March 10 – Birmingham Planning Board to Review Draft of Master Plan

March 10 – Birmingham Planning Board to Review Draft of Master Plan
Birmingham, MI – The City of Birmingham is working on a comprehensive, citywide update to the 1980 Birmingham Plan. The City recently released a document with Citywide Master Plan Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) to help the community understand where the City is in the process, and answer common questions regarding the plan. The community is encouraged to download the FAQ at bit.ly/MasterPlanFAQ.
The process to update the Master Plan began in 2019 and has included extensive public engagement. Community involvement in a COVID-19 environment includes public participation in virtual Planning Board meetings, and the community has been encouraged to submit feedback on the project website at www.thebirminghamplan.com. Before COVID-19, public engagement included community surveys, round-table discussions, a drop-in clinic, expert speakers, and charrettes. Currently, the Planning Board is reviewing a first draft of the Master Plan.
“It is important to understand that we are reviewing a first draft. It is a compilation of ideas, concepts, best management practices, and industry standards our consultant has seen from around the world,” said Birmingham Planning Board Chair Scott Clein. “It is not a report that the Planning Board is ready to approve. We are going through it to determine what does or does not work for the City of Birmingham.”
Birmingham residents are invited to join the Planning Board as they continue discussions regarding the Citywide Master Plan for 2040. On Wednesday, March 10 at 7:30 p.m., the Planning Board will review a summary of public comments which will be presented to the City Commission this spring.
“It is important to clarify that a master plan does not rezone property. It is a framework setting the course for what the City may or may not do in the future,” said Birmingham Planning Director Jana Ecker. “The community is encouraged to review the Frequently Asked Questions document and continue to share their thoughts and ideas on the project website.”
Residents may download the first draft of the Master Plan at www.thebirminghamplan.com. The site includes relevant data, surveys, documents and an email communication option to send comments directly to the planning team. Information about how to participate in upcoming meetings can be found at www.bhamgov.org/participate.

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