News
2/23/12
Registration Closed: Spring 2012 Zoning Administrator Certificate Program
The Spring 2012 Zoning Administrator Certificate Program will take place in March.
Three-Days-in-a-Row Training (Grayling, MI)
March 19-21, 2012
Ramada Inn & Conference Center, Grayling, MI
DOWNLOAD BROCHURE
1/19/12
Update: GLRI Saginaw Bay Watershed Conference (March 16, 2012)
Stakeholder groups from around the Lake Huron Basin, and particularly the Saginaw Bay watershed, gathered on Friday, March 16, 2012, at Curtiss Hall on the campus of Saginaw Valley State University in University Center, to discuss water quality restoration efforts in the region as part of the Planning & Zoning Center's (PZC) Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) Saginaw Bay Watershed project. The day-long event featured a host of speakers from various organizations and governmental agencies, offering their perspectives on the challenges and success stories surrounding water quality protection efforts in the Bay. Attendees had the opportunity to select from nine breakout sessions on such topics as the accumulation of beach muck, and the control of aquatic invasive species.
Handouts and Presentations from the event are available for download at Saginaw Bay Watershed Conference.
The Conference is sponsored by the Planning & Zoning Center, the Saginaw Bay Land Conservancy, the East Michigan Council of Governments, the Partnership for Saginaw Bay Watershed, and the Saginaw Bay Coastal Initiative.
1/18/12
MOVING SALE – TWO FOR THE PRICE OF ONE
The "Michigan Laws Relating to Economic Development and Housing, 2nd edition” and the “Michigan Laws Relating to Planning, 10th edition” are available for purchase for two for the price of one. The cost for each book is $20, plus sales tax.
The “Michigan Laws Relating to Economic Development and Housing” was prepared under the direction of Mark A. Wyckoff, FAICP, Director of the Planning & Zoning Center at MSU and Senior Associate Director of the MSU Land Policy Institute. This book includes the text of all Michigan laws relating to economic development and housing as of January 1, 2009. The new edition is 736 pages and comes with a CD containing an additional 1,000+ pages of laws!
The “Michigan Laws Relating to Planning” was prepared under the direction of Mark A. Wyckoff, FAICP, Director of the Planning & Zoning Center at MSU and Senior Associate Director of the MSU Land Policy Institute. This book includes the text of all Michigan laws relating to local planning, zoning, subdivision regulation and related statues as of November 2008. The new edition has 766 pages, and includes a CD with 2,000+ pages of laws!
Be sure to take advantage of this incredible sale, while supplies last: DOWNLOAD ORDER FORM.
11-14-2011
SIGN WORKSHOPS & NEW SIGN GUIDEBOOK COMING IN JANUARY
The Planning & Zoning Center at Michigan State University (PZC), in partnership with Scenic Michigan, are pleased to announce a series of five workshops in January 2012 on local sign regulation. These workshops will be based on the new Michigan Sign Guidebook: Local Planning and Regulation of Signs, which will be provided on a CD for everyone who registers for the workshop.
Registration is available online. Simply click the black register button. Then click on the “Workshops and Conference Registrations” link on the right-hand side of the new page that pops up. Next, select the location name of the workshop you’d like to attend. Cost to attend is $45 ($55 for those who register less than seven days before a workshop). Master Citizen Planner CEU credits are also available for an additional $10.
Dates and Locations:
Dates and locations
for the 3.5 hour training program follow (registration starts ½ hour before the program starts):
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Tuesday, January 10, 2012: Petoskey Holiday Inn Express (5 PM–9 PM);
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Thursday, January 12, 2012: Ann Arbor at Pittsfield Township Hall (12:30 PM–4:30 PM);
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Tuesday, January 17, 2012: Big Rapids DPS Community Room (5 PM–9 PM);
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Wednesday, January 18, 2012: Kalamazoo M-TEC Center, (5 PM–9 PM);
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Thursday, January 19, 2012: Frankenmuth Bavarian Inn (5 PM–9 PM).
A brochure describing the program is also available for downloading. The new guidebook will not be available to purchase until after the training programs are complete.
