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Planning commission reports zoning rewrite progress, 2024 project updates
Summary
A city presenter summarized the Ferndale Planning Commission's 2024 annual report, outlining duties under the Michigan Planning Enabling Act, projects approved in 2024 and next-year goals including monitoring the new zoning ordinance implementation and pursuing sustainability planning.
A city planning staff member gave the Ferndale Planning Commission's 2024 annual report to City Council, summarizing the commission's responsibilities, projects approved in 2024 and goals for 2025.
Context and legal basis: The presenter said the Michigan Planning Enabling Act requires the planning commission to compile an annual report on operations and planning activities and noted the city uses that report for redevelopment readiness certification with the Michigan Economic Development Corporation.
Projects and code changes: The report recapped several projects that received planning-commission approval in 2024, including a mixed-use project at 1120 E. 9 Mile (19 upper-level residential units with about 15,000 square feet of ground-floor retail), a large development proposal at 3101 Bermuda (working through financial modeling), and a commercial conversion at 2243 Woodward to a medical office building. The report also noted a zoning-code rewrite approved in December (an 18-month effort) that added allowances for accessory dwelling units, updated landscaping and EV-charging requirements, and added greater flexibility for administrative reviews.
Implementation and next steps: The presenter said staff and commissioners plan to monitor implementation, pursue several targeted amendments to correct errors or omissions found after codification, adopt planning commission bylaws, continue outreach to mobile vending operators and the DDA on Woodward vacancies, and review sustainability scorecards and accessibility priorities during street projects.
No council vote was required; the presenter offered to answer council questions and said the commission will bring recommended amendments to the council as needed.
