Land Use planning is an exercise by local government to anticipate change, promote needed change, and to control or direct development in such a way as to benefit the entire community. It has the aim of harmonizing land uses and development activities with the social, environmental, aesthetic, cultural, political, and economic requirements of the community.

Pleasant Plains Township has been involved in a land use program since first formulating and adopting a zoning ordinance in 1971. While this ordinance has to some extent been effective in controlling development, ever changing conditions have prompted Township officials and residents to realize the need to provide a better planning direction for the Township. As a result, the Township board contracted with West Michigan Regional Planning Commission to provide professional assistance to the planning commission for the purpose of preparing a land use plan and updating the Township zoning ordinance.