A Master Plan is a document created by communities to help guide development in the future. The Master Plan lays out how a community wants to manage change in terms of housing, transportation, jobs, natural resources, and more. When a new program, policy, or project is launched, the community checks it against the Master Plan to make sure it is moving the community in the right direction. Master Plans use the feedback provided by residents to help determine the desired direction for the next 5-10 years.

Master Plans are necessary because they help avoid undesirable outcomes. By planning ahead, communities can ensure that change happens in an orderly and desirable fashion, rather than in a hap-hazard way.

Additionally, the State of Michigan requires all communities with a zoning ordinance to adopt a Master Plan. The Master Plan is used to help guide zoning changes in the future. The State requires adopted master plans to be updated at least every five years.

Zoning is the ability for local governments, like Harbor Beach, to regulate the use of land within their community. This includes regulations about building location and spacing, building form and size, and what uses are allowed.

Zoning is one of the most effective tools communities have to manage land use, while protecting property values and keeping residents safe. When done right, zoning allows communities to manage growth in a logical and harmonious way that benefits the community. Imagine a school located between two factories—with exhaust and particle pollution blowing right onto the recess playground. Zoning prevents this scenario.

Another benefit of zoning is historical preservation. In many cities and towns, historical districts are zoned differently to ensure the architectural integrity of those areas is kept intact.

The 2011 Master Plan is available in the "Document Center" section at the bottom of this webpage.