There is a strong legal focus to the guidebook and training program. It is targeted to planning commissioners, professional planners, zoning administrators, planning consultants, municipal attorneys and local elected officials. The program is heavily illustrated with sign photo examples and there will be some small group exercises.
Mark Wyckoff, Director of PZC, will conduct the training programs. He will be joined by guidebook co-author Brian Connolly at the Pittsfield Township location. Connolly is a law student at the University of Michigan, with two degrees in urban and regional planning from Cornell.
Much has changed since the last sign guidebook was prepared by Wyckoff for the Michigan Society of Planning Officials in 1989. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn about the latest on local sign regulation! Register today!
To directly register for the program, go to 2012 Sign Workshop Series. Click on “Workshops and Conferences Registration.” Questions about the workshops should be directed to Jessica McFarland at housej@msu.edu or call 517.884.3957.
9-16-2011
PZC Hosts Round Two of Local Government Workshops on Improving Water Quality in the Saginaw Bay Watershed
Over the next three months, the Planning & Zoning Center is conducting the second round of local government workshops on “Local Planning and Zoning for Water Quality Protection in the Saginaw Basin.” These workshops are targeted to local planning commissioners and township, city and village council members within the Cass, Pigeon/Pinnebog and Rifle River Watersheds. The workshops are part of the PZC’s Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) project, which is funded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, with advisory assistance from the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality and implementation assistance from the East Michigan Council of Governments and Saginaw Basin Land Conservancy. The purpose of this project is to identify actions that local governments can take through planning and zoning to ensure the protection of water quality of local rivers, as well as the greater Saginaw Bay Watershed. It is designed to encourage local decision makers, landowners and other stakeholder groups in the application of land use Best Management Practices (BMPs) that will serve to reduce pollution, sediment loads and excess runoff entering streams that drain into the Saginaw River and Bay.
In preparation for these workshops, each community’s master land use plan and zoning ordinance has been evaluated relative to a 64-question assessment tool. This assessment includes an examination of the master plan and zoning ordinance relative to statutory requirements set forth in the Michigan Planning and Zoning Enabling Acts (PA 33 of 2008 and PA 110 of 2006, respectively). In addition, each master plan and zoning ordinance was examined for strengths and weaknesses relative to water quality protection. The results of these assessments will be shared with each community that sends representatives to the workshop. The PZC Team will also provide sample language for future master land use plan and zoning ordinance updates and amendments to better protect water quality based on a BMP Guidebook currently under development. The meetings will be held on the following dates and times at the following locations:
Pigeon/Pinnebog River
September 7, 2011, 7:30pm-9:30pm
Huron County Bldg, Bad Axe
November 2, 2011, 6:30pm-9:00pm
Huron County Expo Center, Bad Axe
Cass River
October 5, 2011, 6:30pm-9:00pm
Governmental Center, Bridgeport
October 6, 2011, 6:30pm-9:00pm
Ivan Middleton Hall, Vassar
November 3, 2011, 6:30pm-9:00pm
Marlette Township Hall, Marlette
November 9, 2011, 6:30pm-9:00pm
Rawson Memorial District Library, Cass City
Rifle River
October 26, 2011, 6:30pm-9:00pm
Ogemaw County Bldg, West Branch
October 27, 2011, 6:30pm-9:00pm
Clayton Township Hall, Sterling
Later this year, PZC will host round two of citizen meetings in the same three watersheds on the same topic. Dates and locations will be announced in a future edition of “Land Policy News.”
Questions about the project and RSVPs for the workshops may be sent to the attention of Jacqueline Spry, PZC Visiting Academic Specialist, at jacqueline.spry@landpolicy.msu.edu or call 517.432.2222 Ext. 123. For more information about this PZC project and workshop details, visit Saginaw Bay Watershed Project.
5-19-2011
PZC and the Saginaw Bay Watershed Project
The Planning & Zoning Center is currently working on a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) project to identify actions cities, villages and townships can take through local planning and zoning to improve and protect water quality in the Saginaw Bay Watershed, as well as address issues related to the Saginaw Bay Watershed Area of Concern. The Saginaw Bay Watershed Project is designed to engage communities and other local stakeholders in the application of land use Best Management Practices (BMPs) to protect water quality of rivers and streams that flow into the Saginaw Bay. The pilot communities in this project include those within the Cass, Rifle and Pigeon/Pinnebog River sub-watersheds.
