Introducing the County of Saginaw Master Plan
The County of Saginaw (County) is beginning an exciting, county-wide planning effort: the County of Saginaw Master Plan. Beginning in June and wrapping up in December, this process will bring together ideas, data, and community voices to create a clear, forward-looking blueprint for the future of all 27 jurisdictions across the County.
Emerging issues around housing, utility infrastructure, and land use don’t stop at city, village, or township boundaries. The Master Plan will serve as a guiding policy document that connects shared priorities, aligns goals, and identifies opportunities that benefit the entire county. Think of it as the “homework” behind smart local decision-making: a thorough record of research, community input, existing conditions, and long-term thinking that helps guide future policies, investments, and development patterns.
From reducing barriers to housing construction to supporting entrepreneurs and strengthening infrastructure, the Master Plan will help ensure the County is planning proactively and collaboratively for our future.
How You Can Be Involved
Community input is critical to the creation of the County Master Plan. Over the summer and fall, there will be several opportunities for residents, business owners, stakeholders, and organizations to share their ideas, concerns, and aspirations.
One of the primary ways to get involved will be through a public workshop, where participants can engage around critical questions about the County’s future and provide personalized feedback. This interactive session will give community members the chance to talk about what’s working well, what needs improvement, and what they hope to see across the County of Saginaw in the years ahead. Feedback from this workshop will directly inform goals, priorities, and policy directions in the Master Plan.
In addition, an online community survey will be available to make sure everyone has a chance to participate—whether or not they can attend an in-person event. Survey questions will focus on the issues that matter most to residents, such as housing options, economic development, land use, infrastructure, and quality of life.
While data and technical analysis tell an important part of our story, community input adds local context and lived experience: how policies play out on the ground, where barriers exist, and what solutions feel realistic. To keep the process transparent and easy to follow, this webpage will serve as the central hub for information. When they become available, meeting dates, agendas and minutes, survey links and results, draft vision materials, and goals and objectives will be added. This is your plan—and you’ll be able to see it take shape every step of the way.
Master Plan Leadership Committee
Throughout the planning process, a leadership committee made up of leaders from across the County will ensure the plan reflects both local knowledge and county-wide priorities. Committee members represent a range of jurisdictions, organizations, and perspectives. Their role is not to make decisions about the content of the plan itself, but to help keep the planning process grounded, inclusive, and focused on the big picture—while still recognizing the unique character and needs of each community.
Leadership committee members
- Mary Catherine Hannah, County Administrator, County of Saginaw
- Tom Miller Jr., CEO, Saginaw Future
- Reneé Johnston, President & CEO, Saginaw Community Foundation
- Brian Keenan-Lechel, Director, Parks & Recreation County of Saginaw
- Mary McLaughlin, Community Corrections Manager, County of Saginaw
- Jack Tany, Chairman, Board of Commissioners
- Gilbert Ramirez, Deputy County Administrator, County of Saginaw
- Hartman Aue, Village Manager, Village of St. Charles
Why a Master Plan Matters
A master plan is a collaborative roadmap that helps answer big questions like: Where are we headed? What do we want to protect? And how do we grow? For the County of Saginaw, a master plan matters because many of today’s challenges—housing conditions and availability, infrastructure capacity, land use pressures, and economic opportunity—don’t stop at municipal boundaries. Planning together allows the County and its 27 jurisdictions to get ahead of issues rather than reacting to them one project at a time.
The Master Plan will help guide decisions about housing, utilities, what areas are protected, and how public and private investments are prioritized. Having a strong plan at the County scale will reduce uncertainty while making it easier to attract development that fits community values and ensuring resources are used efficiently. In addition to the roadmap offered by the document, the process of planning will help build alignment and collaboration across departments and jurisdictions. This coordination is important to reduce duplication, identify shared solutions, and position the County more competitively for future investment.