Citizen Education

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"How to influence zoning decisions" slide show

"Influencing Zoning Decisions" is an Extension program targeted toward two potential audiences:  
     1. A County with county-level zoning that wishes to include local governments in their zoning deliberations.  (For example some county zoning  requires notices for special use permits, amendments, and appeals to be sent to the respective municipality and nearby municipalities as well as affected public utilities.  Also, comments received from these parties are given "extra deference" at the public hearing.)  
     2. Neighborhood organizations, lake associations, activist groups that wish to be more effective in influencing local zoning decisions, regardless if at a township, village, city, or county level.  
      The program is to help people make comments at zoning hearings that are on point and actually address the issues that the local officials have to consider.  

"How to influence zoning decisions" slide show

"How to influence zoning decisions" speaker notes

"Influencing Zoning Decisions" is an Extension program targeted toward two potential audiences:  
     1. A County with county-level zoning that wishes to include local governments in their zoning deliberations.  (For example some county zoning  requires notices for special use permits, amendments, and appeals to be sent to the respective municipality and nearby municipalities as well as affected public utilities.  Also, comments received from these parties are given "extra deference" at the public hearing.)  
     2. Neighborhood organizations, lake associations, activist groups that wish to be more effective in influencing local zoning decisions, regardless if at a township, village, city, or county level.  
      The program is to help people make comments at zoning hearings that are on point and actually address the issues that the local officials have to consider.  

"How to influence zoning decisions" speaker notes

Planning and Zoning Primer

This education program is designed to be a very basic introduction to planning and zoning in Michigan.  It is a non-technical (not designed for members of a planning commission, appeals board) review of the topic.  This is a good introduction for citizen groups or other organizations which wish to understand the process better.  This program might be considered part I, with part II being "Influencing Zoning Decisions," above. 
     This program will cover: 
  1. Why Plan 
  2. Planning 
  3. Implement the plan 
  4. Coordination 
  5. Zoning 
  6. Training, Keep up-to-date.  

Copy of presentation slides

How to Participate in the Zoning Process for Special Use Permits (including administrative PUD)

This is a pamphlet, which is intended to be included in a government hearing notice for a proposed special use permit.  It briefly outlines how to be most effective in making comment for, or against, a proposed special use permit.

How to Participate in the Zoning Process for Special Use Permits

How to Participate in the Zoning Process for Appeals & Variances

This is a pamphlet, which is intended to be included in a government hearing notice for a proposed zoning appeal/variance.  It briefly outlines how to be most effective in making comment for, or against, a proposed zoning appeal/variance.

How to Participate in the Zoning Process for Appeals & Variances

How to Participate in the Zoning Process for Zoning Amendments (including legislative PUD)

This is a pamphlet, which is intended to be included in a government hearing notice for a proposed zoning amendment.  It briefly outlines how to be most effective in making comment for, or against, a proposed zoning amendment.

How to Participate in the Zoning Process for Zoning Amendments

New Designs for Growth Citizen Planning Series

A very good basic tutorial for planning and zoning can also be found at the Networks Northwest's Grand Traverse Bay Area, Michigan, New Designs for Growth Citizen Planning Series.

eXtension's Community Planning and Zoning/Land Use Planning is another good source for basic information. eXtension is a eXtension is a collaborative web site by the nation's Land Grant University Extension system. It is an interactive learning environment delivering the best, most researched knowledge from the smartest land-grant university minds across America. eXtension connects knowledge consumers with knowledge providers - experts who know their subject matter inside out.

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