Training & Education

Teaching is an art, requiring both knowledge about a particular subject and the ability to impart that knowledge to others. The planning staff at LSL Planning has both.

Critical planning decisions are usually made by citizens whose sole qualification may be a strong desire to contribute to the betterment of the community. With little or no prior knowledge of planning, zoning, law, and other fundamentals, the decision-makers may be forced to learn by doing, often unknowingly repeating the mistakes of their predecessors.

LSL is well known and highly respected for its expertise in training and educating local officials. Each year LSL conducts 60 to 80 workshops with planning commissioners, zoning boards of appeal members, elected officials, and zoning administrators covering topics ranging from the basics of planning & zoning to specialized programs on site plan review, nonconforming uses, and access management.

This emphasis on client education is carried over into all aspects of LSL’s work. It is our goal to not only give our clients the best tools to do their job, but to impart an understanding of how to use those tools most effectively.

In addition to on-site training, LSL planners have authored a long list of publications designed to instruct and inform local officials regarding planning, zoning, decision-making, and the nuances of their responsibilities as decision-makers.

Publications include:

• Co-author Basic Planning and Zoning Training Program Manual, MAP
• The Township Guide to Planning & Zoning, Michigan Townships Association
• Handbook for New Planning Commissioners, Michigan Municipal League
• Zoning Board of Appeals Handbook, Michigan Municipal League
• “Zoning Tips,” series of newsletters authored by LSL, distributed to clients
• “Making Zoning Decisions,” Planning and Zoning News
• Co-author, “Transportation Corridor Management” bill on behalf of the MDOT
• “How Townships Can Address Nonconforming Uses,” Michigan Township News, January
• “Debunking the Myths about Zoning Ordinance Variances,” Michigan Township News, December

TRAINING AND EDUCATION

Form-Based Codes, American Planning Association National Conference, 2008 • Training Programs for our on-going client communities • MDOT-Access Management Training, since 2003 • MAP-“Basic Planning and Zoning” and various specialty programs throughout Michigan since 1996 • MML-numerous introductory and advanced training programs on a wide variety of topics including Master Plans, Zoning Ordinances, Community Character, Transportation Management and Brownfield Redevelopment since 1996 • MTA-frequent speeches at statewide and regional meetings on zoning, planning and risk management • MSU Cooperative Extension-Citizen Planner Program-train the trainer program, present introductory and advanced programs in various locations throughout Michigan since 2003