Michigan Votes Forum

Introduced in the Senate on February 15, 2007, to recodify the state law authorizing city, village, township and county land use planning laws into a single public act. This would make it possible for land use planning activities by different levels of government potentially to become more integrated. The bill would explicitly authorize local governments to adopt a “master plan” to “guide development that is coordinated, adjusted, harmonious, efficient, and economical; considers the character of the area and its suitability for particular uses, judged in terms of such factors as trends in land and population development; and best promotes public health, safety, morals, order, convenience, prosperity, and general welfare.” The bill would also allow greater use of electronic communications in government land use planning actions

The vote was 37 in favor, 0 opposed and 1 not voting

(Senate Roll Call 15 at Senate Journal 18)

Click here to view bill details.

Not sure what this is saying but it seems this would infringe on decisions over local areas. I don't want some city person deciding my agricultural land plans. Bulk decisions don't work for everyone.

BOY WHY DOES THE LAW MAKERS THINK THEY OWN MY LAND WHEN IT COMES TO TELLING ME WHAT I CAN DO WITH IT,BUT WHEN IT IS TIME TO PAY MY OROPERTY TAXES ONLY I CAN PAY THEM.I THINK WE WENT TO WAR OVER THIS WITH ENGLAND.NOW THE CITY PEOPLE ARE IN AN ALL OUT WAR WITH US FARMERS.JUST BECAUSE WE OWN MOST OF THE LAND,IT IS CHEAPER TO PASS LAWS TO STOP US FROM DOING ANYTHING BUT FARM.WHAT HAPPEND TO BUYING THE DEVELOPMENT RIGHTS?OH I NO YOU WILL JUST PASS A NEW LAW TO KEEP US DOWN ON THE FARM.WE NEED ALAW LIKE OREGON HAS ,CALLED MEASURE 37.LOOK IT UP ON THE WEB.IN OREGON ANY LAW THAT IS PASSED THAT TAKES AWAY FROM THE VALU OF FARM LAND THE GVERNMANT THAT PASSED THAT LAW MUST PAY THE PROPERTY OWNER FOR THE LOST VALU

Instead of making it easier for one land use "expert" to control the use of private property, we should repeal these laws. We've just started to recover the sense of private property after the US Supreme Court's mind-numbingly stupid decision in Kelo. The people's outrage lead to the amendment just passed against using eminent domain to seize property from one person and give it to another. Now, we need to repeal zoning, land use master planning, licensing, permiting, busy-body regulating interference in our normal, natural use of our own private property. We need to realize that if we want to enjoy the use of our own private property, it naturally means that others have that same right. Some city planner, no matter how "expert," can't know what use people will want to have for their own land. As long as we don't interfer with other people doing the same thing.

I own 240 acres ,every time I turn around I have someone that wants to tell me what I can do with my land. These little own nothing,have not paid for a thing in there life,owe thousands of credit card debt, think they own my land. What a cheap way to control property without lifting a finger to buy it. You know what,when these little dead beats get off theit hind end and pay me for my land, then they can zone it any way they want until then you all can kiss my butt. Their is such a thing as paid development rights. So this is for all the do gooders from the city,get your check book out,and for the right price you little dead beats can own all my property,until you pay me for it,you can go f---- your self! ! ! !

This is why we need to get back to where only property owners can vote. I have noticed that the only people that want government to steal your stuff are the same people that don't have any stuff. Unfortunatly we have one party that is willing to steal your stuff and trade it for the votes of the folks with no stuff.

I concur with the intent to have uniformity among all jurisdictions. I do believe that the Township Boards, City & Village Councils SHOULD NOT have final approval on Master Plans. I have seen it way to many times where SELF SERVING POLITICAL motivations "up end" decades upon decades of studies of sound planning. Planning Commissions have been charged with reviewing trends in their own communities and are appointed to be representative of the different factions within the commnity. Boards and Councils have the abiltiy now to decide (zoning)laws. I understand that (limited)Zoning is needed due to the two percent of the property owners having no respect for adjacent land owners with regard to value impact and personal enjoyment of a land owner.

My neighbors and I are already having to fight for the right to control our own lakefront property because a bunch of dim-witted high-rise dwellers 20 miles away have decided it would make good 'walking trails'!And yet, a developer can fill in wetlands on the other side of the pond to build expensive homes, half of which are now in forclosure. The voters need to educate themselves as to where these laws come from-andy why: top-down centralized planning gives the land-and the rights-to big-money interests snd the State. We're rapidly approaching a feudal system where all lands are seen as 'the commons' and America's right to own property reverts only to the very rich or the politically well-connected. With Michigan's economic and jobs situation as bad as it is, the last thing we need is those socialists in Lansing allowed more control over what we can and cannot do.My rural township wont even allow people to run a home bookkeeping service out of their home. This is why Michigan cant compete, not the union presence! Stop with the cradle-to-grave 'planning' and let us make our own decisions, particularly regarding zoning and planning! Maybe we need to be looking at a part-time legislature....

Great Idea. Without private property rights we have nothing. That is why all these laws that tell you what you can and can't do are so scary. When 60% of the population thinks that it is okay to tell property / business owners what they can do on their property we are already sliding down the slippery slope. There's a real thin line between you getting a government ordered walking path on your property to them telling me that my customers can't smoke in my bar. We need to educate the government schooled / indoctrinated sheeple to look at the big picture.