Citywide Master Plan for 2040

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Final Adopted Citywide Master Plan for 2040 - June 5, 2023

Previous Drafts
The Birmingham Plan 2040 - Second Draft (full PDF with updates 11.06.2021)
Proposed Future Land Use Map - Second Draft (one page PDF map with updates 11.06.2021)

Residents of Birmingham have recognized the value of planning since 1929, when Birmingham was still a village. The very first master plan was primarily concerned with land use and zoning, but subsequent plans reflected the changing landscape of Birmingham as downtown development, growing neighborhoods, parks and mass transit drew increased focus from planners and residents. In 2020, as we engage in comprehensive planning for Birmingham, input from our residents is essential to success.

The Birmingham Plan 2040 Draft #2 Proposed Future Land Use Map
Below is an interactive map of Draft #2's proposed future land use categories. Separate layers have been created for the future land use categories which include District Destinations, Commercial Destinations, Single Family Neighborhoods, Mixed-Use Districts, and District Seams. Selecting a property on the map will bring up the current zoning category and description, as well as the proposed future land use category for discussion. Users may view the various layers in the legend by selecting the arrows in the top left corner of the map. Proposed land use layers may be turned on and off by selecting the check-box in the legend.

View larger map

What is a Master Plan?

Master Plans are the official statement of a local government's legislative body's vision for future development and conservation. These documents set goals and guide decision making on land use, development standards, transportation, housing, community facilities and more. On a functional level, a master plan is a roadmap for the development and refinement of the City's present and future needs. The master plan is the documentation of an approach to physical issues which will help the City achieve its goals. Because those goals can and will change over time, the master plan should be re-evaluated and updated on a regular basis.

Citywide Master Plan Overview

The City is working on a comprehensive, citywide update of the 1980 Birmingham Plan and the formal inclusion of each of the subarea plans into an updated comprehensive master plan ("the Plan"). While some portions of the Birmingham Plan may continue to be relevant today, specific area that need to be updated include:

Community vision and planning objectives;
Update of Population section to include current demographic data, future projections and analysis;
Update of Regional and Surrounding Development section to include current and projected demographic data (residential, retail, office, mix of land uses) and analysis of the region, regional and downtown development trends and regional collaboration efforts;
Update of Residential Housing section to include neighborhood vision in the residential areas, analysis of changes in residential patterns and residential areas from 1980 to now, typology and character of neighborhoods, development trends, future projections and future direction;
The physical characteristics of neighborhoods should be identified and documented including historic attributes, landscape conditions, housing type and the period of construction for each area;
Review and update of Transportation section to include current vehicular, pedestrian and bicycle data, recent and currently budgeted improvements, current multi-modal trends, regional transportation projects and future recommendations based on regional and national best practices;
Update and review of existing land use, update recommendations for future land uses and updated future land use map including the area of Woodward between 14 Mile Rd. and Lincoln, known as the S. Woodward gateway;
Parking analysis and recommendations for both public and private parking regulations throughout the entire City. This will include consideration of parking requirements, public parking needs, potential for shared parking as well as emerging and innovative technologies;
Review and update of the Policies section to encourage the implementation of the City's vision, current goals, best practices, current technological advances and innovative policies.

This new plan is spearheaded by the renowned planning and design consulting firm DPZ Co Design, led by Andres Duany, one of the firms' founders. DPZ Co Design has prior experience in Birmingham. DPZ Co. Design prepared the Downtown 2016 Plan that was adopted in 1996.
The Master Plan update process began in February 2019. One of the primary focuses of the update has been studying residential areas of Birmingham and evaluating existing conditions to prepare a vision for the future. The process includes extensive public visioning sessions, a new app, a website, phone interviews and public meetings.

Earlier this year, previous City Manager Joe Valentine discussed the citywide Master Plan process on a taping of “Eye On Oakland” with former City Commissioner and Mayor of Birmingham, Chuck Moss and his co-host, noted attorney Dave Potts. View the "Eye On Oakland" footage and learn more about the project.

Stay Informed about the Citywide Master Plan

To receive updates regarding the City's Master Plan process, sign up for the Citywide Master Plan Constant Contact group at www.bit.ly/bhamnews.

You can also contact City Planning Director Nick Dupuis by email at ndupuis@bhamgov.org and City Planner Brooks Cowan at bcowan@bhamgov.org.

You are also encouraged to continue to monitor City communication tools such as the monthly Around Town e-newsletter as well as the City's social media channels.

City of Birmingham Master Plan History

The City of Birmingham has a history of implementing master plans and ordinances that are intended to guide and regulate the growth of the City in order to promote the type of development that the citizens and property owners value. Currently, the development of the City's planning and zoning regulations are principally governed by six documents which are currently available on the City website:

The Birmingham Future Land Use Plan (1980);
The Downtown Birmingham 2016 Plan (1996);
*The Eton Road Corridor Plan (1999);
The Triangle District Plan (2007)
The Alleys and Passages Plan (2012) and
The Multi-Modal Plan (2013).

