Planning Commissions, Zoning Administrators and Historic District Commissions: Unraveling the truth behind local land use decision-making

The newly constructed fishing pier which was 100% funded by the Great Lakes Fisheries Trust.

Local land use decisions can affect your daily life in many ways, although, many people don't understand or get involved with the zoning process in their community.  The decisions that land use officials make today can affect the landscape, the character of neighborhoods, the health of the environment and natural resources, the availability of affordable housing, the size and scope of new developments and transportation corridors forever.  Planning and zoning activities, in fact, may be the most important elements in the design of a community.  This article and interview with John Mills, the Zoning Administrator and City Superintendent in Frankfort, will help unravel the role of zoning in his community.

Zoning is the regulatory tool for ensuring coordinated development within a community.  The Zoning Administrator, who carries out the daily functions of enacting the zoning ordinance, according to Josh Mills, "has a responsibility to ensure that all zoning regulations are upheld; promoting the safety, health, security and general welfare of the community".

The Zoning Ordinance is the physical tool available for local units of government to enact the community's desires.  According to Mills, "Zoning reflects and allows for implementation of the communities goals and objectives.  Then the community can create an attractive, convenient, and harmonious community that will enhance the social and economic vitality of the community".  

Zoning defines the types of land uses and developments that are allowed.  In most Michigan communities, every parcel of land has a zoning designation, such as residential, commercial, industrial, or recreational (there are many different zoning designations in use).  In almost every case, zoning ordinances are based upon a plan for future development and change adopted by the community.  However, sometimes what a developer wants conflicts with what the community has planned.  Superintendent Mills says that, in Frankfort, "We find ourselves battling a Not In My Backyard Yard (NIMBY) attitude from some of the opposition on certain projects. Much of this NIMBY attitude comes from lack of communication or understating of goals established in the master plan".  

That is why the master plan and zoning ordinance are so important to a community.  In fact, each community must update their Master Plan and Zoning Ordinance regularly.  In Frankfort, Mills is " working diligently on a revised plan and we intend on conceptually developing and redeveloping the entire city, creating new neighborhoods, and enhancing mixed use commercial areas, both new and existing that will be dense and clustered; preserving a natural green space and add a natural curb appeal".

Each community, through a participatory process, creates the vision behind the standards that are include in the zoning ordinance, such as the parking needs, lighting, set backs, lot size and many other restrictions for each of the zoning districts.  The zoning ordinance of the local unit of government that you reside in should be available on their website.  Superintendent Mills believes that, "Community Involvement is a must, obviously, to ensure that master plan and zoning ordinance fit the community's desire and vision for handling growth.  I encourage everyone to read the communities master plan and zoning ordinances, ask questions directed towards the zoning administrator and planning commission, attend planning commission as often as you can...if people want to have an ownership in their community, participation in the planning process is essential". 

To hear the entire interview with Superintendent Mills, click on play button below.

Josh Mills is the City Superintendent and Zoning Administrator in the City of Frankfort.

To help decipher the world of zoning the Frankfort Zoning Administrator and City Superintendent, Josh Mills sat down with YourPlace. Here are questions he was asked:

1. What is the role of a zoning administrator? And could you describe how your situation as both the Superintendent and Zoning Administrator of Frankfort is unique?
2. What are the benefits of having a zoned community?
3. One of the goals in your master plan it provide an adequate amount of open space. Could you speak to the YourPlace audience about how your zoning ordinance is enhancing access to open space in the City of Frankfort?
4. How would you suggest that individuals get involved in the planning and zoning process in their community?