Opening a New or Relocated Business

We are so pleased that you have chosen our community for your new or relocated business.  We are happy to help you through the process of opening your business here.  Before signing a lease or purchase agreement, you should discuss your potential location with Planning & Zoning Department staff. We can assist you in moving through the approval process smoothly so you can open the doors to your customers.   

Land Use Permit/Business Registration

If you are buying an existing business or opening a business in an existing building in any zoning district you must apply for a Land Use Permit. 

Staff will then review your prosed use and location and determine if the use is permissible un the current zoning. 

If you have selected a properly zoned location, staff then reviews any previously approved site plans on file, alongside the current zoning ordinance, and compares it to conditions on site to determine what, if any, improvements might be needed to bring the site into compliance. 

The items most frequently identified are missing landscape materials, lighting that has been modified to no longer comply with the ordinance, missing directional or parking signs and striping, and dumpster enclosures. A site that has been well maintained or has recently had a change of tenant may need little or no improvement.

If the Land Use Permit is inspected and approved staff will then register your business. 

Site Plan Review

Any project that develops a new site or expands an existing site is subject to site plan review before the Planning Commission, as outlined in the Highland Township Zoning Ordinance.  Site plan review is also required for residential subdivisions, but not for most simple land divisions or building or remodeling a home on a recorded single family homesite.

If you are considering such a project, the first step is to determine if the land use is acceptable within the current zoning district.  See the Land Use Permit process above.  Refer to the zoning map and Article 4, District Regulations of the Zoning Ordinance as a guide and call the Planning Department for an initial review and pre-application meeting.    

Planning Department staff will discuss the nature of your project with you and determine if you are eligible for site plan review, or if you need other special approvals to proceed. The site plan review process is outlined on process flow diagrams, attached to the application form. There are a few other special land use tools that the Planning Department might offer for your consideration.

Special Use Approvals

If your project requires a Special Use Approval, the Planning Commission will first study and evaluate your specific site conditions to determine if the site is compatible with its surroundings.  They may determine that conditions must be placed on the project or its use to minimize impacts on the neighbors.  This process includes required public hearings before the Planning Commission and Township Board of Trustees.  The special use approval application and attached process flow diagram are provided for your reference.  You must also file a site plan review application prior to development of the site.   

Rezoning

In some cases, you might suggest a land use which is not permitted under the current zoning classification.  In this case you may file a rezoning application. The rezoning process flow diagram illustrates the required steps, including public hearings before the Planning Commission and Board of Trustees, public notice to surrounding property owners and publication in the local newspaper. Please note that you will have better success if your proposed rezoning action is consistent with past planning efforts expressed in the Comprehensive Land Use Plan, which is available for review on our website.

 


In all cases, the Zoning Ordinance provides the framework for reviewing the proposed project. In some cases, there may be compelling arguments to allow for deviations from the Ordinance, known as variances.  These variances are limited by state law to dimensional variances.  Land Use variances cannot be approved. The zoning appeals application and process flow diagram are provided for your reference.       

You may review online the Zoning Ordinance and Official Zoning Map, Comprehensive Land Use Plan, and Design and Construction Standards at HighlandTwp.org.  You may purchase hardcopies of these documents from the Planning & Zoning Department.  

Call 248-887-3791 x 2 or e-mail for more information:  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Variances