CLINTON TOWNSHIP, MI-A $600-million retail and residential plan in northern Clinton Township won approval to begin infrastructure work this week. An investment team headed by road builder John Carlo and developer Graham Orley received final plat approval from the township board of trustees for the project, which allows them to begin moving ahead with the roads and utilities for the development.

The 360-lot, single-family subdivision will be constructed on 117 acres in place of the closed Partridge Creek Golf Course on Romeo Plank between 19 Mile and M-59. It will be joined by about 700 condominiums and possibly a 300-room senior facility. In addition to the homes, the developers hope to construct a 70-acre lifestyle center along M-59 that would include a number of eateries and shops.

Lifestyle centers typically mix high-end retailers such as Crate & Barrel with hip restaurants in an upscale open-air shopping area. Taubman Centers of Bloomfield Hills has purchased a non-refundable option to work on the retail portion of the project, but the company has not yet outlined its exact plans for the area. A company official has been in touch with township officials in recent weeks, however.

"We are looking at the potential for development over there, but as of right now, we are not committed to it," says a Taubman spokeswoman.