map 14

Manufactured Housing 15

Commercial 15

Industrial/Extractive 16

Agricultural 16

Vacant Land 16

Public/Quasi-Public 16

Natural Features 16

Natural Features Map 17

Forest 18

Water Resources 19

Rare Species 21

Soils 22

Transportation 24

Roadway Classifications 24

Description of Existing Roadway Infrastructure 24

Transportation Network Map 25

Roadway Character 26

Existing Transportation Studies 26

M-37 Corridor Study 26

Roadway Improvements 26

Demographics 28

Data 28

Population 28

Housing Affordability 30

Income 30

Transportation 31

Community Input 32

Key Community Leader Input 32

Pressing Issues Facing the Planning Commission 32

What Attracts People to Newaygo County and Brooks Township 33

Residential Growth Along Lakes and Rivers 33

Manufactured Housing 33

Commercial 33

Industrial 34

Transportation 34

Citizen Input from the Public Informational Meeting 34

Residential Growth along Lakes and Rivers 34

Manufactured Housing 35

Commercial 35

Industrial 35

Transportation 35

Environment 36

Chapter 3

Goals & Objectives 37

Natural Features and Rural Character 37

Residential 38

Commercial and Industrial 39

Public Service and Infrastructure 39

Chapter 4

Land Use Plan 41

Plan Districts 41

Public 41

Residential 42

Rural Residential 42

Low Density Residential 43

Medium Density Residential 43

High Density Residential 44

General Commercial 45

Conservation Overlays 45

Rural Character and Preservation Overlays 45

Highway Vista Conservation Overlay 46

Greenbelt Conservation Overlay 46

Industrial District 46

Conservation Overlay Graphics 48

Future Land Use Map 49

Appendix A

Brooks Township Key Community Leader Survey Responses 51

Brooks Township Citizen Input Survey Responses 56