Local Officials Key to Local Land Planning Process
The Michigan Association of Planning is an organization with nearly 5,000 members, the majority of whom are elected and appointed land use officials like planning commissioners and zoning board members; elected like township board and city council members; mayors and township supervisors; and representatives from other governmental boards like Downtown Development Authorities (DDA) or Historic District Commissions.
The balance of our members - more than 1,000 - are professional community planners, zoning administrators, building officials, attorneys, developers, architects, engineers and others.
While appointed land use officials work closely with professional planners, zoning administrators and other governmental staff, the knowledge and informational needs of officials is significantly different than that of the paid professional staff.
MAP recognizes the needs of each membership demographic, and we create the programs, policies and resources necessary for each group to work optimally together, and independently. It cannot be overstated the importance of the role of the appointed official in the land use decision making process.
Appointed land use decision makers like planning commissioners and boards of appeal members are some of the most important links in the land use planning process. Appointed by the elected governing board, members of these boards and commissions often function as intermediaries between the public, a developer and the elected body. You are often the "face of Government" to a citizen who has little government interaction.
Whether you are a newly appointed official, or if you have served your community for a long time and are considered a seasoned and experienced member of an appointed body, we welcome you to this special section of the Michigan Association of Planning's web page, created specifically to meet the informational needs of local land use officials, and to provide resources to help you make better land use decisions.
This page last updated on 6/28/2010.
