Planning Commission

Minutes Royal Oak Planning Commission Tuesday, April 8, 2025, 7:00 p.m. City Hall Commission Chambers Room 121 203 South Troy Street Royal Oak, MI 48067 Present: Sharlan Douglas Michael Fournier Jim Ellison Woody Gontina Gary Quesada Brian Cooper Absent: Clyde Esbri Staff: Joshua Marcum, Assistant City Attorney Joseph Murphy, Director of Planning Timothy Thwing, Director of Community Development 1. Call to Order Chairperson Quesada called the April 8, 2025, regular meeting of the Royal Oak Planning Commission to order at 7:00 p.m. 2. Approval of Minutes for March 11, 2025 Moved by Mr. Gontina Seconded by Mr. Cooper To approve the minutes of the March 11, 2025, regular meeting of the Royal Oak Planning Commission as presented. Motion adopted unanimously. 3. New Business 3.a Public Hearing on Proposed Master Plan 2050 Chairperson Quesada opened the public hearing on the Proposed Master Plan 2050 at 7:26 p.m. After all interested members of the audience came forward to speak Chairperson Quesada closed the public hearing at 9:15 p.m. 3.b Results from 63-Day Comment Period on Proposed Master Plan 2050 Correspondence were presented from the City of Southfield, the City of Huntington Woods, and the Oakland County Coordinating Zoning Committee that were received during the 63-day comment period required under the Michigan Planning Enabling Act for adjacent municipalities, public utilities, railroads, public transportation systems, Oakland County, and the Road Commission for Oakland County. According to Mr. Murphy, none of these entities identified conflicts or inconsistencies with their related objectives or initiatives that necessitate modifications to the Proposed Master Plan 2050. 3.c Procedural Steps to Adopt New Master Plan 1 Planning Commission April 8, 2025 Mr. Murphy informed the Planning Commission that they may now take any of the following actions after reviewing comments provided during the public hearing and correspondence submitted by entities identified in the Michigan Planning Enabling Act during the 63-day comment period: (1) determine that additional public engagement or another public hearing is needed; (2) determine that additional time is needed to assess public hearing comments; (3) determine that modifications are necessary prior to final adoption and adopt resolutions highlighting the requested modifications; or (4) determine that the Proposed Master Plan 2050 dated January 14, 2025, remain as presented and that it is ready for final adoption. Mr. Murphy informed the Planning Commission that, in accordance with the Michigan Planning Enabling Act, approval of the Proposed Master Plan 2050 must be by a resolution carried by the affirmative votes of not less than two-thirds (2/3) of its members, or five votes. Further, since the City Commission asserted its statutory right to approve or reject it at their regular meeting of August 23, 2021, the Proposed Master Plan 2050 must be forwarded to the City Commission following the Planning Commission’s action. Moved by Mr. Gontina Seconded by Commissioner Douglas Whereas per Chapter 134 of the City of Royal Oak Code of Ordinances the Royal Oak Planning Commission was organized under the Michigan Planning Enabling Act (Public Act 33 of 2008, as amended) with specific powers and duties; and Whereas the Michigan Planning Enabling Act (Public Act 33 of 2008, as amended), provides for a local unit of government to prepare, adopt, amend, and implement a Master Plan to guide and accomplish development that satisfies identified criteria; and Whereas in 2021 the Royal Oak Planning Commission adopted resolutions identifying the need to create a new Master Plan and commenced the process to retain a consultant to assist in the development of a new Master Plan; and Whereas in 2022 the Royal Oak City Commission concurred with the Royal Oak Planning Commission’s recommendation and entered into contract with DPZ CoDesign; and Whereas the City and DPZ CoDesign have provided a wide range of public engagement and receipted valuable and diverse feedback throughout the process of creating a new Master Plan; and Whereas the City has consulted with representatives of contiguous communities in respect to their planning so that conflicts may be avoided; and Whereas the City has also consulted with county, regional, state and federal agencies, public airport and transportation agencies, utility companies, railroad companies, etc. to identify conflicts or inconsistencies with their objectives and directives; and Whereas the Royal Oak Planning Commission has prepared a new Master Plan, which includes a future land use map, as a guide for physical development within the City of Royal Oak, Michigan; and Whereas the Royal Oak Planning Commission’s new Master Plan considered all subjects identified in the Michigan Planning Enabling Act that were pertinent to the future development of the City; and Whereas the Royal Oak Planning Commission’s new Master Plan is also based on the culmination of analyzing data, assessing present conditions, identifying areas of preservation, predicting growth, identifying areas of growth, assessing capacity, garnering opinion, soliciting input, and considering professional recommendations. 2 Planning Commission April 8, 2025 Now, therefore, be it resolved the Royal Oak Planning Commission, at its April 8, 2025, regular meeting hereby adopts and approves in its entirety the Royal Oak Master Plan 2050, inclusive of all maps, plats, charts, and other related matter, figures and the future land use map and forwards it to the Royal Oak City Commission for concurrence and final adoption. Moved by Mr. Ellison Seconded by Mr. Cooper To amend the resolution to direct staff and DPZ CoDesign to correct non- substantive typographical and spelling errors in the Royal Oak Master Plan 2050 before it is forwarded to the City Commission. Amendment adopted unanimously. Amended motion adopted unanimously by roll call vote. Yes: Mr. Cooper, Commissioner Douglas, Mr. Ellison, Mayor Fournier, Mr. Gontina, Mr. Quesada. No: None. Absent: Mr. Esbri. 4. Other Business 4.a Notice of Distribution and Comment Period for City of Clawson Master Plan Update Notices from the City of Clawson regarding the distribution and comment period for updates to their master plan were presented with no further action being taken or necessary. 5. Public Comment on Non-Agenda Items Chairperson Quesada invited members of the audience to comment on any planning related issues. After all interested members of the audience came forward Chairperson Quesada closed the public comment portion of the agenda. 6. Adjournment Moved by Mr. Cooper Seconded by Mr. Gontina To adjourn the April 8, 2025, regular meeting of the Royal Oak Planning Commission at 10:48 p.m. Motion adopted unanimously. /S/ /S/ Gary Quesada Timothy E. Thwing Chairperson, Planning Commission Director of Community Development 3