The New Michigan Planning Enabling Act (PA 33, 2008)

To assist you in understanding the new Planning Enabling Act (signed into law in March, 2008), we have developed summaries describing how the new act is different from the old Municipal Planning Act (for cities and villages), and the old Township Planning Act.  Note that the new act does not become effective until September 1, 2008.

How the new act impacts your community will depend on:

1)      If your community is a village, city or township,

2)      How your planning commission was formed (under charter, ordinance, or resolution), and

3)      The provisions included in the charter, ordinance or resolution. 

Additionally, the new act discusses several topics that should be addressed in a planning commission’s bylaws (such as conflict of interest). 

The new act also includes transitional provisions, describing what communities have to do to make sure their documents comply with the new act in regards to existing master plans, planning commissions, subdivision ordinances, and zoning authority

A CWA Professional Planner would be happy to discuss the new act with you or your community.  For more information, please call Sally Elmiger, Associate at (734) 662-2200. 

Click on the links below to view the summaries.

PA 33 – Townships

PA 33 – Municipalities

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»Form Based Code  (222 KB)

»3D Sketchup Modeling  (1.47 MB)

»Community Wastewater Systems  (94 KB)

»Community Parks and Recreation Master Plans  (120 KB) 

»An Ecosystem Approach to Community Planning  (61 KB)

»Neighborhood Plans: Compact Plans with Expansive Outcomes  (92 KB)

»Benefiting from Phase II and Watershed Planning  (141 KB) 

»New Laws Offer Method for Coordinated Open Space Preservation  (55 KB)