Meetings

Agendas and minutes are available by clicking here

Beautification Commission - Monday, August 1, 8:30 a.m. - Council Chambers, City Hall

City Council - Monday, August 1, 7 p.m. - Council Chambers, City Hall or via Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88496398772 Or Telephone: +1 646 558 8656 or +1 301 715 8592

Webinar ID: 88496398772

Planning Commission - Tuesday, August 2, 6:30 p.m. - Council Chambers, City Hall or via Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83855966071 Or Telephone: +1 646 558 8656 or +1 301 715 8592 Webinar ID: 83855966071

Board of Zoning Appeals - Wednesday, August 3, 7 p.m. - Council Chambers, City Hall

Anyone needing assistance should contact the City Manager's office at 248-449-9905. More information about online meetings and a user guide are available here.

This Just In

Voting Count-down to Aug. 2 Election

On Aug. 2, Northville voters will cast their ballot to nominate candidates for governor, U.S. Congress, State Senator, State Representative, various county offices, and vote on ballot proposals.  

If you plan to vote by absentee ballot

All eligible registered voters in Michigan may request an absentee ballot without providing a reason. 

Apply for an absentee ballot – The last day the clerk will send an absentee ballot by mail is July 29 at 5 p.m. At this time, voters who want an absentee ballot are encouraged to apply in person at the Clerk’s office. The deadline to apply for and receive an in-person absentee ballot is by 4 p.m. on Aug. 1. Photo ID requirement is in effect for in-person absentee ballots. 

Return your voted absentee ballot now - The Clerk’s Office is encouraging all absentee ballot voters to submit their voted ballot early. This helps the Clerk’s Office complete the work it needs to do so your ballot is ready for counting on Election Day. Use this link to track your absentee ballot.  

Deadline to return an absentee ballot - Only the absentee ballots received by 8 p.m., Aug. 2 can be counted, and postmarks are not accepted. While you can still mail your ballot, when possible, voters who have completed their absentee ballot are advised to hand deliver their ballot to the Clerk’s Office or use the City Hall drop box in the vestibule or in the circular drive. 

Saturday hours - On July 30, the City Clerk’s office is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. for in-person voter registration and in person absentee ballots. 

If you plan to go to the polls on Election Day 

Confirm your voter registration and find your polling place – Use this link to check your voter registration and find your polling place. 

Voter Registration - Now to 8 p.m., Election Day, Aug. 2: Register in person at the Northville City Clerk’s Office, 215 W. Main Street. Residency verification is required. You may vote by absentee ballot or at your polling place on Election Day. Residency verification must have your name and current Northville address. Digital copies are acceptable. 

Saturday hours - On July 30, the City Clerk’s office is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. for in-person voter registration and in-person absentee ballots. 

Review the sample ballot – Find your sample ballot at this link. You may bring the sample ballot with you on Election Day. Preparing ahead of time helps reduce voting booth wait time on Election Day. 

Polling place hours on Election day – The polls open at 7 a.m. and close at 8 p.m. Everyone in line at 8 p.m. will be allowed to vote. Please be patient if voting during peak times, which are 7 a.m. – 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. – 8 p.m. Allow sufficient time to vote. If you are

concerned about a long wait at your polling place, consider voting by absentee ballot. 

Photo ID requirement - Have your photo ID readily available for the poll workers. If you are not in possession of photo ID, you can vote after completing an affidavit attesting that you are not in possession of photo ID. Read more about the photo ID requirement here.  

If you applied for an absentee ballot but did not receive it – You can go to your polling place and vote in person on Election Day. You will experience a slight delay as the poll workers will ask you to leave the line as they need to call the Clerk’s office to confirm your absentee ballot was not received. You will also be required to sign an affidavit. Then you will be issued a precinct ballot.

Historic District homes portion of Downs project gains HDC approval

The Historic District Commission on July 20 voted to accept Hunter Pasteur Northville’s application as complete to build seven row houses along Cady St., four townhomes fronting Griswold and three attached single-family homes behind the row houses  – all in the Historic District.

There was discussion by the HDC about what they were able to approve in the preliminary site plan, since the townhomes fronting Griswold and the three attached single-family homes have 20 percent or less of their structure located inside the Historic District boundary. While the HDC’s approval applied only to individual units in those two structures within the boundary, it’s expected their vote will be generally accepted by the Planning Commission for the other units in those structures that are outside the boundary.

The HDC also granted a Certificate of Appropriateness, with revisions, as follows: 1.) Row houses: Correct elevation drawings to consistently show "eyebrow" dormers (half-moon window with an arch that accents it). 2.) Row houses: Color match the garage doors to the individual unit siding color. 3.) Townhomes: On corner elevations, extend the same brick located on the front elevation to the side elevations up to the first level horizontal trim (aka belt line), and paint the upper portions of the side façade the same color as the brick. 4.) Townhomes: On the rear elevation: paint these elevations the same color as the brick on the unit's front elevation, providing a unique identity for each unit. 5.) Correct the number (wrong number listed) that identifies the proposed garage door style.  View the HPN presentation on the city website. 

