Land Development in Oakland County and its Impact on the Area as Demonstrated by the Relocation Enhancement Program of Novi, Michigan

Abstract

One of the leaders of Michigan's economic recovery since the recession of the early 1980's has been Oakland County. Indeed, Oakland's growth has been explosive, consistently ranking in the top three growth counties in the nation for several, assorted categories. Closer examination of Oakland's various economic and natural characteristics discloses how it has achieved and maintained its tremendous growth rate. An analysis of a specific land development project offers an insight as to the numerous problems and topics implicating the firms as well as the neighboring areas and local governments. One such undertaking is the Relocation Enhancement Program in the city of Novi. This plan is useful in that it illustrates three major areas of concern. These are the city's plans for development, the developers and businesses desires, and the enormous input from neighboring area residents as well as environmental activists. As it stands, the future growth of Novi should keep pace with the rest of the county. The city's desire to expand into the high-tech and office sectors gives them the motivation for growth. In addition, a major reform to I-696 has just been completed, and there is an abundance of land available in Novi for new projects. Finally, being located in Oakland County with its strong markets and transportation facilities simply makes them more attractive to companies looking to expand existing facilities or enter into the Detroit Metropolitan Area.