Woodward Avenue Communities Launch Sustainability Partnership

WATERFORD TOWNSHIP -- Five Woodward Avenue communities, in conjunction with Oakland County, have launched a partnership to examine sustainability issues.

The five communities of Berkley, Ferndale, Pleasant Ridge, Royal Oak and Huntington Woods were selected to participate in the project based on their history of collaboration.

"I applaud these 'Woodward 5' communities for undertaking this partnership," said Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson. "With limited economic resources at our disposal, it is more important than ever that communities find innovative ways to collaborate."

The partnership will engage a diverse cross-section of the community, including environmental, business, social services, health, and educational institutions. The goal of the group is to develop a plan which will help the communities work together and leverage shared resources for a sustainable future. Sustainability refers to the ability of communities to thrive without diminishing the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

Oakland County Planning & Economic Development Services will provide $25,000 of in-kind services to match a $50,000 grant from the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality to facilitate a South Oakland Multi-Community Sustainability Partnership. Fishbeck, Thompson, Carr & Huber, Inc. and WARM Training Center are consultants on the project. Oakland County has also been working with the cities of Rochester Hills, Auburn Hills, and Rochester to develop a Tri-City Sustainability Partnership since January 2011.

The project is scheduled to be completed by September, 2013. For more information on Oakland County Collaborative Local Government Sustainability Planning Projects, see the Facebook page "Oakland County Sustainability" or http://www.oakgov.com/peds/program_service/sustain.html.