Macomb County awarded $266,228 federal grant for community-wide Selfridge Sustainability Study

Study to review areas near Selfridge Air National Guard Base and make recommendations for future land use

County officials today announced the receipt of $266,288 in federal grant money that will be used for a new sustainability study, also known as a joint land use study, focused on Selfridge Air National Guard Base (SANG) and its neighboring communities. The grant, which is provided by the Department of Defense, Office of Economic Adjustment, will allow the county to engage the base and local municipalities in developing guidelines for compatible future land use.

“The Selfridge Sustainability Study is an essential tool for ensuring both public and private economic investment in our region,” said Vicky Rad, director of Macomb County Planning and Economic Development. “Selfridge is a critical economic asset - employing thousands of people and contributing more than $850 million to local economies. At the same time, the communities surrounding the base are growing and making plans for the future. So it is imperative that we all work together to understand what developments are compatible, what developments are incompatible and what developments would ensure the public’s health, safety and welfare.”

Communities identified for the study fall within a region where either SANG operates or where the base has airspace or training areas. Those communities include Clinton Township, Chesterfield Township, Fraser, Harrison Township, Macomb Township, Mount Clemens, New Baltimore, Roseville and St. Clair Shores.

As the study sponsor, Macomb County will establish a policy committee with appropriate community and state representation and working groups that feature the county planning offices, local planning staff, members from appropriate governmental agencies and other identified local organizations with relevant technical expertise such as utility companies, housing associations, emergency services, watershed associations and economic development organizations. This group will be responsible for reviewing all data collected, evaluating issues, identifying alternatives and developing recommendations for consideration. Together with the policy committee, they will produce a final report in 16-18 months that will serve as a non-binding guide for future planning and development for both the communities and base missions.

“Ultimately our goal is to create a plan for the region that makes sense,” said Rad. “We know from previous JLUS studies completed across the country that the outcomes of this work can be very beneficial. It helps everyone get on the same page and helps our community move forward.”