News

Minimum contents of a master plan

Published on June 19, 2025
For local governments that chose to adopt zoning, this is a moot question, as zoning must be based on a plan. Still, the minimum contents of a master plan are not well defined in law and communities have great latitude in developing a master plan.
The forgotten law: Planning commission review of capital expenditures

Published on June 6, 2025
When government proposes to buy land, buildings, renovate or build, the proposal should be reviewed by that government’s planning commission first.
Cultivating local farm economies

Published on May 30, 2025
Farm viability requires flexibility, along with innovation in local government planning and zoning to allow for farm income diversification.
Planning and zoning for solar in Michigan

Published on May 30, 2025
Renewable energy siting laws in Michigan limit the role of local government while expanding the role of the state. A new guide helps communities prepare.
MSU students partner with Michigan communities to improve trail access

Published on May 30, 2025
Trail Building, Law and Policy course connects student projects to community development
Biophilic urbanism is the new frontier in community health

Published on May 2, 2025
Promoting biophilic urbanism in master planning is one way that planners can work to positively impact the health of a community.
What is, or is not, a charrette?

Published on April 25, 2025
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.
Category 4 sites under the Right to Farm Act Site Selection GAAMP

Published on April 25, 2025
Site Selection GAAMP provides local authority to permit livestock keeping in primarily residential areas
People count: Population growth leads to basic economic growth, part 3

Published on April 10, 2025
Population growth is economic growth, which makes taking steps to attract people to move to a community an important strategy.
Prosperity comes from a focus on people, policy and place on a regional scale, part 5

Published on April 10, 2025
It takes a region to provide the places, variety, resources and attributes to attract people; economic development also needs to be coordinated among state, regional, educational, local government and private sectors.