Long-Time City Planner Named Farmington Hills Planning and Community Development Director

Long-time City of Farmington Hills employee Edward Gardiner has been named Director of Planning and Community Development.

Gardiner, who started in his new position on Nov. 19, replaces Dale Countegan, who retired after more than 20 years of service. The Farmington Observer reports that Countegan has taken a position as a financial adviser with Prudential Financial in Troy. 

According to a city press release, Gardiner has been employed with the city for more than 30 years. He worked for 25 years as a city planner, and before that, was a staff planner and worked in the Zoning Division.

“I look forward to continuing the process of making Farmington Hills a redevelopment ready community,” said Gardiner. “We can achieve this by implementing Goals and Policies outlined within the recently adopted Master Plan for the City including transforming the zoning ordinance to be more user friendly and establishing mixed/multi use zoning districts.”

Gardiner received a Bachelor of Science degree in Urban Planning from Michigan State University. He is a member of the American Planning Association (APA) and is also active in the Michigan Chapter of the APA.