A

Excluding employment opportunities, what factors motivate people to move to Newaygo County? [Why Newaygo County over other locations?]

Percent of Persons Responding

1

Small town (rural) atmosphere, but close to urban centers (Grand Rapids)

62

2

Natural features in general

54

3

Muskegon River (aesthetic beauty, fishing, etc.)

46

4

Lakes (aesthetic beauty, boating, fishing, etc.)

31

5

Quality of life

31

 

 

 

B

Excluding employment opportunities, what factors motivate people to move specifically to Brooks Township?

Percent of Persons Responding

1

Small town (rural) atmosphere

62

2

Proximity of Township (M-82 and M-37) to Grand Rapids

54

3

Lakes (aesthetic beauty, fishing, etc.)

31

4

Muskegon River (aesthetic beauty, fishing, etc.)

31

5

Conversion of cottages to year round use

23

 

 

 

C

Should industrial development be encouraged in Newaygo City/Brooks Township?

Percent of Persons Responding

1

Both the City and Township in planned industrial parks

31

2

In the City of Newaygo

31

3

Do not encourage industrial development

15

4

We have little/limited control over this matter

15

 

Notes:  a)         Virtually all parties supporting industrial development indicated a desire/need to limit said development to “clean” industries (the Donnelly facility was mentioned as an example of a clean industry)

            b)         Of those supporting industrial development, the benefits of employment and tax revenue were stated as the primary reasons for encouraging industry.

 

 

 

D

Should growth be encouraged along/near the shoreline areas of the Township’s system of rivers and lakes?

Percent of Persons Responding

1

Growth is inevitable

62

2

Yes, but highly controlled (e.g. larger lots to encourage low density and open space)

15

3

No

15

4

Most waterfront properties are already developed

15

 

 

 

E

If growth is permitted to occur along the Township’s system of rivers and lakes, should there be development restrictions of some type?

Percent of Persons Responding

1

Growth should be planned for and managed (e.g. through master planning and zoning)

46

2

Institute open space requirements

23

3

Balance restrictions with education of the public on matters of protection and preservation

23

4

Growth is inevitable - restrictions will not prevent it

15

 

 

 

F

Is the commercial growth near the M-37/M-82 Intersection replacing Newaygo’s core (valley) downtown as the City’s prime commercial area?

Percent of Persons Responding

a

Yes

62

b

No, each commercial area has a different function

23

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

G

How should the City’s core (valley) commercial area be treated in the future

Percent of Persons Responding

1

The commercial potential of the downtown is limited, however, building and infrastructure should be maintained

38

2

Restore to an historic character

23

3

Design as a pedestrian oriented downtown with speciality shops and linkage to the river

23

4

Demolish existing buildings and start over

23

 

 

 

H

Brooks Township has access/visibility to both M-37 and M-82.  Should the Township develop its own commercial center, potentially competing with commercial development in the City of Newaygo, or should the Township recognize the City of Newaygo as the area’s commercial center?

Percent of Persons Responding

1

Recognize the City as the area’s central commercial location

62

2

Permit commercial development consistent (compatible) with that occurring in the City

31

 

 

 

I

Should M-37 be replaced (or supplemented) by a freeway similar to

US-131 and US-31?  If not, should any improvements be made to the existing M-37?

Percent of Persons Responding

1

No, however, M-37 should be improved (e.g. passing lanes, remove curves, etc.)

69

2

In the future - as traffic needs warrant

15

 

 

 

J

If Brooks Township pursues construction of sanitary sewers around Hess and Brooks Lakes, and perhaps other high density population areas, should a Township system be constructed or should the Township tie-in to the system owned by the City of Newaygo?

Percent of Persons Responding

1

Newaygo, Garfield Township, and Brooks Township should form a regional sanitary sewer authority for purposes of serving the area

62

2

Township should tie-in to City of Newaygo system

23

3

No preference as long as the users pay the cost

15

 

 

 

K

Should Brooks Township pursue the acquisition of river front lands and lands possessing important natural features for purposes of preservation?

Percent of Persons Responding

1

Yes

54

2

Yes, but also have others (e.g. State/Federal Government, nature Conservancy, etc.) purchase such lands

31

3

Generally, no.  The Township has other funding needs (e.g. roads, sewers, etc.)

15

 

 

 

 

L

If the City of Newaygo needed land in the Township to accommodate new commercial or industrial growth, should the Township allow the City to annex lands for such uses?

Percent of Persons Responding

1

Instead of annexation, use intergovernmental tax sharing agreements

46

2

Yes

38

3

No

15

 

 

 

M

Should Brooks Township allow single-wide mobile homes to be placed in any residential location (district)?

Percent of Persons Responding

1

No

62

2

No, but provisions should be made for affordable housing

15

3

Yes, but highly restricted (e.g. rural locations, on large lots, with large setbacks, etc)

15

 

 

 

N

Should Brooks Township allow mobile (manufactured) home parks?

Percent of Persons Responding

1

Yes, in planned locations

78

2

Cannot prohibit

15

 

 

O

What are the most pressing issues facing the Brooks Township Planning Commission?

Percent of Persons Responding

1

Maintaining open space

38

2

Preventing sprawl

38

3

Protecting the Township’s unique natural features

31

4

Clean-up of junk and trash

31

5

Traffic congestion/traffic impacts

31

6

Ground water contamination

31

7

Overuse and abuse of state and federal lands and lakes and rivers by tourists and others

23

8

Loss of the Township’s rural character

23

 

 

 

Brooks Township Citizen Input Survey Responses

 

PUBLIC INFORMATIONAL MEETING

#

Yes

%

No

%

Question

1

30

70

Should a freeway be constructed through Newaygo County?

2

95

5

Should public sanitary sewers be constructed around Hess and Brooks Lakes?

3

86

14

Should Brooks Township purchase land along the Muskegon River for purposes of preservation?

4

52

48

Should Brooks Township provide a location (an area) for industrial development?

5

29

71

Should M-82 be widened to 4 lanes?

6

32

68

Should Brooks Township encourage a large retailer such as Meijer, K-Mart, and/or WalMart to locate in the township on M-82 or M-37?

7

65

35

Should M-37 be widened to 4 lanes?

8

18

82

Should most of the lots/parcels with frontage on M-82 (in the township) be zoned for commercial development?

9

65

35

Should Brooks Township prevent commercial development along Croton Drive?

10

18

82

As long as they are in planned and landscaped settings, should Brooks Township permit mobile home parks to be located throughout the township?

11

33

67

Should Brooks Township permit the City of Newaygo to annex township land if needed for new commercial or industrial development?

12

43

57

Should all township roads be paved?

13

32

68

Should Brooks Township try to slow its population growth?

14

48

52

Are residential lots ranging in size from 1 to 2 acres large enough to preserve the township’s rural character?

15

88

12

Would you support stringent zoning regulations along the township’s rivers and streams in order to limit development?

16

50

50

In 20 years, do you believe the township will be described as rural in character?

17

92

8

Should local tax dollars be used to educate township residents on ways to protect the natural environment?

18

96

4

Should the township establish a solid waste recycling program?

 

 

Denotes a response rate of at least 65%.