Impacts

Through engagement Michigan Citizen Planner is changing how decisions are made.  The program’s participant survey results show that Citizen Planner graduates are improving their knowledge, enabling communities to follow established development plans. Volunteer land use decision makers are resolving situations with more confidence and less controversy, and members are serving longer terms on boards and commissions. Michigan Citizen Planner is also helping local officials forge relationships with their peers in other communities, building a foundation for increased coordination in future land use decisions.

The growing complexity of local development decisions, coupled with risk management concerns and recent court decisions has fueled an interest in land use training.  A Michigan State University survey of Michigan planning officials revealed that nearly 80 percent of respondents believe continuing education should be a requirement for anyone who wants to remain a planning official.  That belief appears to be widely held, if a Michigan Map showing the locations of Michigan Citizen Planner programs and the number of participants is any indication. 

Over 3,500 training sessions/modules involving 21,000 participants have taken place since 2002, including both traditional classroom and new online training available since 2007. The satisfaction of participants is a testament to the value and quality of Michigan Citizen Planner training. Our first-of-its-kind online program is now reaching more Michigan planning officials than ever before. Michigan Citizen Planner is poised to reach citizens everywhere in the nation who want to be more influential in shaping their neighborhoods, towns and cities through the American Citizen Planner initiative. Think about it. An entire citizenry of one mind in understanding how their community should grow and how the land should be used, developed, conserved and protected.