A. PLANNING PROCESS

1. Citizens should participate in the planning process.

Citizens should be independent and strong members of the City Plan Commission involved in determining goals for the Master Plan and plans for local neighborhoods.

2. Education of the public toward an understanding of city planning and the Dearborn Master Plan is important. The Zoning Board of Appeals and the City Plan Commission should work together, perhaps as part of the same department.

 

B. MASTER PLAN

1. There should be a Master Plan that is a meaningful, vital part of the total community planning process, utilizing the principles of universal design.

2. A Master Plan should be developed that has goals in all major areas, including:

a. Transportation, both public and private.

b. Commercial development.

c. Natural environment.

d. Cultural recreation for all ages.

e. Public facilities of all types.

f. Historic preservation.

g. Multi-unit housing. 

h. Convalescent and retirement facilities.

i. Neighborhood community concepts reflecting current situations

j. These goals cannot be static but should change and should be adopted by the City Council.

3. The Master Plan should be developed from input secured from persons in many areas.

4. Zoning should be coordinated closely with the goals of the Master Plan.  A public official should have the responsibility for seeing that this is done.

 

C. PARKS AND OPEN SPACE

1. Support of measures to increase the amount of diversified park land within Dearborn city limits to meet the National Recreation and Park Association standards.

2. Park land should be increased in proportion to population growth and be located throughout the city according to population density. Some parks should act as buffer zones and population control.

3. Park land should serve diverse needs:

a. Facilities for both active and passive recreation.

b. Park lands adjacent to senior citizens housing.

c. Public gardens and natural areas.

4. Unique and natural areas should be preserved with priority given to the Rouge River flood plains through:

a. Open space zoning of the flood plains.

b. Stringent enforcement of such zoning regulations.

5. Publicly owned land suitable for parks should not be sold. We specifically encourage cooperation between the Dearborn Board of Education and the City of Dearborn to preserve land for parks.

6. Publicly owned land natural areas should receive consideration for parks before privately owned natural areas.

7. We oppose the extension of the Edward Hines Drive south of Ford Road.

8. We oppose channelization or any other alteration of the Rouge River north of Michigan Avenue.

 

D. ZONING CHANGES

1. There should be a buffer zone between areas of differing uses.

2. Street and traffic patterns should be such that homes, business and industry will have adequate access and reasonable protection from each other.

3. We oppose encroachment into residential areas of parking in connection with business or industrial uses.

4. In areas of widespread changes due to City actions:

a. Residents losing their homes, owned or rented, should receive help in resettlement and moving costs, but not subsidized rents.

b. Residents remaining in an area should have adequate public facilities.