Consultant presents MSHDA-funded "Vision Livonia" housing amendment; commission to review draft in January

McKenna & Associates consultant Donovan presented the draft amendment to Livonia’s 2021 master plan, funded through a Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA) housing-readiness grant of $45,000. The amendment (proposed Book 5, ‘‘How to make housing sustainable’’) updates demographics, adds detailed housing data, and recommends strategies to encourage middle-housing typologies — small apartments (up to 10 units), townhomes, duplexes and mixed residential developments — to broaden housing choices within Livonia’s built environment.

Donovan explained the amendment includes updated 2023/2024 demographic data, a housing strategy informed by the statewide housing plan, five elevated goals (improve and maintain the housing ecosystem; improve housing stock; inclusive and generational housing; support ownership and rental; and housing equity), about 28 objectives and an implementation plan that assigns responsibilities, short/medium/long-term timelines and priorities. He described public engagement completed to date including an April open house with roughly 50 participants and concept-site work using sites such as Laurel Park and the former Syrah site to illustrate mixed residential scenarios.

Commissioners asked for clearer measurable end goals (population or housing targets), examples of successful mixed/middle-housing in Metro Detroit, age-of-housing data and mapping (SEMCOG data suggested), and cautioned about barriers such as land ownership, aging housing stock and an aging population. Donovan agreed to provide additional metrics, examples and more detail when he returns in January; the commission voted to receive and file the draft so members can digest the material and prepare for the next detailed discussion and subsequent public distribution (45-day public comment period expected if released).