Do I need site plan review for my project in Canton Township?

Unless you are building a single-family house, almost certainly. Site plans are required for any construction, relocation, structural alteration, use change or addition, parking change, or fill and grading, for every special land use, and for all nonresidential uses in residential districts (Section 27.02.B.1). The exemption covers a detached single-family house in RA, RR, or R-1 through R-5, and a two-family dwelling in R-5, which need only a building-code plot plan (Section 27.02.B.2).

The path (Section 27.02.C): staff development review committee first, then Planning Commission, then, for most districts, the Township Board makes the final decision. Board review is mandatory for residential and commercial district plans and any plan involving a special land use or variance (Section 27.02.C.10). Two shortcuts exist: the Planning Commission has final authority in the O-1 office district (Section 27.02.C.9), and industrial plans without discretionary decisions can be approved administratively by the Planning Official, as can minor modifications by the Building Official (Section 27.02.D).

Timing details: revised plans go in at least 18 days before a Planning Commission meeting and 11 days before a Board meeting, and an approved site plan expires after 18 months if construction has not started (Section 27.02.C.6, 11, 15). Budget for the DDA advisory review downtown (Section 27.02.C.4). A pre-submission conversation with Planning Services at 734-394-5170 is the practical first step.