MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP - The Township Board's 2016 goals for the Meridian Township community do not completely align with what some residents have in mind.

The main goals of the Board are finishing the Master Plan, that began in 2015, and improving the appearance of stores and shopping areas.

"Focusing on our top 10 goals, they range anything from negotiating our contracts that are up this year, we have all seven of our contracts, (and) a focus on our commercial areas, Carriage Hills, Haslett Village Square and Downtown Okemos," said Township Manager Frank Walsh.

Despite the need for improvement in the looks of those spaces, residents are worried about the businesses.

"I would just like them to be more aware and more careful in selecting the types of businesses that they allow to come into the community, because lately I think we're getting too much of one type of business," said Meridian Township resident Susan King.

In addition to wanting more small businesses, other residents want more accessibility in all parts of the Township.

"I would say make the parks more accessible to all individuals and to have better bike lanes for bikers, because that's what brings people into Meridian Township," said Regina Kufta, also a resident of Meridian Township.

In order to complete that and make the area a more comfortable place to live in, Township Treasurer Julie Brixie said they need to keep trees up instead of cutting them down.

"It just gives you a sense of place and a sense of nature, and the natural environment is very highly valued by our residents," said Brixie.

Giant trees, like the ones of Cornell Road and Lake Lansing Road, are closer to the road than the allowed 12 feet, but they are important assets to the community.

"We don't want to cut them down so we're not going to say in our ordinance that we're going to comply with their regulations and cut them down," she said. "We're saying we're gonna work with them."