Housing and population concerns rise at the Master Plan Public Open House in Buchanan

BUCHANAN, Mich. – On Tuesday, the Buchanan Planning Commissioners didn’t hold their usual meeting; instead, they held a Master Plan Public Open House from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. This was a chance for the community to go and share their thoughts on housing, economic development and what the future might look like for Buchanan.

The Commissioners had the event organized as a way for the public to vote by using stickers, sticky notes and surveys to see what they should do and improve on for the next couple of years for Buchanan.

At the open house, one concern kept popping up, and it was the population decline that the town experienced when a majority of the big named business moved out. Many residents say that when the business moved, it took the families with it. For Trish Robinson, she says that if they keep the small-town feeling, it’s what will bring more people in, and it’s very important to Buchanan.

Robinson is the Superintendent of Buchanan Community Schools and has been for the past six years. While Robinson isn’t a resident, she still cares about the community and cares about the future of her students. She and several others in the community hope the city can address the population problem by adding more options for housing.

The next open house is on Saturday, June 13 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. 

To learn more details on the Master Plan Open House, click here.