ROYAL OAK — The Royal Oak Planning Commission Jan. 9 unanimously approved a special land use and site plan that will allow the city’s animal shelter to relocate from its current location at 1515 North Edgeworth Ave. to 2005 Bellaire Ave., near East 12 Mile Road.

FERNDALE — Ferndale has been without a community center since 2020, but the city hopes to make significant progress on a new building this year.

ROYAL OAK — The downtown parking situation has been affected ever since the beginning of COVID-19, resulting in an automobile parking fund deficit and negative working capital as of June 30, 2023, which required the City Commission to take action on a deficit elimination plan for the Michigan Department of Treasury.

BLOOMFIELD TOWNSHIP — The proposed route for the 2025 Jan Roncelli Safety Path program in Bloomfield Township achieved unanimous approval from the Board of Trustees Jan. 22.

ROSEVILLE — After a self-storage company that once promised to have the bells of the former Sacred Heart church ringing pulled out of the deal, the Roseville City Council voted Jan. 23 to rezone the property from R-1 to B-3 in an attempt to make it more marketable.

STERLING HEIGHTS — A plan to add up to five new development sites for tenants at The Forum at Gateways Shopping Center recently pleased Sterling Heights Planning Commission members.

MADISON HEIGHTS — Faced with the prospect of costly litigation, a divided Madison Heights City Council has approved additional cannabis licenses for two companies that were previously denied.

VAN BUREN TOWNSHIP — Willow Run Airport in Van Buren Township is receiving $2.2 million to construct an 8,617-foot parallel Taxiway to eliminate the need for aircraft to back-taxi on the runway

ST. CLAIR SHORES — E.W. Grobbel has been in the Detroit area for about 140 years and recently added to its manufacturing capability with the purchase of a facility in St. Clair Shores.

ST. CLAIR SHORES — Elected officials, the owners of the business and esteemed guests broke ground on a new development along Jefferson Avenue on Dec. 19.

SOUTHFIELD — Southfield resident Tracey Overstreet, 69, enrolled in the Women to Work program at Gesher Human Services last fall, looking for a fresh start after retiring from Chrysler and then holding positions at a glass factory and as a nanny for the past 11 years.

MACOMB COUNTY — Work will begin this year on the new facility at the Macomb County Jail, according to county officials.

UTICA — During a City Council meeting in Utica Dec. 12, ideas were discussed in some detail that could bring a whole new look to downtown Utica.

STERLING HEIGHTS — Frustrations over a recent split vote that rejected a planned unit development proposal spilled over to a Jan. 3 Sterling Heights City Council meeting.

ROSEVILLE — Eastpointe-Roseville Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Linda Weishaupt became emotional when addressing the medical staff and local officials who attended the Jan. 10 “showcase” of the Karmanos Cancer Institute-Roseville.

WARREN — Piles of dirt and bulldozers occupy the field right now, but in time, Regina High School will have a brand-new athletic complex.

WEST BLOOMFIELD — At a West Bloomfield Township Board of Trustees meeting Dec. 18, board members unanimously approved a mobile food vending ordinance amendment.

STERLING HEIGHTS — A famous Filipino restaurant chain has planted a new presence in Sterling Heights, and locals hope that it will make the M-59 corridor the place to “bee.”

ROYAL OAK — The Royal Oak City Commission unanimously approved the design for the city’s first public restroom building at the commission meeting Dec. 18.

ROCHESTER HILLS — Nature enthusiasts will soon be able to explore some additional acreage within the Ruby Green Space in Rochester Hills.