PREPARATION AND ADOPTION OF MASTER PLAN

MCL ch. 125, subtit. Act 33 of 2008, art. III.

in effect

MCL 125.3831 Master plan; preparation by planning commission; meetings with other governmental planning commissions or agency staff; powers.

125.3831. Master plan; preparation by planning commission; meetings with other governmental planning commissions or agency staff; powers. Sec. 31. (1) A planning commission shall make and approve a master plan as a guide for development within the planning jurisdiction subject to section 81 and the following: (a) For a county, the master plan may include planning in cooperation with the constituted authorities for incorporated areas in whole or to the extent to which, in the planning commission's judgment, they are related to the planning of the unincorporated area or of the county as a whole. (b) For a township that on September 1, 2008 had a planning commission created under former 1931 PA 285, or for a city or village, the planning jurisdiction may include any areas outside of the municipal boundaries that, in the planning commission's judgment, are related to the planning of the municipality. (2) In the preparation of a master plan, a planning commission shall do all of the following, as applicable: (a) Make careful and comprehensive surveys and studies of present conditions and future growth within the planning jurisdiction with due regard to its relation to neighboring jurisdictions. (b) Consult with representatives of adjacent local units of government in respect to their planning so that conflicts in master plans and zoning may be avoided. (c) Cooperate with all departments of the state and federal governments, public transportation agencies, and other public agencies concerned with programs for economic, social, and physical development within the planning jurisdiction and seek the maximum coordination of the local unit of government's programs with these agencies. (3) In the preparation of the master plan, the planning commission may meet with other governmental planning commissions or agency staff to deliberate. (4) In general, a planning commission has such lawful powers as may be necessary to enable it to promote local planning and otherwise carry out the purposes of this act. 2008, Act 33, Eff. Sept. 1, 2008; Am. 2010, Act 306, Imd. Eff. Dec. 17, 2010

MCL 125.3833 Master plan; land use and infrastructure issues; inclusion of maps, plats, charts, and other related matter; recommendations for physical development; additional subjects; implementation of master street plan or certain elements; specifications; section subject to MCL 125.3881(1); public transportation facilities.

125.3833. Master plan; land use and infrastructure issues; inclusion of maps, plats, charts, and other related matter; recommendations for physical development; additional subjects; implementation of master street plan or certain elements; specifications; section subject to MCL 125.3881(1); public transportation facilities. Sec. 33. (1) A master plan must address land use and infrastructure issues and may project 20 years or more into the future. A master plan must include maps, plats, charts, and descriptive, explanatory, and other related matter and must show the planning commission's recommendations for the physical development of the planning jurisdiction. (2) A master plan must also include those of the following subjects that reasonably can be considered as pertinent to the future development of the planning jurisdiction: (a) A land use plan that consists in part of a classification and allocation of land for agriculture, residences, commerce, industry, recreation, ways and grounds, subject to subsection (5), public transportation facilities, public buildings, schools, soil conservation, forests, woodlots, open space, wildlife refuges, and other uses and purposes. If a county has not adopted a zoning ordinance under former 1943 PA 183 or the Michigan zoning enabling act, 2006 PA 110, MCL 125.3101 to 125.3702, a land use plan and program for the county may be a general plan with a generalized future land use map. (b) The general location, character, and extent of all of the following: (i) All components of a transportation system and their interconnectivity, including streets and bridges, public transit including public transportation facilities and routes, bicycle facilities, pedestrian ways, freight facilities and routes, port facilities, railroad facilities, and airports, to provide for the safe and efficient movement of people and goods in a manner that is appropriate to the context of the community and, as applicable, considers all legal users of the public right-of-way. (ii) Waterways and waterfront developments. (iii) Sanitary sewers and water supply systems. (iv) Facilities for flood prevention, drainage, pollution prevention, and maintenance of water levels. (v) Public utilities and structures. (c) Recommendations as to the general character, extent, and layout of redevelopment or rehabilitation of blighted areas, and the removal, relocation, widening, narrowing, vacating, abandonment, change of use, or extension of streets, grounds, open spaces, buildings, utilities, or other facilities. (d) For a local unit of government that has adopted a zoning ordinance, a zoning plan for various zoning districts controlling the height, area, bulk, location, and use of buildings and premises. The zoning plan must include an explanation of how the land use categories on the future land use map relate to the districts on the zoning map. (e) An assessment of the community's existing and forecasted housing demands, with strategies and policies for addressing those demands. (f) Recommendations for implementing any of the master plan's proposals. (3) If a master plan is or includes a master street plan or 1 or more elements described in subsection (2)(b)(i), the means for implementing the master street plan or elements in cooperation with the county road commission and the state transportation department must be specified in the master street plan in a manner consistent with the respective powers and duties of and any written agreements between these entities and the municipality. (4) This section is subject to section 81(1). (5) The reference to public transportation facilities in subsection (2)(a) only applies to a master plan that is adopted or substantively amended after March 17, 2011. 2008, Act 33, Eff. Sept. 1, 2008; Am. 2010, Act 134, Imd. Eff. Aug. 2, 2010; Am. 2010, Act 306, Imd. Eff. Dec. 17, 2010; Am. 2024, Act 153, Eff. Apr. 2, 2025

MCL 125.3835 Subplan; adoption.