HPN is to revise the plans and deliver them to the Building Dept. for the city's records. The applicant will not need to appear again before the Historic District Commission on this item, although the apartment building and condominium building being proposed for Cady St. must come before the HDC in another application.  

View the meeting video here.     

PC held rigorous discussion of parks for proposed Downs redevelopment 

The Planning Commission continued discussion on parks, public spaces and the Farmers’ Market at its July 19 meeting – delving into River Park and seeking to add a second bridge over the proposed daylighted river. Opportunity for public comment on the topic is expected at the next PC meeting on Aug. 2. 

City Planner Sally Elmiger noted that Central Park and River Park, including daylighting the river, are two of the main public benefits of the project. She said the costs of improvements to serve the project aren’t fully known and there are many details to work out about who pays for what. 

Daylighting the river and park's vegetation along river bank

Hunter Pasteur CEO Randy Wertheimer said he has weekly meetings with his development team and he wants members of the River Restoration Task Force to assist in detailing design of the River Park and daylighting the river. He and his team have been in previous discussions with members of the task force led by Nancy Darga. River Park’s proposed size  (separate from the stormwater basins) is approximately 7.5 acres. Within the larger park, there’s one acre near the Griswold extension entrance that could be a site for sports and public gatherings. For comparison, Ford Field is six acres.

Commissioner Thom Barry said, “This (river daylighting) is so big.” He said while he’s not qualified to talk about native plants, soil erosion and other matters, he wants to have experts in the field review and confirm the design plans for the riverbanks and surrounding park when that aspect of the plan comes under review. 

Elmiger assured him that EGLE (The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy) and Wayne County will have requirements since the daylighted river is under their jurisdiction, and these agencies have standards regarding which type of plantings to include along the riverbanks to benefit the ecosystem. 

Bob Emerine, HPN’s engineering consultant, explained the probable construction sequence for daylighting the river but also said the contractor’s means/method could be different. After demolition of buildings on the site, excavation of the river channel would be done to the east of the existing box culvert*.  It may not be the final river channel, but it will provide a place to divert the river flow while the box culvert is being removed. A segment of the box culvert will be demolished at the north and south ends, and the river will be diverted into the newly excavated channel with sheet pilings, or some type of check dam decided by the contractor. A pump system may be needed, even temporarily, to manage the conversion from an enclosed waterway to a free-flowing river. The remainder of the box culvert would be removed after  river flow is established in the channel. When complete, the river (30 feet wide) would flow through a 90-foot-wide flood zone (bottom) and the river banks would be 160 feet wide. He said when he first met with EGLE representatives in 2018/2019 to discuss the project, they indicated the plan looked good and agreed that the river would have a nice, sinuous flow. 

Commissioner AnnaMaryLee Vollick recommended adding a second bridge over the river to link to Gardner on the south side near 7 Mile to improve walkability, and other commissioners agreed.

Central Park - improving the pathway system

Discussion on Central Park reviewed how the developer could better integrate the promenade into the park. Wertheimer showed new illustrations, prepared by the landscape architect, of sidewalks through the park, connecting the promenade with the sidewalk along Hutton St. at each quadrant.  The sidewalks into the park will be the same material as the hard surface proposed in the first quadrant next to Cady St. Further, the material pattern would be the same as what’s currently used on Main Street to help integrate the two main downtown streets. 

Pocket parks designed to provide a place for rest and fun

Pocket parks at three corners fronting S. Center and Fairbrook and S. Center and Beal were further explored. Alex Martin, CEO of Toll Brothers, suggested these green spaces would be a place of respite for pedestrians and provide a visual break from the buildings on that street. Another pocket park at the southern end of the Downs development, near townhomes with its own parking, was reviewed closely but left as is. The developer said the pocket parks are intended for the public and residents of the development, with the expectation that the future Homeowners Association will pay for maintenance of these parks. 

City keeps eye on financial aspects of project

Meanwhile, the Downs Project Advisory Committee (DPAC) held its first meeting on July 15. PC Chair Donna Tinberg also serves on this committee, which will work on a financial framework that delineates the city’s costs as well as the developers. DPAC will analyze the cost aspect of the public benefits, and provide recommendations to the Planning Commission. The advisory committee is a resource to the Planning Commission as the commissioners get closer to taking a vote on whether or not to recommend to City Council that the Downs redevelopment project be granted PUD/preliminary site plan approval.

Elmiger said the motion for PUD/preliminary site plan approval should list all of the details of the recommended changes and conditions agreed to by the Planning Commissioners. 

Wertheimer said he plans to finalize the sale of the Downs property only after gaining PUD/preliminary site plan approval. At that point, he said HPN would have six months to clear the Downs racetrack, clean up the environmental waste/toxins on the property, and prepare the land for Toll Brothers to build on. Concurrently, the detailed design work to daylight the river would begin; HPN expects it will take 85 weeks to gain all the necessary approvals from the local and state jurisdictions for the river project. 

* A culvert is a component of a drainage system allowing water to flow beneath roads, trails or railways. The box is usually buried in the ground with the road passing over the culvert.

View the meeting video here. 

