Community Master Plan Update

The Township is in the process of creating a new Community Master Plan – a framework that will define the vision and direction of Cascade for decades to come. We heard from you during the development and adoption of the Township’s most recent Strategic Plan. This long-term guide will focus on land preservation; revitalization of the village core; proper land use; and smart development that will maintain Cascade's distinctiveness.
 

View the 2024 Master Plan

 

Summary of Plan Goals

The draft 2024 Master Plan includes the following goals:

1. Preserve and strengthen residential neighborhoods.

2. Preserve open space and natural areas.

3. Enhance viability of Township businesses.

4. Maintain and expand a diverse parks and trails system.

5. Maintain and enhance essential public services.

6. Provide and support an efficient, safe, and environmentally sensitive road, pedestrian, and the bike network.

7. Promote efficient and sustainable growth principles.

The 2024 Master Plan correlates to the following goals of the Township Strategic Plan:

Goal #1, Priority 3: Create new parks to serve the community as it grows and preserve natural features for sustainability and natural character.

Goal #2, Priority 2: Ensure that zoning processes are clear, efficient, and promote both economic development and Township planning goals.

Goal #2, Priority 3: Review the zoning ordinance to ensure it reflects Township priorities and market realities.

Goal #2, Priority 4: Update the 10-Year Master Plan and, subsequently, the Zoning Ordinance, to position the Township for the 2020s and 2030s.

Goal #3, Priority 2: Establish the official boundary for the Upper and Lower Village District, to be utilized in the 10-Year Master Plan, Zoning Ordinance, and DDA Plan, as well as any other relevant Township processes and procedures.

Goal #5, Priority 1: Enhance road safety and streetscapes in the Cascade Village area to promote a safe, well-connected, walkable, and bikeable village environment.

Goal #5, Priority 2: Continue partnerships with the Kent County Road Commission to prioritize various bike facilities along specific corridors of the Township.

Background

Cascade’s previous plan – created under previous leadership in 2019 – leaves some residential areas and open spaces vulnerable to development pressure, lacks preservation standards and ignores the standards desired in the Village area.

Left unchanged, the 2019 plans encourage growth that could drastically change Cascade – particularly the neighborhoods and open spaces immediately south and east of the airport. Protecting and buffering that part of Cascade is a crucial component of this process. Additionally, the current plan fails to address the vision and direction for the Township’s core – "The Village" – centered around the Thornapple River, Cascade Road and 28th Street.
 

2024 Future Land Use Map

View the Township's current Future Land Use Map.This map was adopted by the Board of Trustees on July 10, 2024.

What is it? A Future Land Use Map is a document that provides generalized guidance for future development/redevelopment in the Township. It is not a zoning map. The Township's Zoning Map is parcel-specific, and establishes requirements and development standards for how parcels are zoned currently.