MSU Extension Planning

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  Local government has an important role for water quality protection: Part 3

  Published on December 13, 2019
  State and federal regulations help protect water resources but does not do the whole job. Local government has an important role also – buffers and greenbelts are enforceable and are not property takings.

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  Local government has an important role for water quality protection: Part 2

  Published on December 13, 2019
  State and federal regulations help protect water resources but does not do the whole job. Local government has an important role also – key to retaining important habitat on lake’s and river’s edge.

• Nonconformities in zoning is the source of much confusion

  Published on December 13, 2019
  Zoning cannot be retroactive and has to grandfather existing land uses. Those are called nonconformities which take on many characteristics and are different than zoning violations.

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  Right to Farm Site Selection GAAMP needs local government attention

  Published on November 19, 2019
  Site Selection GAAMP provides opportunity for local government to lead discussions about urban agriculture and local food production, and work to accommodate this economic activity.

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  Category 4 sites under the Right to Farm Act Site Selection GAAMP

  Published on November 19, 2019
  Site Selection GAAMP provides local authority to permit livestock keeping in primarily residential areas

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  The case for data literacy in public sector organizations

  Published on November 8, 2019
  Why public sector organizations need to become more data literate.

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  Code of conduct for planning commissioners and zoning board of appeals members

  Published on November 7, 2019
  Use of a code of conduct/oath of office is recommended for planning commissioner and zoning board of appeals members. It helps underscore a person’s role, expected behavior, and differences between elected officials and members of administrative bodies.

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  Preparation, deliberation and documentation are key to effective government meetings

  Published on November 6, 2019
  Public planning and zoning meetings go better when each member actively engages in preparation, deliberation, and documentation. These activities occur before the meeting starts and continue for the duration of the meeting.

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  Not all public participation events are charrettes

  Published on November 6, 2019
  Charrette is a very specific type of public involvement system for design and planning projects. Do not be fooled by people calling every public participation event a charrette.

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  Difference between a zoning ordinance and a master plan

  Published on October 10, 2019
  The zoning ordinance is a law with penalties and consequence for not following it. A master plan is a policy document that expresses intent. It is not an enforceable document and is not law.