The costs and effects of excessive parking supply
Use the stats and tools in this article to make your case for more sensible (lower) parking requirements in your community.
Read More
How planners can respond to the retail apocalypse
Following up on last month’s guest column by Ebenezer Scrooge, Tiny Tim tells us what planners can do to anticipate and mitigate changes in the retail sector.
Read More
Corridor planning , Downtowns , economic development , Municipal Management , Placemaking , Zoning cwaplan January 8, 2018 Carlisle/Wortman Associates , Michigan , planners , planning , retail apocalypse
Carlisle/Wortman’s most-viewed blog posts in 2017
Carlisle/Wortman's top 10 2017 blog posts: Signs, RTFA, fracking, economic development, invasive species, civic engagement and pocket parks.
Read More
Carlisle/Wortman in th... , economic development , Public engagement , Recreation planning , Rural/agricultural , Urban , Zoning cwaplan January 8, 2018 Carlisle/Wortman Associates , civic engagement , economic development , Fracking , invasive species , LED signs , Michigan , planners , planning , pocket parks , urban agriculture
Free Press publishes Dick Carlisle's op-ed on short term rentals
Local communities, not Lansing, should control zoning for short-term rentals.
Read More
Local communities should control short term rentals, not Lansing
Dick Carlisle takes on two bills that would treat short term rentals as a permitted use in any zone and preempt communities’ ability to regulate them.
Read More
Code enforcement , Municipal Management , Zoning cwaplan October 31, 2017 AirBnB , Carlisle/Wortman Associates , House Bill HB 4503 , Michigan , Michigan Association of Realtors , Michigan Lodging and Tourism Association , planners , planning , Senate Bill SB 329 , short term rentals , Zoning
Old? Can’t drive? Now what?
A powerful anecdote puts a face on the dilemma of aging in a community designed around cars.
Read More
aging , Corridor planning , Zoning cwaplan September 11, 2017 aging in place , Carlisle/Wortman Associates , complete streets , Michigan , planners , planning , seniors , walkability
Form based zoning districts
An entry from Carlisle/Wortman Associates’ glossary of planning terms, provided free to all clients.
Read More
Creating a legal framework for urban ag: Lessons from Flint
Here’s a seminal case study on urban agriculture by Michigan food policy expert Megan Masson-Minock.
Read More
Public engagement , Rural/agricultural , Urban , Zoning cwaplan August 1, 2017 Carlisle/Wortman Associates , food policy , hoop houses , Michigan , Michigan Right to Farm Act , planners , planning , RTFA , urban agriculture , urban gardening
What you need to know about Michigan's RTFA
A concise overview of Michigan's Right to Farm Act, by Wayne Whitman, environmental manager for the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.
Read More
Planners and public safety officials unite to fight Phragmites
The tool kit for fighting Phragmites includes state laws, building codes, zoning ordinances, noxious weed ordinances and stormwater management rules.
Read More
Township adds solar energy zoning
Augusta Township in southeast Michigan has established zoning standards for solar energy installations.
Read More
Regulations for LED Signs
LED sign regulations should control brightness and the frequency or interval of message change (dwell time) and establish controls on animation, scrolling, blinking, or flashing.
Read More
How to keep your meetings efficient, effective and legal
Of course your planning commission or zoning board meeting needs an agenda and minutes. What else must you do – or not do – to serve applicants fairly and protect your community?
Read More
Master plans , Municipal Management , Zoning cwaplan June 16, 2016 agenda , BZA , Carlisle/Wortman Associates , cities , city , counties , county , Michigan , minutes , planners , planning , planning commission , township , village , ZBA
Carlisle/Wortman planners train elected and appointed officials for MML
Through the Michigan Municipal League, Carlisle/Wortman professionals offer training on a full range of planning, zoning and community development subjects.
Read More
Open house gathers information for Bay City master plan
Carlisle/Wortman Associates collected ideas and comments for Bay City’s master plan at a May 25, 2016 open house. People can also comment using an online mapping tool.
Read More
Your sign ordinance may be unconstitutional
A U.S. Supreme Court decision says that municipalities can’t regulate signs based on their content but location, composition and duration can still apply.
Read More
Code enforcement , Corridor planning , Downtowns , Municipal Management , Zoning cwaplan April 29, 2016 Carlisle/Wortman Associates , Matt Lonnerstater , Michigan , planners , planning , Reed vs- Gilbert , SCOTUS , sign , sign ordinance , signs , Supreme Court
