Planning and Zoning Center collection

Collection

Identifier: RHC-240

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

Collection contains zoning ordinances, master plans, land use plans, maps, research studies, correspondence, growth plans, farmland maps, and urban planning trainings from the United States and the Ontario province, with the bulk of the material coming from Michigan. Collection also contains takings law (eminient domain) materials and blank municipal forms and applications. The items in this collection span mainly from 1946-2015; most materials were created from 1970-1999.

This collection was created by Mark Wyckoff, director and then president of the Planning and Zoning Center in Lansing, Michigan. Some of the materials were created by the Planning and Zoning Center, but most of the material was gathered by Mark Wyckoff as he conducted research in his capacity as an urban planner.

Dates

Creation: 1874, 1946-2023
Creation: Majority of material found within 1970-1999

Creator

Wyckoff, Mark A. (Person)
Planning & Zoning Center (Lansing, Mich.) (Organization)

Access to Materials

Collection is open for research use. Materials may be accessed by request at Special Collections and University Archives in Seidman House. Materials do not circulate.

Conditions Governing Use

The collection is the physical property of Grand Valley State University, but all literary rights are retained by the original creators of materials, their estates, heirs, or third parties. It is the responsibility of the researcher to secure appropriate permissions for publication beyond the bounds of fair use.

Biographical / Historical

Mark Wyckoff was an urban planner who retired with over 47 years of experience. He earned a Bachelor's degree from the University of Michigan and a Master's degree in Urban Planning from Michigan State University (MSU).

Mark Wyckoff was the president of the Planning and Zoning Center from 1982-2006, and director from 2006-2018. Mark created, edited, and published the Michigan-specific monthly magazine, Planning and Zoning News, from November 1982 until the last issue in February 2022. from He was also the senior associate director of the MSU Land Policy Institute from 2006-2017. He retired from MSU and is now a professor emeritus. Mark specialized in land use planning and zoning policy and law, environmental and natural resource protection, regional economic development, place and placemaking, intergovernmental service delivery and consolidation, and the nexus between environmental protection and economic development. He regularly hosted training programs for 35 years on his areas of planning expertise.

Extent

65 Linear feet (155 archives boxes, 1 oversize box)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Arrangement

This collection is arranged into seven series to reflect its original order: zoning materials related to cities, villages, townships, and counties within the state of Michigan; municipal materials in the United States and Canada; zoning materials at the state and national level; materials related to takings laws; sample municipal forms and documents; farmland maps; and later additions to the collection. The series are named as follows:

1. Michigan Local Materials 2. Other US State and Province Materials 3. National and State-Level Planning Materials 4. Takings Materials 5. Sample Forms and Applications 6. Michigan Important Farmland Maps 7. Michigan Local Materials Additions

Materials at the village, city, and township level from Series 1 are also labelled with the county they belong to. Materials from a larger region (e.g. Eastern Upper Peninsula) or joint efforts will list all applicable counties. Within each series, items are listed in alphabetical order. Folders are typically arranged in chronological order with oldest materials at the front of the folder, and any undated materials at the back of the folder.