Land use: zoning and growth management; master plans; require to forecast and take into account housing needs. Amends secs. 7, 15 & 33 of 2008 PA 33 (MCL 125.3807 et seq.).

2023-2024 Regular Session Introduced by Joey Andrews and 16 co-sponsors

Local master plans must assess housing demand and set policies for diverse, affordable housing; planning commissions must prioritize housing interests in long-range planning.

assigned PA 153'24

#economicdevelopment:other #landuse:zoningandgrowthmanagement #localgovernment:authorities

Summary — HB 5557 (Enacted as Public Act 153 of 2024)

Status: Enacted (Public Act 153, 2024). Approved by Governor Nov. 13, 2024; filed with Secretary of State Nov. 13, 2024. Effective: 91st day after final adjournment of the 2024 Regular Session (sine die).

Purpose
- Require local master land use plans and planning commissions to explicitly consider and plan for local housing needs so communities can better match housing supply to demand.

Background
- Amends the Michigan Planning Enabling Act (2008 PA 33). Targets master plan content and planning commission composition to elevate housing as an express planning objective across municipalities and counties.

Key provisions
- Master plan content (MCL 125.3807 — Sec. 7)
- Adds housing as an explicit element that master plans must promote or provide for, including “a range of housing types, costs, affordability, attainability, ages, and other characteristics, including single‑ and multiple‑family dwellings” to serve a diverse population.
- Requires master plans to include an assessment of the community’s existing and forecasted housing demands and to set out strategies and policies to address those demands (in addition to existing required subjects like transportation, utilities, land use, etc.).
- Planning commission membership (MCL 125.3815 — Sec. 15)
- Adds “housing” to the list of major community interests that planning commission membership must represent (alongside agriculture, industry, transportation, public health, etc.).
- Miscellaneous
- Technical amendments to related sections (including MCL 125.3833 as noted) to effect these requirements.

Who is affected
- Local units of government (cities, villages, townships, counties): when adopting, revising, or implementing master plans.
- Local planning commissions: appointment/representation expectations.
- Developers, housing providers, and residents: potential influence on local zoning/planning priorities and future housing supply.
- State agencies and stakeholders may use updated master plans in coordination, but no new state program funds are created.

Procedural / fiscal notes
- Statutory changes amend sections 7, 15, and 33 of 2008 PA 33 (MCL 125.3807, 125.3815, 125.3833).
- Fiscal impact: no state fiscal impact; possible minor administrative costs for local governments to conduct housing demand assessments and update plans.
- Support/testimony: received support from multiple planning, municipal, housing, builder, landlord, and realtor organizations during committee hearings.

Practical effect
- Local master plans must now explicitly analyze and forecast housing demand and adopt strategies/policies to address gaps in types, affordability, and attainability. Planning commissions should include representation that reflects housing interests, encouraging housing considerations to be integrated into local long‑range planning.