125.3835. Subplan; adoption. Sec. 35. A planning commission may, by a majority vote of the members, adopt a subplan for a geographic area less than the entire planning jurisdiction, if, because of the unique physical characteristics of that area, more intensive planning is necessary for the purposes set forth in section 7. 2008, Act 33, Eff. Sept. 1, 2008

MCL 125.3837 Metropolitan county planning commission; designation; powers.

125.3837. Metropolitan county planning commission; designation; powers. Sec. 37. (1) A county board of commissioners may designate the county planning commission as the metropolitan county planning commission. A county planning commission so designated shall perform metropolitan and regional planning whenever necessary or desirable. The metropolitan county planning commission may engage in comprehensive planning, including, but not limited to, the following: (a) Preparation, as a guide for long-range development, of general physical plans with respect to the pattern and intensity of land use and the provision of public facilities, together with long-range fiscal plans for such development. (b) Programming of capital improvements based on relative urgency, together with definitive financing plans for the improvements to be constructed in the earlier years of the program. (c) Coordination of all related plans of local governmental agencies within the metropolitan area or region. (d) Intergovernmental coordination of all related planning activities among the state and local governmental agencies within the metropolitan area or region. (2) In addition to the powers conferred by other provisions of this act, a metropolitan county planning commission may apply for, receive, and accept grants from any local, regional, state, or federal governmental agency and agree to and comply with the terms and conditions of such grants. A metropolitan county planning commission may do any and all things necessary or desirable to secure the financial aid or cooperation of a regional, state, or federal governmental agency in carrying out its functions, when approved by a 2/3 vote of the county board of commissioners. 2008, Act 33, Eff. Sept. 1, 2008

MCL 125.3839 Master plan; adoption; procedures; notice; submittals; use of electronic mail.

125.3839. Master plan; adoption; procedures; notice; submittals; use of electronic mail. Sec. 39. (1) A master plan shall be adopted under the procedures set forth in this section and sections 41 and 43. A master plan may be adopted as a whole or by successive parts corresponding with major geographical areas of the planning jurisdiction or with functional subject matter areas of the master plan. (2) Before preparing a master plan, a planning commission shall send to all of the following, by first-class mail or personal delivery, a notice explaining that the planning commission intends to prepare a master plan and requesting the recipient's cooperation and comment: (a) For any local unit of government undertaking a master plan, the planning commission, or if there is no planning commission, the legislative body, of each municipality located within or contiguous to the local unit of government. (b) For a county undertaking a master plan, the regional planning commission for the region in which the county is located, if any. (c) For a county undertaking a master plan, the county planning commission, or if there is no county planning commission, the county board of commissioners, for each county located contiguous to the county. (d) For a municipality undertaking a master plan, the regional planning commission for the region in which the municipality is located, if there is no county planning commission for the county in which that municipality is located. If there is a county planning commission, the municipal planning commission may consult with the regional planning commission but is not required to do so. (e) For a municipality undertaking a master plan, the county planning commission, or if there is no county planning commission, the county board of commissioners, for the county in which that municipality is located. (f) For any local unit of government undertaking a master plan, each public utility company, railroad company, and public transportation agency owning or operating a public utility, railroad, or public transportation system within the local unit of government, and any government entity that registers its name and mailing address for this purpose with the planning commission. (g) If the master plan will include a master street plan, the county road commission and the state transportation department. (3) A submittal under section 41 or 43 by or to an entity described in subsection (2) may be made by personal or first-class mail delivery of a hard copy or by electronic mail. However, the planning commission preparing the plan shall not make such submittals by electronic mail unless, in the notice described in subsection (2), the planning commission states that it intends to make such submittals by electronic mail and the entity receiving that notice does not respond by objecting to the use of electronic mail. Electronic mail may contain a link to a website on which the submittal is posted if the website is accessible to the public free of charge. 2008, Act 33, Eff. Sept. 1, 2008; Am. 2010, Act 306, Imd. Eff. Dec. 17, 2010

MCL 125.3841 Preparation of proposed master plan; submission to legislative body for review and comment; approval required; notice; submission of comments; statements as advisory.

