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Planning staff previews training resources and sign‑code work; new sign rules to be in city code, not zoning ordinance
Summary
Planning staff told the commission it will provide training notebooks and links, sponsor travel to the Michigan Association of Planning conference, and continue drafting sign regulations that will live in the city code chapter rather than the zoning ordinance; the commission will review drafts as informational items before city commission action.
At the Jan. 15 meeting planning staff outlined training and zoning‑code work for the commission and reported progress on the sign regulations.
Terry Moultain said staff will prepare training notebooks and digital links for commission members and expects to present training information and the annual planning department report at the February meeting. Staff also said the city will pay per diem and registration for members who wish to attend the Michigan Association of Planning seminars in Frankenmuth in March and that the department will purchase planning publications for office reference.
On sign regulations, Moultain said staff has concentrated on the sign chapter and that the city intends to place sign rules in the city code of ordinances rather than in the zoning ordinance. He explained that, although the planning commission can review sign regulations, final adoption will be by the city commission via ordinance in the city code chapter (similar to sidewalk café rules). The planning commission may receive presentations on the draft sign regulations but will not have an actionable zoning‑ordinance amendment related to signs because the sign rules will be codified elsewhere.
Moultain also said staff will re‑convene the zoning‑ordinance subcommittee for additional drafting work and that the planning department is tracking tabled and postponed items on the commission agenda. He noted planned training on Robert's Rules of Order for board members and that staff will attempt to schedule clerk or third‑party parliamentary training for all boards.