The Future Land Use Plan ("the Plan") was the last comprehensive master plan to be adopted by the City in 1980. The Plan made specific recommendations throughout the City that are intended to protect residential areas while at the same time made recommendations that would allow commercial areas to thrive. Since the adoption of the Plan, the City has updated the Master Plan through the additional subarea plans listed above. Those plans have been implemented through three overlay zones (Downtown, Triangle and Via Activation) and the rezoning of the rail district to MX (Mixed Use). The Multi-Modal Plan adopted in 2013 is now the guiding document for the City in regards to transportation infrastructure, major right of way improvements and user accessibility issues. The cumulative effect of all the subarea plans has essentially updated the Future Land Use Plan in almost all of the commercially zoned areas of Birmingham.

The updating and implementation of master plans and subarea plans are important aspects of maintaining and improving the standard of excellence that is expected in Birmingham. Although the subarea plans listed above have been established in the City over the past 20 years, there has not been a comprehensive, city-wide Master Plan updated completed since the 1980 Future Land Use Plan. There are several components of the plan that included demographic data and projections that were based on a 20-year time frame (1980-2000). In addition, many of the land use policies and system analysis may be considered outdated now considering the advancements in technology and changes in lifestyle habits. Accordingly, much of the information provided in the Plan was intended to be projections up to the year 2000 and is in need of updating.

Previous Citywide Master Plan Public Engagement Opportunities

PLANNING BOARD UPDATE – A LIVELY DISCUSSION

The February 12, 2020 Planning Board meeting, which brought the latest draft of Birmingham’s master plan forward for public discussion was well attended with plenty of thoughtful discussion. The meeting laid out the premises that form the framework of the draft plan and the overall vision for the City through 2040. Planning Board members and most of the residents in attendance expressed support for the plan and offered comments that will be used to further develop our thinking. Please remember that these notes represent individual opinions from your Planning Board members, neighbors and local business owners. While some comments engendered broader support, these notes reflect the overall discussion not decision-making. We’ve grouped the comments together to provide a quick snapshot of the meeting.

People

The master plan should always focus on people.
Neighborhood associations should be the conduit for information and feedback with the City.
How can we increase communication with residents and engagement by residents?
Could neighborhood “ambassadors” be employed to create community and facilitate engagement?

Defining Plan Parameters and Language

Refine the definition of the Birmingham’s downtown and describe it’s role regionally.
Define micro-mobility.
Define social fabric, its relationship to urban planning and the idea of using planning to encourage social interaction.
The plan should focus on the built environment and civic spaces rather than attempting to engineer social interaction.
Define “attainable” housing.
Define “diversity” of housing.
Define “resiliency” as it applies to neighborhoods.
Consider use of the term “planning districts” rather than neighborhoods.
Consider whether live/work spaces are viable in Birmingham.
If possible, provide a shorter version of the plan.
Have other communities been benchmarked during development of the plan?
Gather additional data around school enrollment and the percentage of residences with school-age children.

Neighborhoods

Create standards for infill housing.
General support for the concept of neighborhood centers and destination points such as parks and cafes.
Some communities have ordinances requiring city inspection before residential home sales. Should Birmingham consider that?
Support for the concept of neighborhood “seams,” but some concern that residents on either side of the seam may not always agree on planning proposals for the area.
Continued concern over home demolition in neighborhoods.
Poppleton Park is beginning to experience increased demolition/rebuild.
Promote extending the life of existing homes by incentivizing renovation/rehab over demo/rebuild.
Introducing commercial aspects into neighborhoods is not desirable.
Home-flipping destabilizes neighborhoods.

Commercial and Mixed-Use Areas

Some concern that downtown development is too intense.
Office space is in increasing demand.
Planning around Lincoln and Fourteen Mile (the Mews) was supported. It will buffer nearby single-family homes and provide more attainable housing.
Planning for South Old Woodward (Haynes Square) was supported.

Infrastructure and Roads

Support for a pedestrian bridge over Woodward at Maple.
Support for a 35MPH speed limit on Woodward.
Prioritize pedestrian crosswalks on Woodward and time traffic signals effectively.
Consider aging sewer/water and other infrastructure in the master plan.
Final recommendations from the Unimproved Streets Committee should be included in the master plan as appropriate.
An overall infrastructure component would strengthen the plan.

Environment

Consider including greater attention to climate change issues. City should find ways to reduce its environmental footprint.
Take a more aggressive stance on supporting and enhancing the tree canopy throughout the City. Preserve our older trees.
Concern about removing trees without replacing them and allowing building (commercial) without an appropriate greenbelt.
May need to develop an educational program around tree planting and maintenance for property owners.
Support for the planned improvements to the Rouge River watershed.

Joint City Commission/Planning Board Meeting - Thursday, October 17, 2019

Master Plan Charrette videos and photos (May 2019)

In case you were not able to attend any of the Master Plan Charrette public events, watch the videos below to follow what happened at the Charrette Opening Presentation (led by renowned Planner Andres Duany and his team from DPZ Co Design); Neighborhood book author Emily Talen's lecture; the Policies round table with City board leaders and staff and the Charrette Closing Presentation.

Citywide Master Plan May 14, 2019 from Bloomfield Township 2 on Vimeo.