Milford panel brain-storming ideas for path plan

Milford Township Planning Commission members are currently discussing ideas that may result in a non-motorized path master plan for the township.

“The commission is brainstorming ways to interconnect sidewalks, walking paths, and trail systems in the township to provide safe connections,” said Timothy Brandt, Milford Township’s building official.

“Discussions started about four months ago after our consultant brought it up.”

Nick Lomako, the township’s planning consultant with Wade-Trim, said that a growing movement called “Complete Streets” has been spreading across the country and is geared toward planning for all modes of transportation and users, including bicyclists, hikers and equestrian riders.

After the state of Michigan passed Complete Streets legislation, Lomako approached the Planning Commission and recommended that the township adopt its own Complete Streets policy to consider all transportation needs in the township.

The commission passed a Complete Streets policy resolution in January, which was then adopted by the Milford Township Board of Trustees in February, allowing the commission to review all street plans to ensure all public and private street projects, including reconstruction, are built to follow the guidelines to accommodate all users of the rights-of-way or private road easements.

Lomako said he later held a study session with the commission and showed a PowerPoint presentation demonstrating what other communities in the state and county were doing.

“We developed a map with the existing network in the township and asked the commissioners, ‘Why don’t you mark the maps up,’” Lomako said. “They did and we assembled a handout and gave it out at the last meeting.”

He added that the commission would examine individual suggestions at its next meeting, scheduled for Aug. 25.