Miles SmithThe Royal Oak City Commission in Michigan has approved a new master plan that provides guidelines to help the city serve future growth through 2050.
The new plan prioritizes increasing and diversifying housing options while enhancing transportation options, sustainability and climate action.
The city commissioned a market demand study that shows most housing demand in Royal Oak is for rental housing, split between multi-family housing and single-family homes with accessory dwellings.
Most popular is multi-family housing in a downtown-like setting, followed closely by those looking to rent houses or accessory dwellings, the city said, noting that the study showed only about 10% are looking to buy single family homes, and few are looking to buy condos or townhomes.
The 90-page document was approved at a city commission meeting held earlier this month.
Royal Oak’s new plan replaces the city’s previous master plan, which was approved in 1999.
The plan’s goals also include:
- Reinforcing the city’s historic structure.
- Advancing sustainability and climate action through natural means of water management, enhancing recycling and composting options and adding natural and climate-tolerant trees.
- Preserving and enhancing neighborhood character, including access to parks and retail areas.
- Reinforcing activity centers with more options for shopping, dining and recreation.
- Increasing mobility across the city for drivers, public transportation users, pedestrians and cyclists.
- Aligning future land use policies, zoning regulations and other ordinances.
Image by Wayne Harrison from Pixabay
