Why you should care about planning and zoning
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EmailBeing involved in planning and zoning is a great way to help shape the future of your community.
Questions surrounding the growth and preservation of communities are often answered within the multidisciplinary field of planning. Who decides who gets to build what in your neighborhood? Why are there certain types of businesses in one area and homes or parks in another? Why did they decide to put that building in front of this? Who makes the rules about what new buildings will look like? Planning and zoning provide answers that give communities a variety of responsibilities and opportunities. A group of people with power to determine the future vision of your community, as well as make policy recommendations about development, is a part of your local government’s planning and zoning function.
In Michigan, the Michigan Planning Enabling Act of 2008 gives power to local units of government (cities, villages, townships, or counties) to appoint residents to serve on a planning commission. This group of people writes a “master plan” to guide future development to best reflect the priorities and values of residents. Local units of government can choose to put this plan into action by adopting zoning. Zoning defines how the land can be used, how densely populated an area can be, what is required for new developments; essentially deciding where and how development occurs.
The local elected body, like a city council, county commission, or township board, may choose to adopt a zoning ordinance, which is a local law to regulate the use of land and structures, according to the Michigan Zoning Enabling Act, 2006. They create a zoning district map to designate which uses will be in which areas. Any property owner who wants to build a structure must get approval from municipal staff or a body that carries out zoning approvals guided by the zoning ordinance — usually the planning commission.
For certain proposed uses, property owners must submit a site plan application to be approved. If a property owner believes an exception should be made for their development due to unique conditions, they can request a variance from the local Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA), a second appointed governmental body that makes these types of decisions.
Residents can become involved in planning and zoning processes in multiple ways. Serving on your local planning commission or zoning board of appeals is one impactful way. This act of public service is a commitment to your community that you can share with other community members as decisions about local land use issues arise and require action. The Northwest Michigan Council of Governments has created A Citizen’s Guide to Planning which details the benefits of local planning. Many communities have openings on these kinds of boards and are looking for enthusiastic residents to become involved. Michigan State University Extension offers programs like Citizen Planner available to anyone interested in learning more about planning and zoning and how to be an effective planning commissioner or ZBA member.