City of Bloomfield Hills Master Plan Adopted: May 12, 2009 Acknowledgements City Commission The planning process involved the creation of a Master Plan Task Force to assist the Planning Michael Zambricki, Mayor Commission in developing this L. David Kellett, Sr., Mayor Pro Tem Master Plan. The Task Force Patricia Hardy supervised and reported on the Michael McCready city-wide survey of residents, John Utley arranged public meetings with neighboring communities, governmental agencies, community leaders, and city Planning Commission residents. The Task Force reviewed drafts prepared by the City Planner before submittal to Robert Toohey, Chair the Planning Commission and Walter Cueter, Vice Chair City Commission. James Brophy Jay Cravens Michael J. Dul Virginia Fox Master Plan Task Force David Kelton Michael McCready Robert Toohey, Chair Michael Zambricki Virginia Fox Patricia Hardy Jesse Fraga, Former Chair John Utley Zachary Endress, Former Commissioner Master Plan Style and Drafting Committee City Staff Virginia Fox, Chair Walter Cueter Jay Cravens, City Manager Patricia Hardy Amy Burton, City Clerk Consultants City of Bloomfield Hills 45 E. Long Lake Road Bloomfield Hills, MI 48304-2322 LSL Planning, Inc: City Planner Phone (248) 644-1520 Hubbell, Roth & Clark, Inc: City Engineer Fax (248)644-4813 Secrest Wardle: City Attorney www.bloomfieldhillsmi.net City of Bloomfield Hills Master Plan Table of Contents Table of Contents 1 Introduction Welcome to the City of Bloomfield Hills …1-2 Timeline of Bloomfield Hills History…1-3 What is a Master Plan?…1-4 The Planning Process…1-5 2 Bloomfield Hills of Today Community Assets…2-3 Population & Housing Characteristics…2-4 Community Facilities & Services…2-6 Existing Land Use…2-8 Transportation …2-11 Natural Features…2-12 3 The Bloomfield Hills of Tomorrow Planning Values & Goals…3-2 Future Land Use & Character…3-3 Transportation Enhancements…3-13 Environmental Stewardship...3-19 4 How to Get There Roles and Responsibilities…4-2 Implementation/Action Plan…4-2 Appendix Resident Survey Responses …A-2 List of Maps Map 1: Existing Land Use…following 2-8 Map 2: Transportation System…following 2-14 Map 3: Natural Features…following 2-14 Map 4: Land Use Plan…following 3-4 City of Bloomfield Hills Master Plan Introduction 1 Introduction Welcome to the City of Bloomfield Hills Bloomfield Hills is located in the heart of Oakland County, Michigan. The City is rich in history, having evolved from a densely-wooded wilderness inhabited by Native Americans, to pastoral farms and orchards worked by early settlers, to today’s predominantly residential community with stately homes and diverse neighborhoods. Bloomfield Hills is known for its prestigious educational, religious and cultural institutions. While most of the City is residential, there are several prominent office buildings and a number of small commercial uses, most located near the “City Center” at the intersection of Woodward Avenue and Long Lake Road. Bloomfield Hills is also renowned for its natural features, the rolling hills, streams, woodlots, and majestic tree-lined streets only a few miles from busy expressways and employment centers. A major challenge facing the City is maintaining residents’ existing quality of life while elevating the characteristics that make Bloomfield Hills such an attractive place. A consideration of this master plan is the connection between ongoing development or redevelopment and the City’s overall economic stability. This plan seeks to find ways to attract redevelopment while maintaining the significant natural and cultural resources currently enjoyed. The timeline on the following page identifies selected events in the City’s history. 1-2 Introduction Historicstoric Timeline for the City of Bloomfield Hills Pre- Native Americans used a trail through today’s Bloomfield Hills 1800s connecting Detroit with Saginaw Bay and the Straits of Mackinac. 1810s First settlers in the area: John W. Hunter, John Hamilton and Elijah Willets. 1820s Settlement surged through the 1820s and 1830s; new roads were built; & 30’s the first public land sales were held. Bloomfield Township was established (1820). First store opened – Fairbanks Corners – at Long Lake and Kensington (1826). 1850s First public school established in a one room schoolhouse (1850). 1890s The “Oakland Railway” extended from Detroit to Pontiac along Saginaw Trail with a depot at Bloomfield Centre (1897). 1900s 1910s Bloomfield Hills Seminary, the first private school, established (1912). Bloomfield Hills Country Club completed (1912). Bloomfield Open Hunt founded (1917). 1920s Construction of Woodward Avenue as an 8-lane boulevard connecting Pontiac and Detroit began (1926). Village of Bloomfield Hills incorporated (1927). Stonycroft Hills golf course opened (1928). 