Community Planning>Master Plans & Zoning Ordinances

Master Plans & Zoning Ordinances

A Grant Township Farm [Click here to view full size picture]

Master Plans	Top
Master Plans are a community driven document that provides leaders and residents with a vision of their future physical development. The process used to develop a Master Plan seeks to involve all segments of the local populace and to consider all relevant factors that may influence it’s future. These factors include the area’s history, resources, economy, population, growth trends, existing land use patterns, infrastructure, environment, character, and attitudes. In addition to evaluating existing conditions, plans and the planning process identify and evaluate community problems and opportunities. Armed with these inventories and analysis, and an understanding of how these factors may impact their future, communities develop goals and policies that guide decision makers. Master Plans are not ordinances or laws. Master plans are plans for the future. They guide decisions and should be regularly evaluated as conditions within the community change. In Michigan, Master Plans are the basis for zoning ordinances (which are laws). Zoning must be based on a reasonable community plan. So while Master Plans are guides, they are also the legal foundation for local land use laws. Below you will find links to Master Plans for many St. Clair County communities. Master Plans and their development policies contained on this site are periodically updated. However, changes can and at times are made by local jurisdictions that are not reflected in the text found on this site. Prior to making any decision relative to the planned use of land or a community development policy, we urge you to contact the local community and verify what you find on this site.
Related Links: Cottrellville Twp Master Plan- June 2002 Greenwood Township Master Plan Grant Township Master Plan Clyde Township Master Plan Casco Township Master Plan Mussey Township Master Plan Brockway Township Master Plan City of Yale Master Plan St. Clair Township Master Plan Fort Gratiot Master Plan
Documents/Forms: Burtchville Township Master Plan Charter Township of East China Master Plan Ira Township Master Plan City of St. Clair Master Plan Berlin Township Master Plan City of Memphis Master Plan - June 1998, text only Clay Township Master Plan - 2003 China Township Master Plan - 2003
Zoning Ordinances	Top
A zoning ordinance provides the authority to regulate private use of land by creating land use zones and applying development standards in the various zoning districts. The zoning standards—the written portion of the ordinance—state the rules that give meaning to the various types of districts such as rules governing height, density, and location of buildings, parking, and signs. The major types of zoning districts are residential, commercial, industrial, public, and agricultural. Many communities refine these broad categories and end up with a much longer set of districts. Zoning requirements greatly affect how a community appears and how it functions. Local governments pass zoning ordinances for many reasons including: The protection of property values Implementing the master plan Protecting natural resources Preventing overuse and Preserving community character Zoning ordinances contained on this site are periodically updated. However, changes can and at times are made by local jurisdictions that are not reflected in the text found on this site. Prior to making any decision relative to the zoning or an intended use of land, we urge you to contact the local community and verify what you find on this site.
Related Links: City of Port Huron Zoning Ordinance East China CharterTownship Zoning Ordinance Village of Capac Zoning Ordinance Port Huron Township Zoning Ordinance Greenwood Township Zoning Ordinance - January 2002 Grant Township Ordinances St. Clair Township Zoning Ordinance Mussey Township Zoning Ordinance Clyde Township Zoning Ordinance Fort Gratiot Township Zoning Ordinance City of Marysville Zoning Ordinance Lynn Township Zoning Ordinance
Documents/Forms: Ira Township Zoning Ordinance Kimball Zoning Ordinance - October 2002 China Township Zoning Ordinance Clay Township Zoning Ordinance - September 2002 Cottrellville Township Zoning Ordinance City of Algonac Zoning Ordinance Marine City Zoning Ordinance City of St. Clair Zoning Ordinance City of Memphis Zoning Ordinance - March 2000 Berlin Township Zoning Ordinance - November 2002 Emmett Township Zoning Ordinance - October 2001 Wales Township Zoning Ordinance - June 2002 City of Yale Zoning Ordinance - January 2003

This page last updated on 6/11/2008.

St. Clair County Metropolitan Planning Commission

200 Grand River, Suite 202 | Port Huron, MI | 48060 | 810.989.6950 | cis@stclaircounty.org