Township reaffirms principles of master plan

Bloomfield Township trustees unanimously reaffirmed the township’s 2007 master plan during a five-year update presented by planning, building and ordinance director Patti Voelker at their meeting on Monday, December 11.

Voelker informed trustees at the meeting that in 2005, the master plan as an 80-page document was prepared, including maps and illustrations and recommendations for implementation.

“The purpose of the five-year update is to show it’s not forgotten, that references to the master plan are often referred to, and that we’re staying the course,” Voelker said, noting that the township’s planning commission frequently uses it as a guide. “Since 2007, there have been 10 rezoning requests that have all been done in accordance with the masterplan.”

She noted that various commercial development in the township, which has significantly increased in recent years with the improvement in the economy, have all sustained master plan recommendations.

“For example, in 2007, we had a development we referred to as ‘Bloomfield Park.’ Now, it’s been acquired and renamed as the Village of Bloomfield by Redico, and it’s 25 percent of the former Bloomfield Park. Redico is following the master plan along with the Joint Development Council,” Voelker pointed out. “The planning commission refers to the master plan whenever there is a plan or developer before them. We go back to the recommendations in the master plan.”

To trustees, she said, “There is an effort tonight to be more concise (in the plan), for the board of trustees as well as the planning commission. It’s a 20-year plan, and we’re half-way through. We refer back to it as an action plan on an ongoing basis and tap into all of the township departments.”

She said the planning commission at their December 4 meeting unanimously felt that as a five-year review, they had no recommendations for any language changes.

Trustees voted 7-0 in agreement to reaffirm the 2007 master plan.