Mary Dufina Becomes Certified Citizen Planner

In October, Mary Dufina, a member of the Mackinac Island Planning Commission, became a certified Citizen Planner and is taking steps to become a Master Citizen Planner, a program she expects to complete by the end of the year.

Offered by Michigan State University Extension, the course teaches students about zoning regulations, ethics, legal issues, and state statutes as they relate to community planning.

The class has been helpful, said Mrs. Dufina, who would like to see more Island residents enroll in the program.

A requirement for the Master Citizen Planner certificate is to take an online examination and prepare a planning project. Students have 60 days to complete the work.

Island zoning, said Mrs. Dufina, limits housing density in the downtown district. As written, the zoning regulations tie housing density to lot size. With small lots in the district, she said, business owners are limited in the number of housing units they can provide for employees. Her project will offer possible options and provide information about what other communities are doing for downtown housing.

Once it's complete, Mrs. Dufina said she will present the project at a Planning Commission meeting.