Introduction and Overview SEMCOG’s Peer Group Committees will encourage collaborative planning efforts to develop local strategies, build strengths, and address challenges. This effort will also ensure the needs and challenges of all member types are heard and recognized in regional planning and initiatives. Through these committees, SEMCOG will connect participating peers to information and resources specific to their needs and provide a space for collaboration and sharing of opportunities, challenges, and successes. Additionally, SEMCOG will continue to work with our federal and state partners to understand priorities and resources available that align with and support the needs and unique opportunities of our diverse Peer Group types.
While each of the region’s Urban Communities, Suburban Communities, Small Communities, and Rural Communities are unique, there are similar challenges and experiences they share. These commonalities will be the focus of these committees including a focus and prioritization on high quality service delivery to residents, access to diverse funding sources, staff capacity limitations, and costs for managing aging or expanding infrastructure needs.
General Charge of Committees
- Coordination and sharing of best practices, successful projects, and current and upcoming opportunities.
- Discussion and deliberation on challenges and collaboration on timely issues impacting peer groups.
- Provide input and guidance into the development of regional plans and initiatives.
- Assist on current processes for public input and engagement into the development of regional plans and initiatives.
- Provide guidance on topics, issues, and opportunities for increased technical assistance, funding opportunities and collaboration for peer groups.
- Provide feedback on SEMCOG educational programs, SEMCOG University workshop topics, and other programs.
- Provide feedback and guidance on services SEMCOG provides.
- Engagement with SEMCOG, leading to increased representation and understanding of the issues facing peer groups.
Peer Group Definitions Urban Communities Older, established communities; traditional downtowns or commercial center/corridor; high density; fully built out; limited opportunity for new growth; stable or losing population; mix of commercial, industrial, and residential; mix of housing stock; mix of rental and owner households; communities may range from small to large; average housing stock is older.
Suburban Communities First and second ring suburbs – generally growing in population but approaching a limitation of space; newer growth, or major development in the 1980s-2000s; many are home to major regional employment hubs and commercial/retail corridors; growing and larger population (>50,000); largest land use is single family households; average age of housing stock is mid-seventies, early eighties.
Small Communities Traditional downtown or main street; older housing stock – primarily single family; stable or losing population – often the “downtown or commercial center” for a neighboring growing township; smaller geographic footprint and population (generally <10,000 or 15,000) – smaller lots with traditional housing, with mid-to-higher density.
Rural Townships Very low density; largely agricultural or open space land use; scattered suburban neighborhoods – almost exclusively single-family homes; stable population or growing; low population (<10,000, most 5,000 or less); limited commercial or economic development/commerce centers; room to grow and country character – many may prefer less/no development and continue rural/country character.
