The Livingston County Department of Planning engages in many activities which support local governmental and non-governmental partners. These activities include:
Community Contracts: Occasionally, County Planning contracts with local units of government for preparing/updating local Master Plans, Zoning Ordinances, Recreation Plans, as well as providing a variety of contracted planning services such as site plan and zoning and text amendment review.
Planning Publications: County Planning produces annual or periodical publications such as Data Book & Community Profiles, County Comprehensive Plan, Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy, County Hazard Mitigation Plan. In addition, the department has prepared a variety of technical assistance publications on planning topics such as gravel roads, open space developments, impervious surfaces, transportation, agriculture, build-out analysis, natural features, etc. These items can now be downloaded directly from our website.
Rezoning and Text Amendment Reviews: County Planning coordinates and facilitates the activities of the Livingston County Planning Commission, including State of Michigan statutory responsibilities such as review and analysis of township rezoning and text amendments. County Planning Staff maintain liaison relationships with local units of government by periodically meeting or contacting administrative and planning staff, attending community meetings, and providing services such as courtesy rezoning and text reviews (prior to formal county review).
Capital Improvement Planning: Preparation of annual Livingston County Capital Improvement Plan
Planning Department Newsletter: County Planning undertakes periodic publication of County Planning Connection newsletter containing planning subjects relevant to Livingston County.
Community Events: County Planning organizes a variety of events to engage and inform the community about planning issues. Past events have included: Planner’s Luncheons; Housing Growth & Opportunity seminars; Lutz County Park events, public hearings, etc.
County Planning provides staff support to County Committees and Sub-Committees:
Parks and Recreation Planning – Facilitation of the Livingston County Board of Commissioner’s Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee, and master planning for each county park.
County Board Committee Appointments – Huron River Watershed Council, SEMCOG Executive Committee and General Assembly, Local Community Emergency Response Team, Livingston County Leadership Council on Aging, and the Human Services Collaborative Body (HSCB).
Census Activities: County Planning is the only local affiliate of the Michigan State Data Center/Business and Industry Center Program (MSDC/BIDCP) with responsibilities for maintaining a publicly accessible collection of Census Bureau reference and statistical publications as supplied by the Census Bureau and MSDC/BIDCP. County Planning is also involved in Census geography activities (e.g. establishment of census tracts, boundary and annexation surveys, etc.)
Grant Writing: Occasionally County Planning undertakes or assists local communities or agencies in the preparation and submission of Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) for sewer and water expansion, Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund (MNRTF) grants for parks, Joint Public Ventures Challenge Grants, etc.