What the Metropolitan Planning Commission Does
The Metropolitan Planning Commission and their staff perform a variety of planning
functions to the benefit of citizens, local communities, the business community,
the County Board of Commissioners, and other county departments. A partial listing
of those functions follows.
Countywide Planning - The Commission and staff perform countywide planning
in the following areas: land use; transportation (through the St. Clair County Transportation
Study, SCCOTS); environmental (watershed, water quality, and solid-waste planning);
housing, and economic planning. Members of the Commission and staff also set on
a number of countywide and regional planning committees.
County Board of Commissioners - The Commission and their staff provide assistance
to the Board of Commissioners through corporate planning initiatives, research,
and data analysis. Commission and staff serve on committees and task forces as requested
by the Board of Commissioners, and the Commission completes special projects and
reports as requested.
Operational Activities - There are a number of operational activities performed
by the Commission and their staff. They include: coordinating transportation improvement
project funding through the St. Clair County Transportation Study; awarding and
administering housing rehabilitation loans and grants in cooperation with the Economic
Opportunity Committee of St. Clair County (a private non-profit agency); and the
execution and administration of several environmental grant programs.
Community Assistance - The Commission and their staff provide planning and
zoning assistance to local communities through review and recommendations on local
land use plans and zoning ordinances. Local grant applications are also reviewed
and coordinated with other agencies and adjoining communities that may be affected
by a proposal. The Commission conducts research on planning and zoning matters on
behalf of local communities, provides sample ordinances, and collects and disseminates
data. The Commission provides educational opportunities to local communities with
annual fall and winter training sessions, and will organize and conduct specialized
training as requested. The Commission also maintains a large planning library open
to the public. The library includes copies of all local community land use and recreation
plans, as well as local zoning ordinances.
Public Assistance - The Commission and staff provides data and conducts limited
research for citizens and the public at large. The Commission can also provide aerial
photography, wetland maps, topographical maps and soils surveys.
The MPC Chronicle - The Commission publishes a newsletter highlighting current
planning and zoning topics, activities of the Commission, agency reports, and new
products. Currently the newsletter is sent to nearly 800 readers throughout the
county. (If you would like to receive a copy of the Chronicle, contact the Commission
and ask to be added to their mailing list. You can also view and download the latest
copy from this web site.)
Regulatory Function
The Metropolitan Planning Commission is formed under the authority of the County
Planning Act, PA 282 of 1945. As a Metropolitan Planning Commission the Commission
has authority to conduct activities listed below throughout the county, including
incorporated and unincorporated areas (cities, villages, and townships).
Duties the Metropolitan Planning Commission shall undertake include:
- To make studies, investigations, surveys relative to economic, social, physical
development of the county.
- To formulate plans and recommendations for most effective economic, social and physical
development of the county.
- To cooperate with all state, federal and local governments and public agencies and
seek coordination of their programs in the county.
- To consult with adjacent counties to avoid conflicts in over-all county plans.
- To coordinate programs of all planning committees and commissions in the county.
- To review county public works proposals.
- In general to exercise such powers as may be necessary to fulfill its functions
and carry out the purpose of this act.
Additional duties that the Metropolitan Planning Commission may undertake in its
pursuit of metropolitan and regional planning, include:
- Preparing long-range development plans regarding the pattern and intensity of land
use, the provision of public facilities, and long-range fiscal plans for such development.
- Programming capital improvements based on urgency, together with financing plans
for the improvements to be constructed in the earlier years of the program.
- Coordination of all related plans of the departments or subdivisions of the government
concerned.
- Intergovernmental coordination of all related planned activities among the state
and local governmental agencies concerned.
After the Metropolitan Planning Commission has adopted a county plan or any part
of a plan and a certified copy of the plan has been sent to the County Board of
Commissioners, the Metropolitan Planning Commission has authority to review and
report back to the County Board of Commissioners on all county public works proposals.
This includes acquisition of land, erection of a structure or extension, correction
or improvement of any facility.
Funding
The Metropolitan Planning Commission receives funding from the County Board
of Commissioners annual budget. The Metropolitan Planning Commission also has the
authority to apply for, receive and accept grants from any governmental agency.
Currently the Commission receives grant funds for several program areas, transportation,
housing, and coastal zone planning.
Products Offered
A number of products are available and offered through the Commission. A copy
of the fee schedule for these items has been included below. This is just a representative
list of the products offered. We urge you to call if you have questions or would
like to inquire about a specific product.
Documents/Forms:
Price List of Products Offered
Order Form
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