The project seeks to educate and facilitate collaboration within the sub-watershed communities. Public meetings will be a catalyst for local citizens and stakeholder groups to learn how local planning, zoning and coordinated efforts among various stakeholder groups can play a larger part in protecting and improving water quality in the entire Saginaw Bay region. To learn more about the project and upcoming events, visit the Saginaw Bay Watershed Project.
4-15-2011
PZC Co-Hosts Public Meetings on Improving Water Quality in the Saginaw Bay Watershed in April
The Planning & Zoning Center, the Saginaw Basin Land Conservancy and the East Michigan Council of Governments are hosting a series of three public hearings on “New Opportunities to Improve Water Quality in the Saginaw Bay Watershed.” The hearings are part of a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) project currently underway by PZC to identify actions cities, villages and townships can take through local planning and zoning to improve and protect water quality in the Saginaw Bay Watershed. The project is designed to engage communities and other local stakeholders in the application of land use Best Management Practices (BMPs) to protect water quality of rivers and streams that flow into the Saginaw Bay. The highest priority communities in this project include those within the Cass, Rifle and Pigeon/Pinnebog River sub-watersheds.
The project seeks to educate and facilitate collaboration at three public meetings; one within each of the three sub-watersheds. The meetings will be a catalyst for local citizens and stakeholder groups to learn how local planning, zoning and coordinated efforts among various stakeholder groups can play a larger part in protecting and improving water quality in the entire Saginaw Bay region. The meetings will be held on the following dates and times at the following locations:
Rifle River
Thursday, April 21, 2011, from 5:30pm–7:30pm
Page Street Senior Center, West Branch
Cass River
Wednesday, April 27, 2011, from 3:30pm–5:30pm
Frankenmuth Scout Building, Frankenmuth
Pigeon/Pinnebog
Thursday, April 28, 2011, from 5:30pm–7:30pm
Huron Expo Center, Bad Axe
Members of the following groups are urged to send a representative to one of the public meetings: Watershed organizations; soil conservation groups; county Farm Bureau chapters; Conservation Districts; local groups working to protect or improve water quality; Planning Commissioners and elected officials; county and municipal officials who work on water quality issues; land owners and farmers along drains, rivers and streams in the Basin; and interested citizens.
These events are free and open to the public, with RSVPs requested. Questions about the project and RSVPs may be sent to the attention of Jacqueline Spry, PZC Visiting Academic Specialist, at jacqueline.spry@landpolicy.msu.edu or call 517.432.2222 ext. 123.
Download the Public Meetings brochure and learn more at: Public Meetings on Improving Water Quality in the Saginaw Bay Watershed.
6-25-08
The new Michigan Planning Guidebook and Michigan Zoning Guidebook are now available for purchase.
The Michigan Planning Guidebook, prepared by
Mark A. Wyckoff, FAICP, Director of the Planning & Zoning Center at MSU is available for purchase.
The guidebook describes the roles and responsibilities of the planning commission and legislative body under the new Michigan Planning Enabling Act, PA 33 of 2008, with clear direction on procedures and standards to guide decisions. 104 pages
Per copy prices:
1 copy = $15. ea plus shipping at cost
2-4 copies = $12. ea plus shipping at cost
5-24 copies = $10. ea plus shipping at cost
25+ copies = $9. ea. plus shipping at cost
A large number of self-help materials including sample bylaws and an ordinance to create a planning commission can be found at http://web5.msue.msu.edu/lu/pamphlets.htm .
The Michigan Zoning Guidebook 2nd Ed., prepared by
Mark A. Wyckoff, FAICP, Director of the Planning & Zoning Center at MSU
The guidebook describes the roles and responsibilities of all bodies under the Michigan Zoning Enabling Act, PA 110 of 2006, as amended by PA 12 of 2008, with clear direction on procedures and standards to guide decisions. 76 pages.
Per copy prices:
1 copy = $12. ea plus shipping at cost
2-4 copies = $10. ea plus shipping at cost
5-24 copies = $9. ea plus shipping at cost
25+ copies = $8. ea. plus shipping at cost