PLANNING / ZONING and the Land Management System
The Purpose of having PLANS
Policy and land development plans seek to envision what the future will be like. They provide policy direction for private and government decisions on how growth and development will occur.
Territorial General Plan and the Territorial Planning Commission
The plan provides policy direction to government agencies and the public on how programs are to be operated and what they aim to achieve. The goal is to coordinate actions taken by the government thus increasing effectiveness, stretching resources, and avoiding duplication of services.
The Commission serves as a oversight body, on behalf of the Governor, to review and approve government plans in relation to the overall goals of the government. Plans cover agencies providing a comprehensive range of services and regulatory controls.
Land Use Plans and the Purpose of Zoning
A land use plan is a picture of a planned future for a specific area or location. Policies within the plan are designed to provide direction for both government and private organizations and individuals. Both plan maps (below) and policies are needed to shape development decisions.
The purpose of zoning is to place these planning policies and maps into a legal framework. Zoning regulations and the zone map back up the plan with the force of law. It provides the specifics of how and where to develop.
Planning & Zoning: How does it Work?
Planning policies start from a very general level and become more detailed as they address more specific topics or locations. The key to making these policies work is to make sure the more specific policies are always in agreement (consistent) with the more generalized policy above. The Governor through his TPC sets out these policies and determines if new plans and regulations agree. This would include governmental regulations including zoning.
The Zoning Board is the body that enforces the zoning laws, once they are determined to be in agreement with general plan policies. This is the most detailed level which specify use of land, number of parking spaces or set-back distances for buildings, etc.
The plan and zone maps are layered one over another. The planning designations are on top and describes how a location should look (develop) in the future. The zone map establishes the use now and how roads and utilities (through easements) should relate to a specific site.
Management Goals
- To wisely manage land resources
- To establish sound plans & policies
- To build a high quality environment
- To seek financial support for project
- To anticipate population growth
- To anticipate road/utility needs
- To fairly apply zoning controls
- To protect public from all hazards