Unit 2.1 Basic Legal Framework for Planning Officials:
This unit introduces the laws that give planning officials the powers to perform their duties. It also introduces the sources and types of law that planning officials should know in order to understand the legal basis for planning and zoning.
Learning Objectives:
At the end of this unit, the learner should be able to identify how constitutions, statutes, common law, and case law provide a legal basis for planning and zoning decisions. In order to meet this objective, the learner should be able to:
- identify how local planning officials are empowered;
- identify types of law with which a local planning official must be familiar; and,
- identify how local planning officials manage risk associated with the planning process.
Prerequisites:
We suggest that the learner have an understanding of the following:
- the planning officials roles and responsibilities;
- foundations of planning and zoning; and,
- planning and zoning history.
Unit Topics:
In order to introduce this subject, the following topics are discussed in this unit:
- Introduction to Basic Legal Framework for Planning Officials
- How are Planning Officials Empowered?
- Constitutional Law
- State and Federal Statutes and Land Use
- Statutes and Local Government Functions
- Case Law
- Common Law
- Attorney General Opinions
- Why Know All This?
Training units are online, self-paced, independent-study opportunities to learn about the core tasks associated with becoming a planning official. It is estimated that each unit will take between 30 minutes and two hours to complete.
You may purchase the entire module or purchase individual units. To purchase the unit, please add now to your cart. To purchase the entire module, please
click here.
This product is brought to you by the Citizen Planner Program at Michigan State University. For more information, please e-mail MSU Global Client Services at
cponline@msu.edu or call (517) 353-3123 or visit the website
www.citizenplanner.msu.edu/online.
This purchase allows Michigan State University (MSU) Extension representatives access to your directory information as specified by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). MSU Extension representatives will utilize this information to provide you with continuing educational opportunities at the county/local level. For more information about FERPA and your rights, please use the follow link, http://www.reg.msu.edu/Read/UCC/Updated/privacy.pdf
