MEDC tells Mount Clemens it meets some redevelopment practices but needs CIP and master plan updates

Debbie Newman, Redevelopment Ready Communities planner for the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, presented the RRC assessment to the Mount Clemens City Commission, reviewed the programriteria and described the report's green/yellow/red grading system. Newman said green indicates best-practice compliance, yellow indicates a community is in the process of meeting the practice and red indicates work still needed.

Newman emphasized that many of Mount Clemens' "yellow" items hinge on completing an updated master plan and adopting a six-year capital improvements plan. "To be in compliance with the Michigan Planning and Enabling Act and RRC best practices, the city must draft and adopt a 6 year capital improvements plan," Newman said.

She reviewed specific best-practice areas: public participation (the planning commission had endorsed a participation strategy pending formal city adoption), zoning alignment with the master plan (the zoning code will need review once the master plan update is finalized), development review procedures and the need for a centralized guide to development information on the city's website. Newman also recommended assembling priority redevelopment sites into an online property package for developers.

Commissioners and residents pressed for clarity about why some items were marked yellow when supporting documentation in the report listed missing components; Newman said some judgments relied on self-evaluations and that assessments can be subjective. She offered to provide follow-up materials and contact information for additional questions.

Next steps Newman outlined: the commission should adopt a resolution indicating intent to proceed with the RRC program, staff would then provide quarterly progress reports to MEDC, and the city would work with MEDC staff to implement the actions needed for certification.