125.3841. Preparation of proposed master plan; submission to legislative body for review and comment; approval required; notice; submission of comments; statements as advisory. Sec. 41. (1) After preparing a proposed master plan, a planning commission shall submit the proposed master plan to the legislative body for review and comment. The process of adopting a master plan shall not proceed further unless the legislative body approves the distribution of the proposed master plan. (2) If the legislative body approves the distribution of the proposed master plan, it shall notify the secretary of the planning commission, and the secretary of the planning commission shall submit, in the manner provided in section 39(3), a copy of the proposed master plan, for review and comment, to all of the following: (a) For any local unit of government proposing a master plan, the planning commission, or if there is no planning commission, the legislative body, of each municipality located within or contiguous to the local unit of government. (b) For a county proposing a master plan, the regional planning commission for the region in which the county is located, if any. (c) For a county proposing a master plan, the county planning commission, or if there is no county planning commission, the county board of commissioners, for each county located contiguous to the county. (d) For a municipality proposing a master plan, the regional planning commission for the region in which the municipality is located, if there is no county planning commission for the county in which that local unit of government is located. If there is a county planning commission, the secretary of the municipal planning commission may submit a copy of the proposed master plan to the regional planning commission but is not required to do so. (e) For a municipality proposing a master plan, the county planning commission, or if there is no county planning commission, the county board of commissioners, for the county in which that municipality is located. The secretary of the municipal planning commission shall concurrently submit to the county planning commission, in the manner provided in section 39(3), a statement that the requirements of subdivision (a) have been met or, if there is no county planning commission, shall submit to the county board of commissioners, in the manner provided in section 39(3), a statement that the requirements of subdivisions (a) and (d) have been met. The statement shall be signed by the secretary and shall include the name and address of each planning commission or legislative body to which a copy of the proposed master plan was submitted under subdivision (a) or (d), as applicable, and the date of submittal. (f) For any local unit of government proposing a master plan, each public utility company, railroad company, and public transportation agency owning or operating a public utility, railroad, or public transportation system within the local unit of government, and any government entity that registers its name and address for this purpose with the secretary of the planning commission. An entity described in this subdivision that receives a copy of a proposed master plan, or of a final master plan as provided in section 43(5), shall reimburse the local unit of government for any copying and postage costs thereby incurred. (g) If the proposed master plan is or includes a proposed master street plan, the county road commission and the state transportation department. (3) An entity described in subsection (2) may submit comments on the proposed master plan to the planning commission in the manner provided in section 39(3) within 63 days after the proposed master plan was submitted to that entity under subsection (2). If the county planning commission or the county board of commissioners that receives a copy of a proposed master plan under subsection (2)(e) submits comments, the comments shall include, but need not be limited to, both of the following, as applicable: (a) A statement whether the county planning commission or county board of commissioners considers the proposed master plan to be inconsistent with the master plan of any municipality or region described in subsection (2)(a) or (d). (b) If the county has a county master plan, a statement whether the county planning commission considers the proposed master plan to be inconsistent with the county master plan. (4) The statements provided for in subsection (3)(a) and (b) are advisory only. 2008, Act 33, Eff. Sept. 1, 2008; Am. 2010, Act 306, Imd. Eff. Dec. 17, 2010

MCL 125.3843 Proposed master plan; public hearing; notice; approval by resolution of planning commission; statement; submission of copy of master plan to legislative body; approval or rejection by legislative body; procedures; submission of adopted master plan to certain entities.

125.3843. Proposed master plan; public hearing; notice; approval by resolution of planning commission; statement; submission of copy of master plan to legislative body; approval or rejection by legislative body; procedures; submission of adopted master plan to certain entities. Sec. 43. (1) Before approving a proposed master plan, a planning commission shall hold not less than 1 public hearing on the proposed master plan. The hearing shall be held after the expiration of the deadline for comment under section 41(3). The planning commission shall give notice of the time and place of the public hearing not less than 15 days before the hearing by publication in a newspaper of general circulation within the local unit of government. The planning commission shall also submit notice of the public hearing in the manner provided in section 39(3) to each entity described in section 39(2). This notice may accompany the proposed master plan submitted under section 41. (2) The approval of the proposed master plan shall be by resolution of the planning commission carried by the affirmative votes of not less than 2/3 of the members of a city or village planning commission or not less than a majority of the members of a township or county planning commission. The resolution shall refer expressly to the maps and descriptive and other matter intended by the planning commission to form the master plan. A statement recording the planning commission's approval of the master plan, signed by the chairperson or secretary of the planning commission, shall be included on the inside of the front or back cover of the master plan and, if the future land use map is a separate document from the text of the master plan, on the future land use map. Following approval of the proposed master plan by the planning commission, the secretary of the planning commission shall submit a copy of the master plan to the legislative body. (3) Approval of the proposed master plan by the planning commission under subsection (2) is the final step for adoption of the master plan, unless the legislative body by resolution has asserted the right to approve or reject the master plan. In that case, after approval of the proposed master plan by the planning commission, the legislative body shall approve or reject the proposed master plan. A statement recording the legislative body's approval of the master plan, signed by the clerk of the legislative body, shall be included on the inside of the front or back cover of the master plan and, if the future land use map is a separate document from the text of the master plan, on the future land use map. (4) If the legislative body rejects the proposed master plan, the legislative body shall submit to the planning commission a statement of its objections to the proposed master plan. The planning commission shall consider the legislative body's objections and revise the proposed master plan so as to address those objections. The procedures provided in subsections (1) to (3) and this subsection shall be repeated until the legislative body approves the proposed master plan. (5) Upon final adoption of the master plan, the secretary of the planning commission shall submit, in the manner provided in section 39(3), copies of the adopted master plan to the same entities to which copies of the proposed master plan were required to be submitted under section 41(2). 2008, Act 33, Eff. Sept. 1, 2008

