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New projects kept Waterford Township officials busy during 2024
Waterford Township may have a new supervisor but Anthony Bartolotta has promised to continue a path set by predecessor Gary Wall over the last 12 years.
In 2024 alone, the township debuted a new master plan, saw growth in the business community and received the most requests for permits to raise backyard chickens since the ordinance was approved.
Residents approved a 21-year $36.4 million bond for a new community center. The township purchased part of the former OCC Highland campus for the new site. Community center planning included a deal with the school district for the township to take charge of the senior center.
New community center is in Waterford Township’s future after voters approve 21-year bond
Public transit, first introduced with routes by the Western Oakland Transit Authority in 2020, now includes multiple SMART bus trips on weekdays and Saturdays.
The business climate also looks bright: By June, for example, four of the township’s six approved marijuana shops had opened. The other two requested extensions and were denied. In September the township reached a milestone of 12 approved short-term rentals, after a regulating ordinance was passed in 2023.
DTE Energy opened its new service center on part of the former Summit Mall site.
The township’s director of development, Jeffery Polkowski told The Oakland Press earlier this year that he expected more than 70 business applications in 2024, which would exceed 2023 figures.
The township’s master plan, updated this year, includes a long-term strategy to revitalize the Drayton Plains community to create a walkable Main Street-style area along Dixie Highway.
A master plan helps township officials determine best places for future development, including transitional areas between neighborhoods and business, and is a guide for best land-use practices related to environmental issues, transportation, public services and facilities.
Management change planned at Waterford Township senior center
