Signed by Governor Gretchen Whitmer

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that requires zoning and growth plans to forecast and take into account housing needs in Michigan.

Highlights:

• Amends the criteria for local master plans to make sure they are coordinated, efficient, and tailored to meet public health, safety, and welfare needs (Sec. 15).

• Requires a planning commission must contain either 5, 7, 9, or 11 members, depending on if the committee is for a city or county, with specific representation from different community sectors, such as age, education, and public health (Sec. 15).

• Requires plans be projected 20 years into the future and include maps, charts, and detailed descriptions of proposed land use for ag, residential, commercial, or recreational purposes (Sec. 15).

• Clarifies that planning commission members must be qualified electors of the local unity with provisions allowing for limited representation by individuals from other units (Sec. 15).

• Promotes the inclusion of public transportation, utilities, and flood prevention measures in master plans (Sec. 15).

• Requires master plans include and assessment of existing and projected housing demands and strategies to address those needs (Sec. 15).

• Specifies that the legislative body can remove planning commission members for misconduct after a public hearing (Sec. 15).

• Requires planning commissions to disclose potential conflicts of interest before voting on relevant matters (Sec. 15).

• Requires a school board member to be on the county planning commission (Sec. 15).

• Allows municipalities with populations under 5,000 to designate existing boards as their planning commissions to streamline governance (Sec. 15).

• Requires a zoning plan be included in master plans for local units with adopted zoning ordinances, detailed land use categories, and their relationship to zoning districts (Sec. 15).

• Encourages sustainable practices by requiring plans to consider the preservation and use of natural resources in alignment with community needs (Sec. 15).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that requires zoning and growth plans to forecast and take into account housing needs in Michigan.

Highlights:

• Amends the criteria for local master plans to make sure they are coordinated, efficient, and tailored to meet public health, safety, and welfare needs (Sec. 15).

• Requires a planning commission must contain either 5, 7, 9, or 11 members, depending on if the committee is for a city or county, with specific representation from different community sectors, such as age, education, and public health (Sec. 15).

• Requires plans be projected 20 years into the future and include maps, charts, and detailed descriptions of proposed land use for ag, residential, commercial, or recreational purposes (Sec. 15).

• Clarifies that planning commission members must be qualified electors of the local unity with provisions allowing for limited representation by individuals from other units (Sec. 15).

• Promotes the inclusion of public transportation, utilities, and flood prevention measures in master plans (Sec. 15).

• Requires master plans include and assessment of existing and projected housing demands and strategies to address those needs (Sec. 15).

• Specifies that the legislative body can remove planning commission members for misconduct after a public hearing (Sec. 15).

• Requires planning commissions to disclose potential conflicts of interest before voting on relevant matters (Sec. 15).

• Requires a school board member to be on the county planning commission (Sec. 15).

• Allows municipalities with populations under 5,000 to designate existing boards as their planning commissions to streamline governance (Sec. 15).

• Requires a zoning plan be included in master plans for local units with adopted zoning ordinances, detailed land use categories, and their relationship to zoning districts (Sec. 15).

• Encourages sustainable practices by requiring plans to consider the preservation and use of natural resources in alignment with community needs (Sec. 15).

Full Bill Text