MCL 125.3845 Extension, addition, revision, or other amendment to master plan; adoption; procedures; review and findings.

125.3845. Extension, addition, revision, or other amendment to master plan; adoption; procedures; review and findings. Sec. 45. (1) An extension, addition, revision, or other amendment to a master plan shall be adopted by following the procedure under sections 39, 41, and 43, subject to all of the following: (a) Any of the following amendments to a master plan may be made without following the procedure under sections 39, 41, and 43: (i) A grammatical, typographical, or similar editorial change. (ii) A title change. (iii) A change to conform to an adopted plat. (b) Subject to subdivision (a), the review period provided for in section 41(3) shall be 42 days instead of 63 days. (c) When a planning commission sends notice to an entity under section 39(2) that it intends to prepare a subplan, the notice may indicate that the local unit of government intends not to provide that entity with further notices of or copies of proposed or final subplans otherwise required to be submitted to that entity under section 39, 41, or 43. Unless the entity responds that it chooses to receive notice of subplans, the local unit of government is not required to provide further notice of subplans to that entity. (2) At least every 5 years after adoption of a master plan, a planning commission shall review the master plan and determine whether to commence the procedure to amend the master plan or adopt a new master plan. The review and its findings shall be recorded in the minutes of the relevant meeting or meetings of the planning commission. 2008, Act 33, Eff. Sept. 1, 2008

MCL 125.3847 Part of county master plan covering incorporated area; adoption by appropriate city or village required; exception.

125.3847. Part of county master plan covering incorporated area; adoption by appropriate city or village required; exception. Sec. 47. (1) Subject to subsection (2), a part of a county master plan covering an incorporated area within the county shall not be recognized as the official master plan or part of the official master plan for that area unless adopted by the appropriate city or village in the manner prescribed by this act. (2) Subsection (1) does not apply if the incorporated area is subject to county zoning pursuant to the Michigan zoning enabling act, 2006 PA 110, MCL 125.3101 to 125.3702, and a contract under the urban cooperation act, 1967 (Ex Sess) PA 7, MCL 124.501 to 124.512, or 1967 (Ex Sess) PA 8, MCL 124.531 to 124.536. 2008, Act 33, Eff. Sept. 1, 2008

MCL 125.3849 City or village planning department; authority to submit proposed master plan, or proposed extension, addition, revision, or other amendment.

125.3849. City or village planning department; authority to submit proposed master plan, or proposed extension, addition, revision, or other amendment. Sec. 49. (1) This act does not alter the authority of a planning department of a city or village created by charter to submit a proposed master plan, or a proposed extension, addition, revision, or other amendment to a master plan, to the planning commission, whether directly or indirectly as provided by charter. (2) Subsection (1) notwithstanding, a planning commission described in subsection (1) shall comply with the requirements of this act. 2008, Act 33, Eff. Sept. 1, 2008

MCL 125.3851 Public interest and understanding; promotion.

125.3851. Public interest and understanding; promotion. Sec. 51. (1) To promote public interest in and understanding of the master plan, a planning commission may publish and distribute copies of the master plan or of any report, and employ other means of publicity and education. (2) A planning commission shall consult with and advise public officials and agencies, public utility companies, civic, educational, professional, and other organizations, and citizens concerning the promotion or implementation of the master plan. 2008, Act 33, Eff. Sept. 1, 2008

Source: Michigan Legislature (legislature.mi.gov)URL: https://legislature.mi.gov/documents/mcl/Chapter%20125.xmlFetched: 10/20/2026