In the past, the conventional wisdom among too many “urban” planners was that agricultural zoning was little more than a “holding zone” for vacant land, waiting for development at some future time.

Today, there is a growing understanding that communities wishing to preserve the agricultural economy and unique character of our rural places must do more than simply respond and react to development pressures. Planning for the future of rural Michigan communities and expanding local choices for food production is part of the mission of Building Place.  Planning for agriculture and local food sourcing should be part of local community planning, whether your community is urban or rural in character.

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Solar panels OK for home, legal battle over for Canton couple

The push for alternative and renewable energy production in Michigan received a small but important boost recently when a Canton, Michigan homeowners’ association (HOA) backed down from its initial decision to deny the installation of solar cells on the roof of a home.  Here is an excerpt from the Detroit Free Press article: (more…)

2010 Michigan Townships Association Educational Conference Session

Thank you to everyone who attended our recent session on regulating small wind turbines at the recent Michigan Townships Association conference in Grand Rapids. Click here to view our PowerPoint presentation, and to download the handout materials. Click here to contact Mr. Nanney directly with any additional questions.

The following was adapted from an update prepared by Kurt Schindler at MSU-Extension; reprinted with permission from the author:

The Michigan Commission on Agriculture has adopted a new Generally Accepted Agricultural Management Practice (GAAMP) for farm markets (effective January 2010).

NOTE:  Under Michigan’s sweeping Right to Farm legislation, if the subject is covered by GAAMP standards issued by the Michigan Department of Agriculture, then it entirely preempts local zoning, including any special use approval or prohibition of the land use!

What is a “farm market” under the new GAAMP?

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Paul Zucker, FAICP of Zucker Systems, Inc. just sent out an excellent “Management Doctor” message (excerpt below):

Dear Management Doctor,

I attended your 2-day seminar for Planning Directors a couple of years ago and found it to be quite informative.  Some of the staff I now directly or indirectly supervise are not planners but are trained building inspectors or maintenance staff.  I imagine that many Community Development Directors find themselves now having supervisory responsibilities over … engineers, inspectors, operations/maintenance, information technologies or administrative support to name a few.

Their respective skill-sets can be widely varying and can pose interesting supervisory challenges, particularly if the Director is not an expert in “their field.”  I believe there would be a significant amount of interest in future sessions on specifically supervising or directing non-planner municipal staffs.

- “Non-Planner Challenged”

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About Zucker Systems, Inc.

“Zucker Systems takes its lead from the Japanese word ‘kaizen‘ (‘a constant search for a better way’). We continually search for a more effective and efficient way to do things. These better ways produce greater service to our clients, as well as helping to create better communities. … We see ourselves as agents of change.

“To our knowledge, Zucker Systems is the only consulting firm in the United States that specializes in the analysis of planning, building and community development functions and related departments. Organization, management and process consultation is primarily completed for city and county government and non-profit clients.”

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Dear Non-Planner Challenged,

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The following was adapted from a notice prepared by Kurt Schindler at MSU-Extension; reprinted with permission from the author:

2010 U.S. Census:  Snowbird residents leaving for sunshine states need to be counted in Michigan!

Note:  For our readers outside of the Great Lakes State, “snowbirds” are Michigan residents who “migrate” from the state to live part of the year in warmer climates like Florida, the Caribbean, and similar places (Costa Rica and Belize are up and coming places for some wealthier snowbirds).

Michigan has more snowbirds than many other states, with an average of 2.1 percent of Michigan’s residents identified as part-year residents.  Most of Michigan’s part-year residents have their permanent homes in Michigan and spend the smaller part of the year in another state, which means they need to be counted in Michigan.

Michigan residents who spend a smaller portion of the year at a residence in another state should be sure to fill out the Census form for Michigan, and in your community.  Local governments should take steps now to help people understand the importance of telling the Census they are a resident of Michigan — rather than the state where they spend winter.

Why is this important?

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Earlier this year President Obama’s federal “stimulus program” swept across the country offering federal funding to jump start “shovel-ready” capital improvement projects.

This highlighted the ongoing need for local governments to be more nimble and able to respond without delay to new economic development and community building opportunities. For long-term success, local governments must do more than simply respond and react.

An up-to-date capital improvements program (CIP) is a tool local governments can use to plan for major expenditures, to ensure that public funds are used wisely and as efficiently as possible, and most importantly – to be prepared with “shovel-ready” projects when unexpected sources of funding appear!

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