DeLong says. “It will definitely expand the area in and around St. Johns for future development.” INFRASTRUCTURE AND CONNECTIVITY TO MEET GROWTH NEEDS The steady population increase from 60,000 to 80,000 residents over two decades created infrastructure demands. Transportation is a particular challenge in a county where population density averages just 113 inhabitants per square mile across 566 square miles of land. “Our public transit is, because of the population distribution, primarily a dollarride service,” Fuentes explains. “We don’t have the population volumes to support public dedicated route service within the county.” The commuting patterns further shape infrastructure priorities. “Within our region, we’re part of the capital region. There’s a lot of state employment which happens in the county to the south of us in Ingham County, as well as Michigan State University,” Fuentes notes. “A lot of our population travels out of the county for employment and returns home to enjoy their quiet living that we promote.There’s not really large local initiatives related specifically to expanding public transit opportunities.” The water and sewer expansion Fuentes and DeLong mentioned are the more pressing infrastructure needs. The partnership initiative between city and township will unlock development potential in areas currently constrained by lack of utilities. “At the county level, we are not directly involved in water and sewer infrastructure as far as funding or construction,” Fuentes says.“But there is a potential expansion through cooperation of a city and township here within the county that would provide a very necessary and valuable infrastructure addition in one of those areas that are prime for development.” WALKABLE DOWNTOWN AND COMMUNITY SPACES St. Johns, the county seat, benefits from active downtown revitalization efforts led by its Downtown Development Authority and Principal Shopping 203 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 07, ISSUE 01 CLINTON COUNTY, MI
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