MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP - The Tri-County Regional Planning Commission is hosting the Michigan Avenue/Grand River Avenue Vision Charrettes project, calling on the community to get involved in its designing.

"Tri-County Regional Planning Commission was awarded a federal grant to facilitate planning in the tri-county region that would lead us to become a more sustainable community," said Susan Peg, Executive Director of the Tri-County Regional Planning Commission.

"So the first thing tonight, we're here at the middle school we're having a kick-off meeting here in Meridian Township and we're inviting the community in to brainstorm ideas to get their ideas of what's important to them for the future of this area," said Bill Lennertz, Executive Director of the National Charrette Institute.

"We're demonstrating how to do charrettes-based planning," said Peg. "We've hired an internationally recognized firm, The National Charettes Institute, to help us learn how to conduct this kind of planning."

"Well, the best plans are made by many hands," said Lennertz. "We collaborate through design. We try to come up with the best solutions for the vision and plans for this corridor by getting as many people involved in the discussion along with the experts."

Stretching 19 miles along Michigan Avenue and Grand River Avenue, the project looks to develop the corridor extending from the state Capitol, through Lansing, East Lansing, Meridian Township, Willimastown Township, City of Williamston, Leroy Township and the Village of Webberville.

The first meeting and workshop in Meridian Township was held in May; the second took place on October 24.

It was hands-on, the public getting a chance to draw up their ideas for the corridor, helping to solidify the plans for the project.