1930s Bloomfield Hills incorporated as a City (1932). Population edged over 1,000 people. (1932). Cranbrook Academy of Art founded (1932). 1940s through Bloomfield Hills campus of the Roeper School opened (1946). 1960s The Village Club, a recreational and social club, formed (1968). 1970s to Steady population growth through the 1990’s, peaking at just over present 4,200 residents. City Hall renovated and expanded to include Public Safety (2000). Woodward Avenue designated as a National Scenic Byway (2002). Source: Obtained, in part, from The City of Bloomfield Hills 75th Anniversary Celebration, “The City of Bloomfield Hills – A Time Capsule” Written and edited by Vicki Lange 1-3 Introduction What is a Master Plan? The purpose of a master plan for Bloomfield Hills is to enumerate the Preparing a Master Plan is a balancing act. A sound Master unique elements of the community and guide future development to both Plan must reflect: strengthen the existing character of the City and meet community goals. A sound master plan for pattern and density of land use, infrastructure The opinions and attitudes of investments, and conservation of natural features helps ensure that residents and property Bloomfield Hills will remain a highly desirable place in which to live or owners; The desires of City officials; work. A plan allows residents, business owners and developers to make The limitations and investments with a reasonable expectation of what might occur in the requirements of the State, set future. A master plan also helps to guide decisions as conditions and forth in the Michigan expectations change and to balance the sometimes competing interests of Planning Enabling Act & the environment, individual landowners and the community overall. Michigan Zoning Enabling Act; and The Constitution of the The Master Plan will assist City leaders when considering the long-term United States. implications of their decisions about the environment, community character and the City’s fiscal health. Appropriate planning is necessary to avoid mistakes that could be difficult to correct. Community Master Plans are govern by the Michigan Planning Enabling act PA 33 of 2008 – the Michigan Planning Enabling Act (PA 33 of 2008). The Act outlines the process to be followed and areas to be analyzed in the preparation of a Master Plan. A cooperative effort with Specifies process to be surrounding communities and the county, as well as public input are followed in the creation of a important procedural components. Characteristics such as population and master plan land use patterns must be evaluated. The zoning regulations for each Stipulates what matters must be addressed in the master community are to be based upon the goals and recommendations of the plan Plan. The Act necessitates review by the City at least every five years to Provides for a cooperative verify that it remains up to date and consistent with current conditions. effort with adjacent Best planning practices suggest the Planning Commission review the Master communities and the county, Plan annually to review goals, identify yearly projects or revise the as well as public input Requires review of the master document if necessary. The Act requires the Planning Commission to plan at least every five years submit to the City Commission an annual report detailing the yearly to ensure it remains up to activities and project status. The report must include recommendations for date future planning initiatives, which are most appropriately developed during an annual review of the Master Plan. 1-4 Introduction The Planning Process In developing the Master Plan, Bloomfield Hills followed a comprehensive Key Points from Public planning process to allow participation from the public, local agencies, Involvement Sessions public officials, City staff and from experts in various subject areas. Maintain the established low density, predominantly Process Overview. This document was prepared in cooperation with the residential character of the Planning Commission, the Planning Commission Task Force, the City’s City and contain the office/ consultants and the City administrative staff. commercial core at Woodward & Long Lake Roads Kick Off. In accordance with the Michigan Planning Enabling Preserve sensitive Act, the City distributed a Notice of Intent in October 2007 to the environmental features and required agencies and alerted the public through the City’s maintain views along key newsletter beginning the process of data collection and analysis. corridors Embrace community assets, such as the variety of Public Involvement. Numerous opportunities for public educational and cultural involvement included an opinion survey mailed to residents;