About

Planning for the Bear Lake Community

In the late fall of 2006, the Village of Bear Lake, Bear Lake Township and Pleasanton Township informally agreed to set forth a process to combine planning and zoning responsibilities. To formalize this endevour, the three jurisdictions sought assistance from the Partnerships for Change Program to establish the Bear Lake Community Joint Planning Commission under the Joint Municipal Planning Act: Public Act 226 of 2003 (MCL 125.131 et seq.)and establish a joint comprehensive plan.

What is Partnerships for Change?

Partnerships for Change is a multi-jurisdictional planning assistance program developed by the Land Information Access Association (LIAA), Michigan Municipal League (MML) and Michigan Townships Association (MTA) with support from Michigan State University (MSUE) and Michigan Association of Planning (MAP). The overall mission of the program is to foster new and expanded cooperation between cities, townships and villages in developing and carrying out local land use policies that contribute to the preservation of cultural and natural resources. Wherever possible, these policies should encourage urban redevelopment and discourage inefficient, low-density development.

The Comprehensive Planning Process

The Bear Lake Community comprehensive planning process was guided by a the newly established Joint Planning Commission. With assistance from LIAA and the Partnerships for Change Program, the Joint Planning Commission facilitated a public planning process that encouraged citizen participation and open dialogue. In addition, the Joint Planning Commission convened several public meetings giving citizens the opportunity to shape a plan unique to the Bear Lake Community.


Project Work Plan
A complete project work plan can be found under the "documents" portion of this website.