Overview

On December 19, 2005, the State of Michigan enacted Public Act 280 of 2005.  The following link provides access to a copy of this state law:

Public Act 280 of 2005

This Act empowers Michigan communities to establish a new type of authority called a “Corridor Improvement Authority”.  Corridor Improvement Authorities are intended to provide communities with an economic development tool that can provide for the correction and prevention of deterioration in business districts, the promotion of economic growth in the Corridor Improvement Authority area, the encouragement of historic preservation, and the authorization of the creation and implementation of development areas and development plans.

There are several detailed steps that a community needs to take in establishing a Corridor Improvement Authority, an Authority development plan, and Authority financing plan.  The following link provides access to a summary outline of these steps prepared by Township Attorney Steve Joppich:

Corridor Improvement Authority Summary Outline - August 2007

Proposed Eastern Waterford Corridor Improvement Authority

Waterford Township will be considering the establishment of a Corridor Improvement Authority to assist with the redevelopment of its Telegraph Road corridor.  The following link provides access to a map of the proposed district boundaries and the tracts of land included within the boundaries:

Proposed Eastern Waterford Corridor Improvement Authority Boundaries

Intent to Establish Corridor Improvement Authority
Public Hearing  -  September 10, 2007

The Waterford Township Board of Trustees held a public hearing as the first step in their consideration of establishing a corridor improvement authority for the Telegraph Road corridor.  The public hearing was held during their regular scheduled meeting which started at 6:30 PM on Monday, September 10, 2007.  The minutes for this public hearing will be part of the September 10, 2007, Township Board meeting minutes, which can be found on Township Clerk Betty Fortino’s web page after the minutes are approved by the Township Board.  The following link provides access to the presentation made by the Township staff and Township attorney during the public hearing.

Corridor Improvement Authority Public Hearing Presentation - September 10, 2007

Frequently Asked Questions Regarding a Corridor Improvement Authority

Will new taxes be imposed to fund a Corridor Improvement Authority?

The financing of a Corridor Improvement Authority district does not include new taxes or millage increases.  Instead, the principal source of revenue allowed by the Act is tax increment financing (TIF) revenue.  This TIF revenue is realized through the capture of a portion of the existing taxes from the Township, County, Oakland Community College, and Huron Clinton Metropark Authority taxes.  Each of these taxing jurisdictions must agree to participate in this tax capture process.  School district taxes are not part of this tax capture process.  The intent of the TIF process is that the economic redevelopment efforts of the Corridor Improvement Authority will increase the property values of the land within the district, which allows for more of the existing taxes to be captured.  A Corridor Improvement Authority may also levy a special assessment and/or issue revenue bonds for approved projects with the approval of the Township Board.  TIF and revenue bonds can only be used to finance projects that are included in the Corridor Improvement Authority’s Development Plan.  Development Plans and TIF Plans must be adopted by the Township Board as an ordinance after a public hearing, notice of which must be mailed to all property owners within the district and to all taxing jurisdictions.  Therefore, a Corridor Improvement Authority cannot finance projects without first informing the public through a formal public hearing process and receiving the Township Board’s approval through the adoption or amendment of the Development Plan by ordinance.

Is the Corridor Improvement Authority going to condemn or take my house?

It is not the intent of the Township Board to give the CIA the power to take (condemn) people’s houses.