Filling the Gaps

How we use our land is the foundation of environmental quality. Statewide there are more than 1800 units of local government that have the authority to make land use decisions. FILLING THE GAPS was created to equip local officials with important information to consider when making local land use plans, adopting new environmentally focused regulations, or reviewing proposed development. For more information click here.

Water and Natural Resource Protection Ordinances

• Water Quality Checklist for Master Plans and Zoning Ordinances
• Black River Watershed Master Plan Language and Ordinance Recommendations to protect water quality. This project was funded with an MDNRE grant (non-point source pollution section 319 of the Clean Water Act).  Get more information on the Black River Watershed Project and see a master plan and zoning ordinance checklist for water quality.
• Opportunities for Water Resource Protection in Local Plans, Ordinances, and Programs: A Workbook for Local Governments  This workbook provides tools for planning and design that consider water quality protection. It provides local governments with a continuum of options for preserving and restoring water resources and demonstrating the connections between plans and ordinances.
• Stormwater Model Ordinance (PDF, 1.6 MB)  See more information on Low Impact Development.
• Macomb County Model Environmental Ordinances  Macomb County has implemented several ordinances geared toward environmental protection. They have also made these ordinances available for use by other municipalities in a template format: 
  • Stormwater Management
  • Floodplain
  • Wetlands
  • Overlay District
  • Setback Ordinance
  • Native Vegetation
  • Woodland/Tree Protection
• Center for Watershed Protection
  Better Site Design: A Handbook for Changing Development Rules in Your Community. 
  • Handbook Part I,  Center for Watershed Protection, 1998 (PDF, 10 MB)
  • Handbook Part II, Center for Watershed Protection, 1998 (PDF, 8.6 MB)