PLANNING

Under the direction of the Community Development Department, the Planning Division provides support and recommendations to the Planning Commission and Township Board to assist in making land use and development decisions for the Township.   The Planning Division is responsible for:

Master Plan

West Bloomfield Township has recently begun the exciting process of updating its current Master Plan (click here for a summary of the process).  The Master Plan is a policy document that provides direction for the future development of the Township.  State law requires that every community review its plan every five years to reflect current trends and desires.  West Bloomfield’s current plan was adopted in 2005 and is due for review (click here for the current master plan).  The process, which should take just under one year, will include an update of existing conditions, review of the vision and goals, with a focus on recommendations for key topics including:

Zoning Ordinance

The Planning Division assists the Planning Commission and the Township Board in the review of new development and re-development proposals, including condominium site plans, land divisions, site plans and rezoning.  The division also prepares ordinance amendments, assigns addresses, issues sign permits, and determines buildable lot status.  Please click on the links below for information related to zoning in West Bloomfield Township.

Proposed Amendments

The following ordinances amendments are being considered by the Planning Commission and / or Township Board. In order to amend an ordinance, public hearings must be held by at least one of the above boards or commissions, and then the Township Board must approve the amendment for it to become law.  

Please contact the Planning Department for comments related to these amendments:

The following amendments were recently adopted by the Township Board:

CDBG

The Township has participated in the Community Development Block Grant Program (CDBG) Program on an annual basis since 1975.  These funds are distributed by the Federal Government through the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), however, the Township does not receive these funds directly, but as a sub-recipient, along with 50 other communities within Oakland County, as part of the Urban County Program.  As a member community, West Bloomfield is required to prepare an annual program for the distribution of CDBG funds and each year the Planning Commission prepares that plan, which is adopted by the Township Board. 

The goals of the CDBG program are to:

• Assist low and moderate income persons (70% of CDBG expenditures must benefit low or moderate income persons)
• Prevent or eliminate slums and blight
• Meet an urgent community need where no other funding is available 

Activities that have been funded using CDBG funds in the past include:

Public Services (30% of funds)

• West Bloomfield Parks and Recreation (Senior Services). Senior activities program.
• Bloomfield Township Senior Services (Senior Services).  Provides senior programs that include activities, meals, counseling and information and referral.
• HAVEN (Battered and Abused Services). Programs that address the victims of domestic violence, sexual assault and child abuse.
• Deaf and Hearing Impaired Services, Inc (Disabled Services). Programs that serve the deaf and hard of hearing older adults within the community as well as provide training programs to persons that serve the deaf community.
• Oakland Livingston Human Services Agency (OLSHA) (Safety and Repair Services).  Funded for the first time in 2003, to provide home safety devices (smoke detectors, bathtub bars, etc.) for senior residents in the Township. 

Planning and Administration (20% of funds)

• West Bloomfield Township GIS (Planning). Digital mapping program of the Township including the updating of the database as new aerial photographs are taken and the updating of the base maps that are maintained by Township staff.
• West Bloomfield Township Community Development Department (Administration).  Staff time spent administering the grant.

Other Activities (50% of funds)

• West Bloomfield Parks and Recreation (Remove Architectural Barriers).  Barrier-free improvements at Township Hall, the Family Aquatic Center, Drake Sports Park and the Schulak Farm.  The Parks and Recreation Department is developing an accessibility study which will recommend a number of barrier-free improvements that are needed at park facilities in the Township.
• Minor Home Repair. New in 2010, minor home repair funds include projects such as the cleaning, adjusting, testing and repair of furnaces; replacement of defective windows; repair or replacing water heaters; repair roofs, downspouts, gutters and siding; repair and/or clean chimneys; repairing water and waste lines; correct single code violations; repair sidewalk and driveways; repair or replace porch decks, stairs and handrails; one-time insect/vermin extermination; reinforce porches; and dangerous tree or limb removal.

EECBG

West Bloomfield is an entitlement community under the 2009 Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Program (EECBG) program, receiving $571,800 in funds.  The EECBG provides grants to U.S. local governments, states, territories, and Indian tribes, to fund projects that reduce energy use and fossil fuel emissions, and that improve in energy efficiency.

The EECBG Program represents a Presidential priority to deploy the cheapest, cleanest, and fastest energy sources.  It is modeled after the Community Development Block Grant Program administered by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).  Funds can be used community wide, not only for government owned facilities and infrastructure. The Township will concentrate its efforts on the following eligible activities:

• Development of an Energy Efficiency and Conservation Strategy and Technical Consultant Services to assist in the development of such a strategy.
• Building Codes and Inspections to promote building energy efficiency.
• Material Conservation Programs including source reduction, recycling, and recycled content procurement programs that lead to increases in energy efficiency.
• Energy efficient Traffic Signals and Street Lighting.
• Renewable Energy Technologies on Government Buildings.

Please click here for a summary of the EECBG strategy submitted to the Federal Department of Energy in January 2010.

Sara Roediger, AICP, Senior Planner

s_roediger@wbtwp.com

Phone: 248-451-4876   Fax: 248-451-4871