Whether you currently are a member of the Institute or are thinking of becoming one, this is a forum to express your thoughts, opinions, and insights. Thanks to all the following writers for taking the time to contribute their much-appreciated letters to this page.

True Grassroots
It is with great pleasure that the Friends of the Cedar River Watershed are finally in a financial position to become members of the Michigan Land Use Institute. Without the financial and moral support of MLUI the Friends may never have been born. In the heat of our battle your organization was always present to lend support.
Keith, we will never forget the day that you showed up at our humble clubhouse to help us set our strategy and goals agenda. The look on your face was: “This truly is the definition of a grassroots organization.”
The Friends of the Cedar River Watershed are proud to be associated with the Michigan Land Use Institute, which continues to show integrity and professionalism in inspiring citizens to embrace the responsibility of seeking sound land use formulas. Keep up the good work.

LARRY ROCHON
Bellaire, MI

Republicans for Environmental Protection
The great thing about the Bulletin is that it gives direction and hope for solutions to difficult problems. The depressing thing about the Bulletin is that it describes difficult problems which many people don’t understand or don’t believe will or can change. As a planning commissioner I know how hard it is to convince even fellow commissioners.
Being an optimist I’ve enclosed a couple pamphlets for you from Republicans for Environmental Protection-America. I’m the treasurer of the Michigan chapter. Conservation seems first nature to even the most conservative people. REP-America hopes to guide, inform, and translate the desire to preserve nature in all its forms to Republican legislators who too often don’t get it.
I’m particularly interested in land use. I want REP-America to make it perhaps their top agenda item. Since we are not environmental professionals the Michigan chapter will be pointing to people and groups who provide solutions and insist our politicians follow with action. We will be taking local positions. For example, we voted to opppose the new timber cutting mandates proposed for state forests.
Enclosed is $25 for my membership to the Institute. Thanks for your help!

JON STINSON
Acme, MI

Preserving Community
I was so pleased to receive information about the Michigan Land Use Institute. The issues that you address are being hotly debated here in Monroe. Zoning hearings are highly attended and vigorously discussed.
We have a “large farm town” atmosphere here that is being transformed due to many people leaving Detroit and Toledo to live here. They are willing to pay the price of commuting but because of the large numbers of people they are changing what they seek.
I wish I could remember the name of the economist who said all of life decisions are economic, based on perceived value, and as the Institute develops a “balance sheet” of values, I believe your work can be more focused and effective.
Please accept my application for membership.

GERALD L. HOWE
Monroe, MI

More Roads Equal More Traffic
The Hartman-Hammond connector, [a link in the proposed Traverse City bypass], will have an immeasurably negative impact on the Grand Traverse area. More road capacity has been proven to bring more traffic. The [new bridge and road] will engender a megalopolis of suburban sprawl, destroy the very heart of this area, and benefit only those who have a financial interest in property along its path.
How can we deal with the traffic? Patience. The traffic we have now will be much worse if the proposed connector is built. There is too much at stake to remain silent, and too many doubts about the true purpose of the proposed connector.
The only acceptable action at this time is to rebuild the Cass Road bridge and wait and see what happens. Anything else will be a regional disaster. If, in time, this isn’t adequate, the connector could be reconsidered, but as a no-growth area.
At this point it seems that the purpose of the connector is to facilitate the development of real estate rather than improve traffic flow.

JAMES and PATRICIA GANTER
Traverse City, MI
Former Sugarloaf Resort owner Jim Ganter retired from the Institute’s Board of Directors last year. –Ed.

Using the 12 Steps
Another great job on the March 2000 Great Lakes Bulletin. The content is very good, and the layout seems to improve with every issue.
Of course I read the lead article, (“Breaking the Sprawl Addiction: A 12-Step Program”), with US-31 in mind. I asked myself which of the steps could be accomplished by the townships on their own. Some can only be done by the townships (or city governments), some can be influenced by single local government entitites — and would likely fail without that influence — but could not be accomplished entirely by individual effort.
While the members of the Coalition for Sensible Transportation Solutions struggle to respond to the insults and possibilities presented by the Michigan Department of Transportation and the Macatawa Area Coordinating Council, I am still concerned that the planning commissions are not engaged in this process of creating an alternative.
I have purchased the video, “Subdivide and Conquer,” in hopes of using it as a drawing card for community meetings and discussions of these issues. I am including your 12-step program in these events, and making copies of the entire March 2000 Bulletin available, as well.

THOM PETERSON
Western MI Environmental Action Council
Grand Rapids, MI

Great Lakes Bulletin Michigan Land Use Institute 845 Michigan Avenue P.O. Box 228 Benzonia, MI 49616 E-mail: glb@mlui.org Please include a telephone number so we can call to confirm that you would like us to publish your letter.