This page is intended to support Royal Oak Master Plan Survey #2. A more comprehensive Master Plan Glossary will be included in the draft Master Plan.

Terms

Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) A secondary dwelling on the same property as a single-family house that can be within the main house or stand alone. These dwellings are often referred to as granny flats, carriage houses, of in-law suites, and offer additional living spaces and can be helpful in allowing residents to age-in-place, providing independence for older children, or additional income for the home owner. Accessory dwellings are usually limited in size – 700 square feet in many instances – to ensure they do not create a duplex, but rather a smaller, second dwelling.

Aging in Place The ability to continue to live in one’s own home and community safely, independently, and comfortably, regardless of age, income, or ability level. Often at different stages of aging, older adults are less able to manage stairs daily, maintain large properties, access services that require driving or long walks, or afford high cost housing on a fixed income.

Climate Action Actions and plans to deal with climate change, which usually include reducing greenhouse gas emissions and supporting sustainable practices like recycling and the health of trees.

Mixed-Use Main Street A place where you can find a mix of shops, restaurants, offices, and residential spaces all in one area, creating a vibrant and dynamic community hub. Main streets are typically limited to both sides of one street, for a length of one or more blocks. Downtowns are similar but they include a larger area and tend to have a lot more going on.

Multi-Unit Building A structure that contains multiple individual dwellings, such as apartments or condominiums. These units are designed to accommodate separate households, each with its own living quarters, often sharing common areas and facilities like hallways, entrances, or amenities.

Townhouse A type of house that is connected to other houses in a row, like a small group of houses that share walls. Each townhouse is its own separate home with its own front door. Townhouses are often found in towns and neighborhoods, and they are a bit different from single houses because they share walls with their neighbors. This kind of housing can offer a balance of having your own space while also being part of a community.

Underutilized Lanes Traffic lanes on a road that are not being used to their full capacity. In other words, these lanes have fewer vehicles than they can efficiently accommodate, which can lead to inefficiency, speeding, and wasted road space.