HOUSING STOCK WORK GROUP

Housing Stock Innovators Work Group
Expanding Michigan's Housing Horizon

The Housing Stock Innovators Work Group is one of three work groups under the Oakland County Regional Housing Partnership. Its purpose is to find transformative solutions to increase the supply of affordable and attainable housing across the full spectrum of housing needs – From single individuals to families, seniors, veterans and beyond. The group consists of housing, policy and community experts all working toward building these new strategic initiatives.

With direction from the Michigan Statewide Housing Plan, the Housing Stock Innovators Work Group has two main goals guiding its work:

Increase the supply of the full spectrum of housing that is affordable and attainable to Michigan residents.
Expand the use of equitable and holistic local planning and zoning practices to increase housing supply.

Explore the Oakland County Zoning Atlas Map

Understanding local zoning is an important step in expanding housing opportunities across Oakland County. The Oakland County Zoning Atlas Map is an interactive tool that helps community members, local officials, planners, developers, and housing advocates better understand how zoning regulations shape where and what types of housing can be built. By making zoning information more accessible, the Atlas supports informed decision-making and encourages conversations about increasing housing options throughout our communities.

To learn more about how the Zoning Atlas works, watch our informational video below

OC Zoning Atlas Map VIDEO

Click HERE to access the Oakland County Zoning Atlas Map

To achieve these goals, the group has three main strategies:

Advocate at the federal and state levels for increased funding, including gap funding, to support affordable and attainable housing ranging from small- to large-scale housing development.
Provide education, including but not limited to local planning officials and attorneys, and the public, about discriminatory zoning and the benefits of equitable zoning reform.
Develop model language for zoning amendments or overlays that remove obstacles to increasing the housing supply.

Adapting Development & Zoning for an Equitable Future

Effects of Zoning in the United States

Exclusion of land development and zoning is about the exclusion of people, not the exclusion of buildings and housing types.

When communities across the U.S. began adopting development and zoning ordinances over a century ago, many policies centered on promoting public health and safety. While these are laudable goals, zoning & land development laws have also long been used to discriminate against Black, Brown, and Indigenous communities, and those with low income.

Equity in development & zoning procedures means including the people in the process:

Community participation has long been emphasized when a community prepares a Comprehensive or Master Plan.
When drafting and implementing development and zoning regulations and ordinances, participation typically occurs during required Public Hearings per Michigan Zoning Enabling Act 110 of 2006.
Minimal participation is a serious mistake. Community involvement is as critical to eliminate racism and discrimination in Zoning as it is Planning.

What is Zoning Reform?

Simplifying zoning can reduce the cost and timeframe of development and support attainability.
Streamlining the approval process may incentivize community-supported investments.
Aligning zoning with community needs and market demand may unlock funds for features that support health, equity, resilience and sustainability.

Work Group Recommendations

Below are some of the recommendations for zoning reform the OCRHP is working on:

Changes to the

DISTRICTS

Collapse zone districts
Add mixed-use/ multi-family in commercial districts
Expand allowable uses in residential districts
Performance standards for uses

Changes to

FORM AND CONTEXT

Reduce minimum lot width + area requirements
Reduce or eliminate minimum dwelling unit size
Missing middle housing (including ADUs)
Density/height bonus
Form and site standards

Changes to the

PROCESSES

Eliminate or reduce elected body approvals
Expand administrative review
Pre-approved plans
More flexible approach to nonconformities
Police power ordinances to regulate nuisance

Resources

American Planning Association Michigan Chapter Zoning Reform Toolkit

www.planningmi.org/zoning-reform

(pdf)

Michigan Zoning Atlas

www.mizoningatlas.org

A Zoning Atlas is an interactive map that shows how land can be used across districts and jurisdictions. Michigan is joining 30 other states to begin building this exciting new tool that can help make this complex information available to all.

This Used To Be Normal: Pattern Book Homes for the 21st Century

Made possible by the Michigan Municipal League and the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, this publication explores a history and strategy for new infill construction focused specifically on multi-unit housing.