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Canton Planning Commission advances master plan draft, flags transit and Cherry Hill Village priorities
Summary
Planning staff presented draft master plan text—covering housing materials, Cherry Hill Village concepts and transportation—telling the commission the plan will be distributed for a 63-day public review; commissioners emphasized regional coordination on roads and exploring transit, including possible SMART participation or microtransit pilots.
Planning staff told the Canton Township Planning Commission that a draft master plan will be forwarded to the public and regional agencies for the statutorily required 63-day review, and commissioners used the meeting to press for stronger coordination with Wayne County and state agencies on infrastructure needs.
Erin, the township planner leading the master plan update, said staff and consultants McKenna had synthesized stakeholder and public feedback and would present draft text to the Planning Commission before the Township Board considers distribution. "Once the township board authorizes it to be distributed to the public, it will be noticed. It will go out for public review for 63 days by state law," Erin said.
Why it matters: Commissioners said the plan’s transportation and land-use recommendations could require county and state cooperation to be actionable. Several members noted that Canton must be able to factor foreseeable county or MDOT projects—such as potential Ford Road improvements—into decisions about zoning and approvals.
Key elements discussed
Housing and façade materials: Staff summarized public input showing a preference to retain brick, masonry or stone for primary facades while allowing more variety for accent materials. Commissioners and attendees debated loosening the township’s long-standing roughly 50% brick requirement to increase design variety and housing affordability; several commissioners urged flexible master-plan language that could later inform ordinance amendments.
Cherry Hill Village and Town Square: Erin presented conceptual imagery and said the township has received a grant to advance certain Town Square park elements and temporary surface parking at a township-owned lot. She emphasized the images are conceptual and not a fixed design, noting the possibility of surface parking and later decisions about any structured parking.
Restaurants and placemaking: Commissioners and the public discussed attracting restaurants and small businesses to Cherry Hill Village while discouraging drive-throughs and large national chains in the small-scale village core. Staff said draft text can be made more explicit about the desired commercial mix and the prohibition of drive-throughs.
Transportation and transit: The commission discussed cross-connections, sidewalks, EV charging and protected bike lanes in targeted areas. On transit, Erin noted "SMART has been opted out historically" and outlined existing and pilot options, including microtransit grants and the township’s senior-focused NANKEN service. Commissioners debated the cost and regional nature of mass transit—one commissioner estimated historic opt-out costs at roughly $1.5–$2.0 million annually—and urged planning for infrastructure (bus pull-offs, shelters, parking and first/last-mile connections) if Canton considers future transit participation.
Next steps: Staff said the Planning Commission will review final chapters at upcoming meetings (including a joint meeting with the Township Board), with formal distribution to the public slated by the Township Board for a 63-day review period and potential adoption in spring 2025 if no major revisions are required.
Representative quotes
"Once the township board authorizes it to be distributed to the public, it will be noticed. It will go out for public review for 63 days by state law," Erin said.
Public reaction and context
A resident who identified himself in the record raised concerns about county responsiveness to local infrastructure requests and urged the township to pursue independent studies or private funding when county capacity is limited. Commissioners acknowledged limited county authority over certain roads but emphasized continued outreach to Wayne County and MDOT to align decisions.
What’s next: The commission will review sustainability and implementation chapters in October and hold a joint board meeting on Oct. 15 to view a near-final draft; the township anticipates a public-distribution step in December followed by public comment and a potential adoption in March or April 2025.
