By Bill Petzold
Editor
TUSCOLA TWP. — Tuscola Township leaders are revisiting the township’s master plan, and they’re asking residents and those in surrounding communities to offer their input.
Those interested may visit the website TuscolaTownshipSurvey.com and take a brief survey to offer their ideas of what improvements or changes they would like the township to make. The master plan was last revisited in 2010, and Tuscola Township planning commission member Jerry Peterson said townships periodically look at what improvements can be made.
“Every five years it’s supposed to be looked at,” Peterson said of the master plan update. “Our current plan has not had any major revisions since 1995 so we felt it’s time to take a serious look at it.”
“When the city of Vassar updated its plan, the city residents did a survey on what they wanted and what they would like to see happen. We would like to do the same and we’d like to ask anyone from outside the community to participate, too, if they are interested. For example, we have lots of kids from outside the community participating in our softball program and using our park. Their opinions are important to us.”
One of the main purposes for a master plan is to help elected officials determine future land uses, such as where to focus on commercial and residential development, and what emphasis to place on ag preservation.
The township is working on the project with the help of Spicer Group of Saginaw, and Peterson suggested individuals without computers wishing to take part in the survey contact the township hall at (989) 871-4507 to have a paper copy mailed to them.
Printed paper copies of the surveys also can be picked up at Beaver’s Sporting Goods and Gifts, 6616 Bray Rd. in Tuscola, the Tuscola Township Hall, 8561 Van Cleve Rd., Vassar, and at the Bullard Sanford Memorial Library, 520 W. Huron Ave. in Vassar. Those wishing to take part in the survey should visit the website or return printed surveys to the township hall by April 30.
The Township Planning Commission will be working on the Master Plan update over the next several months. When a draft is completed it will be made available for public review. A public hearing will provide another opportunity for input prior to the adoption of the plan.