Deputy Director/Chief Planner
Denise Cline
-
22 years of experience in planning, zoning, and GIS.
- 2023 Planning Champion Award - Michigan Association of Planning
- Primary focus has been community planning, zoning, map design, GIS services, and tourism marketing.
- Grew up in northern Michigan and has spent all of her career working in the northeastern and northwestern Lower Peninsula.
CURRENT PROJECTS:
- City of Alpena Zoning Ordinance
- City of Gaylord Zoning Ordinance
- Baldwin Township Zoning Ordinance
- Sherman Township Zoning Ordinance
- Briley Township Zoning Ordinance
- Caledonia Township Zoning Ordinance
- Sanborn Township Zoning Ordinance
- City of Whittemore Zoning Ordinance
- Kearney Township Zoning Ordinance
- Alabaster Township Solar Ordinance
- US 23 Heritage Route Program Manager
- MEDC RRC - Technical Assistance
- MDOT Active Transportation Plan
- Up North Trails
PROGRAM RESPONSIBILITIES
- Responsible for development of city, township and county master plans, recreation plans, and zoning ordinances.
- Economic and community development.
- GIS and map design.
- Marketing the US 23 Heritage Route.
- Trail data maintenance
- Graphic Design.
- Oversees Planning Staff Programs
EDUCATION:
Michigan State University, Institute of Water Research
Certificate in Watershed Management, 2004
Penn State University
Certificate in Geographic Information Systems, 2001.
Southwest Missouri State University
Continuing Graduate Education - Environmental Assessment, 1997.
Indiana State University, Department of Geography, Geology, and Anthropology
M.A. in Physical Geography (Biogeography/Geology), 1997.
Western Michigan University, Department of Communications
B.A. in Broadcasting and Cable Productions, 1994.
Northwestern Michigan College
A.A. in Liberal Arts, 1992.
PROJECT EXPERIENCE AT NEMCOG:
REGIONAL PROJECTS
- Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary: GIS services
- Montmorency County 911: GIS mapping
- MDOT Nonmotorized Trail Map Design
- US 23 Heritage Route Program
- Joint Land Use Study Implementation (Camp Grayling/Alpena CRTC)
- Northeast Michigan Integrated Assessment
- Northeast Michigan Marketing Website
- Sunrise Coast Birding Trail Map
- AuSable Birding Trail Map
- Huron Blueways Paddling Atlas
- Sunrise Coast Touring Guide
- US 23 Heritage Route Trails Map
- US 23 Heritage Route History Map
- US 23 Heritage Route Winter Map
ZONING ORDINANCES
- Mackinaw City Zoning Ordinance
- AuSable Township Zoning Ordinance
- City of Alpena Zoning Ordinance
- City of Grayling Zoning Ordinance
- City of Albion Zoning Ordinance
- Village of Hillman Zoning Ordinance
- Rogers City Zoning Ordinance & Planning Assistance
- Charter Township of Alpena Zoning Ordinance
- Emmet County Zoning Ordinance
- Tawas City Zoning Ordinance
- West Traverse Township Zoning Ordinance
- Alcona Township Zoning Ordinance
- Mikado Township Zoning Ordinance
- Wilson Township Zoning Ordinance & Planning Assistance
- Reno Township Zoning Ordinance
- Hillman Township Zoning Ordinance
- Green Township Zoning Ordinance & Planning Assistance
- Long Rapids Township Planning Assistance
- Hawes Township Zoning Ordinance
- Haynes Township Zoning Ordinance
- Avery Township Zoning Ordinance
- Rust Township Zoning Ordinance
- Tawas Township Zoning Ordinance
- Presque Isle Township Zoning Ordinance
- Hawes Township Zoning Ordinance
- Clement Township Zoning Ordinance
- Maple Forest Township Zoning Ordinance
- Grayling Township Zoning Ordinance
- Ossineke Township Zoning Ordinance
- Montmorency Township Zoning Updates
- City of Harrisville Zoning Ordinance
- Village of Lincoln Zoning Ordinance
- Gustin Township Zoning Ordinance
- Curtis Township Zoning Review & Planning Assistance
- Millen Township Zoning Map
- Alpena Township Planning Assistance
MASTER PLANS
- City of Alpena Comprehensive Plan
- City of Harrisville Master Plan
- City of West Branch Master Plan
- Village of Roscommon Master Plan
- Tawas City Master Plan
- Village of Hillman RRC - Master Plan, Econ. Dev. Downtown, Marketing Plan
- Maple Forest Township Master Plan
- Grayling Township Master Plan
- Green Township Master Plan
- Wilson Township Master Plan
- Village of Lincoln Master Plan
- Otsego County Master Plan
- Chester Township Master Plan
- Charlton Township Master Plan
- Elmira Township Master Plan
RECREATION PLANS
- Alpena Area Joint Recreation Plan
- City of Gaylord Recreation Plan
- Village of Lincoln Recreation Plan
- Wilson Township Recreation Plan
- Sanborn Township Recreation Plan
- City of Alpena Recreation Plan
- Presque Isle County Recreation Plan
- Long Rapids Township Recreation Plan
- Alpena County Recreation Plan
- City of Harrisville Recreation Plan
- Rogers City Wellhead Protection
OTHER EMPLOYMENT EXPERIENCE:
Zoning Administrator: Village of Bellaire.
Independent Grant Writing Contractor
Marketing Research Assistant: WWTV - WWUPTV 9 & 10 News
Environmental Education Consultant: SEE-North
Geography & Geology Lab Instructor: Indiana State University
Marketing Assistant and Circulation Manager: Kalamazoo County Chamber of Commerce
OTHER EXPERIENCE:
Michigan State University Citizen Planner Instructor
Certified CDBG Administrator
Michigan State University Citizen Planner Program Certificate
City of Alpena Planning Commission
Forest Home Township Parks and Recreation Commission