Politics & Government

Township Officials May Hire Consultant to Re-do Downtown Overlay District

The West Bloomfield Township Board votes Monday to approve Town Center Task Force recommendations.

West Bloomfield Township officials voted on Monday to look at hiring a consultant who would help make changes to the township's Downtown Overlay District.

The district includes the commercial area along Orchard Lake Road, between 14 Mile and Pinehurst Court, near Maple. The hiring recommendation came from the Town Center Task Force, which spent the last four months gathering information about possible changes to the district. Officials say the zoning rules have created problems for businesses wanting to locate or redevelop property in that area.

"We have lost opportunities for businesses coming into this township because of this overlay district," trustee Larry Brown said. 

Other task force recommendations include exercising flexibility with the existing rules until changes are made, and involving the task force in drafting the request for proposals (RFP) used in hiring the consultant.

Trustee Catherine Shaughnessy questioned the expense, since the township already paid a consultant for the existing plan. She said she would not support spending money on a consultant, when the township has a senior planner on staff and the plan is just to modify the district. 

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"How much of this work can we do ourselves, before we have somebody draw this for us?" she asked. 

Task Force member and trustee Howard Rosenberg said the group and senior planner Sara Roediger have reached the limits of their capabilities, after gathering information from property owners, governmental agencies, real estate professionals, architects and other stakeholders.

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"In order to go further, we need professional help," he said. "We need a professional facilitator." 

Officials unanimously approved the task force recommendations, with the caveat that the request for proposals would go through both the township board and planning commission before it is distributed. 


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