In response to growth pressures a number of years ago, a group of community leaders formed the Saline Sustainability Circle (SSC) to address land use and other community-wide issues. SSC is comprised of the City of Saline, the Townships of Lodi, Pittsfield, Saline and York, the Saline Area Chamber of Commerce, and Saline Area Schools.

As a starting point for addressing the growth pressures, the SSC initiated a community-wide public planning process in 2001.  That work culminated in a document titled Saline Sustainability Circle Regional Planning Guidelines.  The group applied to Partnerships for Change to help take the Guidelines a step further and implement a shared land-use policy.

Through the Partnerships for Change process, the group determined that they would like to implement a Growth Management Area that addresses utility expansion and urban land use. The group is currently working on this with the help of a student intern.