Coldwater launches 14‑month master plan update; consultants seek broad public input

Julie Sherhart, a planner with Progressive Companies, briefed the Coldwater Planning Commission on the city’s master plan update and described a 14‑month schedule that emphasizes repeated public engagement and data analysis. Sherhart said the project officially kicked off in July and will combine a steering committee, pop‑up events, two open houses and targeted outreach to produce a vision, goals, a future land‑use map and an implementation plan.

"A master plan is a, policy document that is required for, communities under Michigan State law, the Michigan Planning Enabling Act," Sherhart told commissioners, framing the plan as the legal and policy basis for zoning and capital‑improvement decisions. She said the update will produce a community profile, analyze demographics and infrastructure, and include two redevelopment "test‑fit" design exercises for candidate sites.

Sherhart described early engagement results and methods: pop‑up events (including a presence at Applefest), printed materials, and an online survey that has already received "200 responses, which is really awesome," she said. The planning team reported the survey is available in Spanish, Haitian Creole and Arabic and will remain open through October; hard copies are also being provided. The team plans a first community open house in November to present preliminary findings and a second open house in the spring to review draft goals and maps.

Sherhart also described school and youth outreach: staff and consultants will visit local classes on October 21 to collect student input and will use a version of the survey adapted for younger respondents. She emphasized iterative feedback: engagement, revision, and reconvening to confirm the team captured community priorities.

Commissioners and attendees asked about targeted outreach to the business community. One commissioner said business leaders and large local employers are often overlooked in planning outreach and recommended direct outreach or focused meetings. Sherhart agreed that focused outreach—such as business focus groups and working through chamber and key account contacts—would be appropriate and said the steering committee will help refine outreach targets.

Sherhart outlined roles: the planning commission will review and adopt the final master plan; city council will consider adoption after the commission; staff will coordinate; the steering committee will guide outreach and technical review; consultants will write the plan. She said the team will seek to make the plan actionable with timelines, responsible parties and an implementation program.

Sherhart closed by inviting commissioners to the steering committee meeting the next evening and asking members to share contacts or events the team should include in outreach.