Rankings identify possible Northport-area improvements.

The current entrance to the Northport Marina (top), and
a computer-enhanced image (bottom) of how it could
be improved.

After 10 months of planning, meetings and studying, the Northport community got a glimpse of what its future could look like at the final meeting of the Small Town Design Initiative last week.

From a list of suggested improvements that was developed as part of he process, improved signage, streetscapes and waterfront features were identified by community members as the top potential areas for attention.

At the May 20 meeting, Michigan State University landscape architecture professor Paul Rauhe presented a series of before-and-after photographs of what the Village of Northport and surrounding areas could look like if input provided by the Northport-Leelanau Township community was initiated.

Bill Collins Jr. is no stranger to the process, having been a part of the Leelanau Township Vision Committee that four years ago conducted a community survey on what residents would like for the community.

From that survey, the idea of having a study conducted was discussed, but no one group or person had time to get the project organized and funded.

That changed in 2007, when the Leelanau Township Community Foundation and its “future by design” committee contributed about $6,000 and formed a Small Down Design Initiative project through MSU. Last July, as the first part of the process that involved MSU students, Rauhe and his staff held the first of four public input sessions.

Merry C. Hawley, executive director of the foundation, said that at the May 20 meeting, participants were shown seven areas in Northport and nearby locations that the community has shown an interest in improving. After being shown actual photos, and computer-enhanced images of the areas that showed what the improvements could look like, participants met in small groups and indicated the areas they felt were most important. In addition, they were given the opportunity to list other areas where they’s like to see improvements as well.

On Thursday, May 22, Hawley released the results of the rankings, starting with the ones being judged most important:

1. Signage, setting and overall image of Northport.
2. Streetscapes.
3. Waterfront, marina and beach area.
4. Business, buildings and alleys.
5. Mill Pond environment.
6. Nooks, crannies, and sacred places (places with cherished memories from childhood, etc.).
7. Path to Braman Hill.

Hawley said a total of 121 responses were received, and she called the results a little surprising. “We were surprised the path to Braman Hill didn’t come in higher because that was a major topic of discussion at more than a couple of our meetings.”

Participants also could list additional focus areas they would like to see addressed. “Many people talked about the village needing an overall visual improvement; landscaping, establishing bike paths, making the buildings in the downtown area look better,” Hawley said.

Establishing a visitors center and permanent museum was also brought up. “A lot the people at the meeting said we need some sort of visitors center so people can get brochures and find out about attractions in the area. They also want a year-round permanent museum.” Hawley said.

The future by design committee will hold a planning workshop tonight, May 29, from 7-9 p.m. at the Northport Trinity Church Fellowship Hall to go over the over the results of the survey and rank the projects.

In a press release about the May 29 workshop, design committee chair Paul Rothhaug said the goal of the workshop is to continue the high level of community involvement and leadership. “We want to collaborate with interested non-profit organizations to develop a strategy to carry out projects considered essential by the community,” he said.

Collins said the entire design initiative process has been gratifying for him.

“Seeing how many people have stayed involved in this process has been amazing. The people at MSU, the professors, the students, everyone has been amazing,” he said.