HOUSE BILL No. 6549

 

September 20, 2006, Introduced by Rep. Kolb and referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, Great Lakes, Land Use, and Environment.

 

     A bill to amend 1945 PA 281, entitled

 

"An act to provide for regional planning; the creation,

organization, powers and duties of regional planning commissions;

the provision of funds for the use of regional planning

commissions; and the supervision of the activities of regional

planning commissions under the provisions of this act,"

 

(MCL 125.11 to 125.25) by adding section 27.

 

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:

 

     Sec. 27. (1) The office of planning and zoning support shall

 

encourage public involvement and participation in local land use

 

planning and visioning.

 

     (2) The office of planning and zoning support shall develop a

 

basic brochure on how planning and zoning decisions are made by

 

local units. The goal of the brochure shall be to educate members

 

of the general public and provide them with confidence to

 


meaningfully participate in planning and zoning decisions. The

 

brochure shall include at least all of the following:

 

     (a) An explanation of master plans, rezoning proposals, and

 

variances and who is the final decision maker on these matters.

 

     (b) How to contact a planning commission or zoning board.

 

     (c) Tips on how to testify before a planning commission or

 

zoning board.

 

     (d) The requirements of the open meetings act, 1976 PA 267,

 

MCL 15.261 to 15.275.

 

     (3) The brochure under subsection (2) shall be entitled "Map

 

your future: Planning and Zoning 101".

 

     (4) Within 1 year after the effective date of the amendatory

 

act that added this section, PZS shall make the brochure available

 

for local units, to customize and distribute at their cost, and

 

shall place the brochure on its website.

 

     (5) The brochure shall be formatted so that a distributor of

 

the brochure can insert contact and other information specific to

 

the distributor after the initial publication of the brochure.

 

     (6) The office of planning and zoning support may consult with

 

other persons for advice and information in developing the

 

brochure.

 

     Enacting section 1. This amendatory act does not take effect

 

unless Senate Bill No. ______ or House Bill No. 6550(request

 

no. 04210'05) of the 93rd Legislature is enacted into law.