The Township Board appointed a Historic District Study Committee in June 2002 for the purpose of studying Commerce Village and surrounding township properties for historically significant structures. The Committee has been meeting since that time at least monthly, on the fourth Friday of each month; however, some meetings vary from that schedule and meetings are added as need be. The Committee has photographed and surveyed the Village area and identified a list of properties within the township, outside of the village area, that appear to be historically significant structures.

The next step in this process is presenting the preliminary study committee report to the Planning Commission and the State Historic Preservation Office for their review. After a sixty day waiting period, the report can be presented to the Township Board at a public hearing. This first report includes only those properties located within the original Commerce Village Subdivision and some adjacent and nearby properties. A historic preservation ordinance has been prepared that will provide the legal framework with which to protect the architecture and landscape of the district. The Township Board will have to consider whether or not they wish to adopt such an ordinance, after they have seen the language, as well as the report and considered public input at a public hearing.

The final goal is take a proactive approach to community planning that will protect and renew the area. Optimally, this will be accomplished by encouraging new development and renovation of the existing residential and commercial building stock. A cohesive – NOT identical – form of development is the optimal outcome. The Study Committee feels that educating the public about the unique historical significance of an area will contribute to a sense of pride in that area. Although a historic preservation ordinance is not in effect at this time, the study itself has resulted in a big step being taken towards the goal of awareness and education.

The draft study is available to examine and the final study committee report, which will have photos of all houses in the proposed district as well as information regarding their history will be available for distribution as well. The Study Committee is always looking for input and information about a home that may possibly be a historically significant structure. The Chairperson, Mr. Robert McGee, can be contacted through the Planning Department at 248-960-7050.