HomeMy WebLinkAbout04212026 Planning & Zoning Work Session Laydown Planetizen CoursesPlanning
Commissioner
Training
Planetizen
Courses
ekMICHIGAN STATE
UNIVERSITY
Planning Commissioner Training
For group rates, contact
courses@planetizen.com
The Planning Commissioner Training series from
Planetizen Courses offers ten courses on the
essentials of citizen planning —everything from
planning ethics, comprehensive plans, site plans,
approval processes, planning law, zoning, and the
essential role of the public in planning.
About the Instructors
Mary Reilly
Mary Reilly is a land use educator with Michigan State University
Extension. She serves northwest lower Michigan but also travels
statewide to provide specialized training programs on request. Mary
has over 20 years of experience in planning and zoning.
Wayne Beyea
Wayne Beyea is a faculty at the MSU School of Planning, Design and
Construction's Urban & Regional Planning Program. Wayne directs the
American Citizen Planner Collaborative, an online training program for
planning officials nationwide.
Brad Neumann
Brad Neumann is a MSU Senior Extension Educator who serves as
an educational resource for local and tribal governments across
Michigan's Upper Peninsula in the areas of land use planning
and zoning, community and economic development and general
governance topics including effective meetings and civic engagement.
Planning Commissioner Training
For group rates, contact
courses@planetizen.com
Watch Expert Training
10 hours of high quality video lessons
developed by experts.
Test Your Knowledge
Take quizzes throughout training to make
sure you're learning stuff.
Earn A Certificate
Complete course work to receive a certificate
from Planetizen Courses and MSU.
National Curriculum
Essential training relevant to commissioners
in every U.S. jurisdiction.
Course 1: Introduction to Planning
• Introduction
• Planning Official Wanted
• What is the Planning Commission?
• Private Citizen to Public Official
• Fundamental Duties
• Responsibilities of the Planning Official
• The Planning Team
• Why Be a Planning Official?
• Review Activity
Course 2: Planning Official Ethics 101
• Introduction
• What Does Ethics Mean?
• What is a Conflict of Interest?
• Potential Conflicts or "Appearance of Impropriety"
• Ethics and Conflict of Interest
• Ethical Actions
• Legislating Planning Official Conduct
• Ethics and Fairness
• APA Ethical Principles in Planning
• Other Planning -Related Codes of Ethics
• Review Activity
Course 3: What is a
Comprehensive Plan?
• Introduction
• What is a Comprehensive Plan?
• Purpose and Content of a Comprehensive plan
• Contents of a Comprehensive Plan
• Functional Elements
• Historical and Background Information
• Analyses and Projections
• Vision and Issues
• Goals and Objectives
• Policies
• Implementation Strategies
• Sub -Area and Multi -Jurisdictional Plans
• Organizing the Plan
• Review Activity
Course 4: Overview of the
Planning Process
• Introduction
• The Big Picture
• Planning to Plan
• Working With the Public
• Collecting and Analyzing Data
• Setting Goals and Objectives
• Drafting the Plan
• Adopting the Plan
• Review Activity
Course 5: Working with the Public
• Working with the Public
• Communication Challenges
• One -Way Communication
• Two -Way Communication
• Opinion Surveys
• Media
• Presentations
• Personal Interviews
• Town Meetings
• Focus Groups
• Design Charrettes
• Public Hearings
• Review Activity
Course 6: Basic Legal Framework
for Planning Officials
• Introduction
• How are Planning Officials Empowered?
• Constitutional Law
• State and Federal Statutes and Land Use
• Statutes and Local Government Functions
• Case Law
• Common Law
• Attorney General Opinions
• Why Know All This?
• Review Activity
Planning Commissioner Training
For group rates, contact
courses@planetizen.com
Course 7: Constitutional Limitations
on Planning and Zoning
• Introduction
• What Are Constitutional Limitations?
• Substantive Due Process
• Equal Protection
• Eminent Domain and Just Compensation
• Takings
• Freedom of Speech
• Freedom of Religion
• Review Activity
Course 8: How Does Zoning Work?
• Introduction
• What is Zoning?
• Limitations on Zoning
• The Zoning Ordinance and the Plan
• Who Creates the Ordinance?
• The Zoning Ordinance
• The Zoning Map
• Keeping the Ordinance Current
• Nonconformities
• Zoning Administration
• Conditions on Approval
• Standards of Review
• Review Activity
Course 9: The Site Plan
• Introduction
• What is a Site Plan?
• What is Included in a Site Plan?
• Site Plan Review
• When is Site Plan Review Required?
• Overview of the Site Plan Review Process
• Application
• Investigation and Site Plan Visit
• Site Plan Review Decisions
• Documenting Decisions
• Review Activity
Course 10: Overview of the
Zoning Process
• Introduction
• Words To The Wise
• The Big Picture
• Creating An Ordinance
• Adopting An Ordinance
• Amending An Ordinance
• Special Land Uses
• Planned Unit Development
• Appeals, Variances, and Interpretation
• Zoning Ordinance Enforcement
• Managing The Zoning Process
• Review Activity
Available on https://courses.planetizen.com/
planning -commissioner -training
For group rates, contact courses@planetizen.com