Royal Oak opens draft master plan for 63-day review as residents demand a public vote

The Royal Oak City Commission on Jan. 27 voted to release a draft master plan for a 63-day review period that will solicit feedback from neighboring cities, county planning bodies, utilities and transportation agencies.

The action came after more than an hour of public comment in which multiple residents said the planning process had been insufficiently transparent and urged the commission either to hold broader town-hall meetings or put the master plan before voters. "The master plan must be placed on the ballot due to the fake public input process thus far and in order to save single family neighborhoods," said Trish Oliver, a Royal Oak resident and organizer with Protect Royal Oak.

Mayor (chair) framed the motion as a procedural step to gather formal feedback: the draft is a "piece of clay" to be circulated so stakeholders can respond, and the planning commission and city commission will review incoming comments before any final adoption. Commissioners stressed the difference between a master plan (a policy guide looking 10–20 years ahead) and zoning regulations, which would be the step that changes parcel-level rules.

Residents raised several recurring concerns: the replacement of a "single-family" land-use label with a broader "neighborhood residential" category they say could allow duplexes, apartments and accessory dwelling units; requests for specific local data on vacancy rates, road-diet safety outcomes and ADU usage; and allegations that site-plan violations (including tree removals) were not being enforced.

"I attended and I'm still just fuming about the September meeting," said Sue Melanie, a long-time resident, continuing a theme that engagement settings and formats limited meaningful participation. Another resident urged a targeted meeting for people in the Sherman Triangle to discuss proposed changes to Woodward and 11 Mile.

Commissioners who supported moving the draft forward said the public process has included numerous input opportunities and that a statutory review period is required to compile formal feedback from external agencies. Commissioner Colo urged staff to produce an executive summary to help residents more easily find the plan elements that most affect neighborhoods.

The commission's voice vote approved opening the 63-day review. The vote was recorded as a motion on the consent agenda and passed without further amendment. The planning commission and city staff said they will return with a summary of received comments and any recommended edits after the review period.