Community Planning & Zoning

NEMCOG offers a variety of nonprofit planning services to our 8-county region in Northeast Michigan. All counties, townships, villages and cities in our region are eligible to become a member of NEMCOG and receive professional planning services at a nonprofit rate.

NEMCOG has worked with many communities in our 8-county region to draft new or update existing plans including:

• Master/Comprehensive Plans

• Zoning Ordinances

• Recreation Plans

• Strategic Plans

• Natural Resource Plans

• Wellhead Protection Plans

• Water Resource Plans

• Transportation Plans

• Solid Waste & Recycling Plans

Some examples of recently completed or active community plans & zoning ordinances completed by NEMCOG:

Alpena County Master Plan                                  Mikado Township Zoning Ordinance

City of Alpena Comprehensive Plan                     Maple Forest Township Zoning Ordinance

Maple Forest Master Plan                                     South Branch Township Zoning Ordinance

Mikado Township Master Plan                              Green Township Zoning Ordinance

Presque Isle County Comprehensive Plan            Village of Lincoln Recreation Plan

South Branch Township Master Plan                    Green Township Master Plan

Rogers City Wellhead Protection Plan                  Wilson Township Recreation Plan

Cheboygan County Recreation Plan

To see the full list of recently completed plans and ordinances, click on "Projects"

Continued Planning and Zoning Services

In addition to drafting original and updating Zoning Ordinances, Master/Comprehensive Plans, Recreation Plans, and many other community and regional plans, NEMCOG staff can provide planning support to the Planning Commission, Zoning Board of Appeals, or Governing Body on an hourly, as-needed basis. Communities can opt to enter into a continuing planning services contract with NEMCOG for professional expertise in planning related issues such as:

• Zoning Ordinance amendment review

• Site plan review reports

• Review and generation of professional reports/opinions for Planning Commission action items

• Review and generation of professional reports/opinions for Zoning Board of Appeals cases

• Review and generation of professional reports/opinions on rezoning proposals

• Professional expertise on the implementation of existing plans

• General professional expertise on planning and zoning questions

Member communities can enter into continuing professional planning service contracts for a member rate of $45 per hour. This will allow NEMCOG staff to act as a community's own professional planning staff upon request of the community on an as-needed basis.

Here are some examples of zoning reports that should be used in every community:

• Example ZBA Report and Decision & Order

• Example Findings of Fact - Special Use

• Example PUD Report - (simplified PUD)

• Example Site Plan Report (simplified)

Michigan Zoning Enabling Act: effective July 1, 2006 - this link summarizes the changes in the zoning law

Why Update Otsego County's Master Plan - Power Point Presentation (991kb)