Posted by – Steve Cohen, Director of Community Development
Last week, the Auburn Hills Planning Commission took action to start the process of amending the City’s overall Master Land Use Plan. It’s the board’s duty to review this living document every five years.
For the past 15 years, the Planning Commission has developed a very unique and successful planning style. The group updates a brochure format master plan every five years as a guiding document for the whole City, then conducts targeted studies in areas facing growth and change annually.
It’s an excellent planning process because it helps the City obtain input from people on issues that impact them directly, thus helps both the Planning Commission and the City Council make better land use and infrastructure decisions.
In preparing for the next five years, the Commission took a look back at the past five years. Since mid-2009, they have reviewed 53 development projects and facilitated the following planning and zoning efforts:
- Riverwalk Master Plan (2009)
- Great Lakes Crossing Signage Amendments (2010)
- Medical Marihuana Study and Ordinance Amendment (2010)
- North Squirrel Roadway Study (2011)
- West Downtown – Auburn Road Planning Study and Zoning (2011-2012)
- Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Project (2011- Present)
- Backyard Chicken Ordinance (2012)
- Holiday Sales Lots Regulations (2012-2013)
- Large Format Wall Mural Revisions (2012-2013)
- Industrial Building Height Revisions (2012-2013)
- Oakland County’s One Stop Ready Program (2013-Present)
- Age-Friendly Auburn Hills Project (2013-Present)
- Alberta Curb Cut Traffic Analysis (2013-2014)
- Parks and Recreation Master Plan Update (2013-2014)
- Oil and Gas Well Study and Ordinance (2013-2014)
Lastly, the group’s efforts have been recognized by the Michigan Association of Planning with two awards for excellence. The City of Auburn Hills received the best planning project award for the Riverwalk Master Plan in 2010 and the best planning practice award for the Electric Vehicle Readiness Project in 2013.
Can’t wait to see what the next five years will bring.
