Page 24 - Northville Township

This plan section establishes the necessary policy
guidance to enable Northville Township to plan effectively
for future development and redevelopment. Sound
land use planning is essential to ensure that Northville
Township is prepared for any future growth, including
public infrastructure and service needs and to maintain
community character. Through in-person and online
public input, residents expressed their concerns with the
potential negative impacts of growth on the character
of Northville Township. Residents were particularly
concerned about losing mature, green vegetation that is a
defining factor of the Township. Residents also expressed
their desire to maintain existing neighborhoods and to
carefully consider the appropriate amount and character
of new development.

Effectively capturing redevelopment opportunities
and considering new growth in a manner that benefits
existing and future residents and maintains the character
of the community is a primary focus for the Master
Plan. Northville Township’s location within the greater
Detroit metro area and its assets including transportation
facilities, international airport, natural resources and job-
producing industries will also impact the type of growth
and investment in the Township in future years.
Land use considerations are integrated with all other
components of the Master Plan. For instance, the
transportation network provides access to land, which
influences the type and intensity of development. The
provision or lack of public utilities can also dictate the
location, amount and timing of development. Similarly,
proximity to parks and public facilities promotes public
health and safety at specific locations and, as a result,
affects the development potential of an area. Site design
and development characteristics shape community
aesthetics and, thus, the perceptions held by area
residents and those considering investment in Northville
Township.

22 NORTHVILLE TOWNSHIP Master Plan