Across race, place, and party, we deserve leaders who follow through on their commitments and act honorably in our interests.  After two years of meetings and spending more than $110,000 of taxpayer money, the Clarkston City Council has an opportunity to pass much-needed zoning updates that will ensure the people who call our city home can afford to stay here, and that they will have abundant housing options! But, these changes are under attack, and we need your help NOW!

How did we get here?
A group of everyday Clarkston residents across race, housing background, religion, and nation of origin came together and overwhelmingly voiced their desire to allow more housing types for all incomes, denser developers, more tiny homes and cottage communities, and more mixed-use developments.

Yet, some City Council members in office want to deny any zoning changes or worse, pass policies that would further restrict the kinds of housing that can be built in Clarkston. They are knowingly disregarding the input of residents because they want to halt progress of any kind and take away the freedom of residents to decide what the future of Clarkston looks like.

What would the zoning update do?

1. Allow homeowners to rent out their basement/attic or a wing of their house to make extra money if they want or build an Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADUs) for an aging family member.
2. Allow more missing middle/starter homes, including duplexes, triplexes, and townhomes, on slightly smaller lots so more first-time homebuyers can afford to purchase homes.
3. Allow new apartment development only where there are already numerous apartments (such as in the NR3 zoning district).
4. Encourage more jobs in Clarkston, such as by allowing microbreweries in areas zoned for industrial use.

Why does this matter?
Voting to legalize more affordable and abundant housing options is a necessary step towards making Clarkston more accessible for moderate- and low-income residents. The proposal comes after robust community engagement, where residents of Clarkston voiced their support for these changes.

But this proposal is under attack! The Clarkston Planning and Zoning Committee ignored the voices of Clarkston residents and has already rejected these necessary changes, but the City Council still has the opportunity to do what’s right!

What can you do?

So what can you do to ensure that these necessary changes pass??

1. Click through to email the Clarkston City Council members to let them know that you support these zoning changes!
2. Attend the upcoming Clarkston City Council meeting on May 2 at 7 p.m. to let the Council members know that you strongly support these zoning changes! You can attend virtually via Zoom or in person at 3921 Church St.

Learn More
Want to dive a little deeper? Check out these resources on why it’s important to build more housing and more diverse types of housing! Check out the full draft of Clarkston's zoning recommendations here.