The Dexter Leader
A Heritage Newspaper
Weekly Publication
Scio officials seek feedback from residents
By Allison Arscottand Marty Mayo, Guestl writers
PUBLISHED: March 22, 2007
Scio Township is updating its master plan this coming year. Scio residents will soon have an opportunity to influence the future of Scio. The township plans to conduct a survey of resident opinions in April, to find out what residents think about future land use in the township, and about parks, recreation and many other topics.
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Scio's Board of Trustees believes that government should be open and responsive to the public. Rather than make assumptions about what Scio residents think the trustees are actively seeking voter opinions before drafting the new master plan. The last revision of Scio's Master Land Use Plan occurred in 1996. While there have been minor adjustments in the intervening years, the township has not undertaken a thorough review of the plan since that time.
The past decade has seen many changes, in the township and also in public attitudes. Scio's population has increased from roughly 13,400 residents in 1995 to more than 19,000 today according to the U.S. Census Bureau's Population Finder. Development has yielded many new neighborhoods and businesses. The second phase of the Jackson Boulevard was completed and Phase Three is just about to begin.
Meijers and Lowe's were built along the boulevard, and Farmer Grant's nursery closed. Because Scio is a strong and vibrant community, there are many pressures for still further development in the township, especially along the Jackson corridor. Change has come not only to the physical spaces in Scio. Public sentiments have also changed in ways that may strongly affect community needs. The importance of exercise in maintaining health and countering widespread obesity has become increasingly understood. The importance of maintaining clean water resources is widely recognized. More people work at home and need Internet connection.
Life is vastly different in 2007 than it was in 1996, and the township needs to ensure that its planning for the future addresses the current needs of its residents.
To gather opinions, Scio will conduct a survey of township residents. The survey will use a scientific sampling process, in which 3,000 randomly selected residents will receive questionnaires in the mail.
Scio's Planning Commission will conduct the survey. The commission hopes to obtain a very high percentage of responses from people who receive questionnaires to ensure that the survey results will accurately portray what township residents think. Not everyone in the Township will receive a questionnaire, so it will be doubly important for those who do receive one to respond quickly.
Survey fieldwork is scheduled to start late this month. Results from the survey should be available by late May. Key findings from the survey will be published in the Township's newsletter, Scio Info. Results will also be reported to the public in the community visioning sessions that are planned as part of the Master Plan review.
Conducting this survey is the first step in the process of updating the Master Plan. The plan will set priorities and directions for Township development over the next ten years. The plan may also guide where and how township funds will be spent.
Local issues are what people notice daily – the ones that people enjoy or complain about, live and cope with. The Planning Commission hopes that Scio residents will take this opportunity to have a say in what happens in their township and that every person who receives a survey will respond.
Allison Arscott is the Chair of the Scio Township Planning Commission; Marty Mayo is the Planning Commissioner, Scio Township
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