Volunteers needed to fill roles on several boards

The city of Northville is accepting applications for qualified volunteers interested in serving on one of several boards: the Downtown Development Authority, Housing Commission, Liquor License Review Committee, and Northville Senior Advisory Commission.   

The application is available on the city website. To be considered, applications must be submitted by Aug. 12. After that deadline, the City Clerk will contact applicants to schedule interviews with the Board and Commission Selection Committee, comprised of Mayor Brian Turnbull and Mayor Pro Tem Barbara Moroski-Browne.  All applications will be kept on file for future consideration.  

The Downtown Development Authority (DDA) Board of Directors strives to enhance the quality of life for the residents of the greater Northville area through economic and physical revitalization of the downtown business district. The DDA coordinates and supports activities to promote the economic viability of the downtown area. It also acts as an advocate for a safe, clean and attractive central business district. A strong downtown center is a major attraction for development and enhances the quality of the life for the entire community.  

Positions to be filled:

- DDA resident: Must be a resident of the DDA district.

- Vested stake: Must have a vested interest in property located in the DDA. 

- Member at Large: City resident (this position could also be filled as a vested stake member).

Meetings are held at 8 a.m. on the third Tuesday of each month. More information about the DDA Board of Directors, its composition, and member qualifications is available on the DDA website or by contacting DDA Executive Director Lori Ward.

The Housing Commission sets policy and provides guidance for the management of Allen Terrace, an apartment community for independent senior citizens 62 years and older.  There are two openings: resident member and regular member. Applicants must be a resident of Allen Terrace (at least two years) or a city resident (at least two years) and both must be registered to vote in the city of Northville. The Commission meets at 6 p.m. on the second Wednesday of the month at Allen Terrace. For more information about the Housing Commission, view the city website or contact Nate Geinzer, interim housing director.

The Liquor License Review Committee (LLRC) reviews the issuance and transfer of Class C-type liquor license and permit applications and make recommendations to City Council. Applicants must be a resident of the city of Northville (at least two years) and a registered voter in the city. Meetings are held as needed at City Hall. Information about LLRC is available on the city website, or by contacting Police Chief Alan Maciag.                     

The Northville Senior Advisory Commission acts as an advisory board for senior services and programs in the Northville community. It serves as a liaison between citizens of the community and the Senior Services program. The commission is also an advocate for the community and its governmental bodies on senior issues. Applicants must be a resident of the city of Northville (at least two years) and a registered voter in the city of Northville.  Meetings are held at 1 p.m. on the third Thursday of the month at Northville Community Center. More information is available on the city website or by contacting Assistant Parks and Recreation Director Shannon Coker.

Photo by Daniel Watson from Pexels

Downtown residents needed to serve on Citizen’s District Council

Northville City Council is continuing to accept applications from qualified volunteers interested in serving on the Citizen’s District Council (CDC). A CDC is required when a community has 100 or more residents living within its DDA boundaries and the community wants to modify its DDA boundaries or make a text amendment to its Development Plan. 

A proposal for the redevelopment of the Northville Downs site is being reviewed by the Northville Planning Commission and will then go to the City Council for review. The project may or may not require changes to the DDA boundaries or a text amendment to the DDA’s Development Plan. 

By state statute, Public Act 57 of 2018 requires that the CDC be established for at least 90 days prior to holding any hearings on the issue. In order to not delay the project further, the CDC is being established now to be ready, should the need arise. The CDC will meet approximately two to three times to provide input. If it is determined that no changes to the DDA boundaries or the Development are required, the CDC may be dissolved. 

The CDC is established by the city of Northville and is required to have a minimum of nine members and be representative of the DDA district. Members must be at least 18 years of age and reside within the DDA boundaries. 

For more information on the CDC, contact Lori Ward, DDA director, at 248-349-0345 or by email. The application is available on the City website. View it here. 

File photo by CV Media.

Tree canopy flourishes with new trees added

Northville is maintaining its tree canopy with 49 new trees added to neighborhoods, the green space behind City Hall, Rural Hill cemetery, and Ford Field. The city is designated as a Tree City.

This year’s project saw three trees planted in Rural Hill Cemetery to replace those taken down when the cemetery was expanded and eight trees added to the park behind City Hall. The species planted behind City Hall are tulip and swamp white oak trees, which are fast growing. A few years ago, several legacy trees were removed from the park due to disease. 

In the city right-of-way, 33 trees new trees were planted in front of 26 residential properties, including homeowners on West, Andover and Grace. Some houses received two trees because there was plenty of open space.  

“I’m happy the city has a zero-loss policy for our city tree canopy. If we remove a tree due to disease, dead or for safety, we will plant a new one. With an area where there shouldn’t be a tree – such as too small of a right-of-way or green space, we’ll plant a new tree somewhere else in the city,” said Mike Domine, DPW director. 

The DPW purchased the trees from Marine City Nursery as part of a multi-year contract. Parks and Recreation used the same contractor and pricing to plant five trees at Ford Field, providing needed shade and enhanced beauty to the popular park. 

For homeowners who have new trees, please follow these directions to maintain them. 

New trees need five gallons of water per week, even in the winter. If you have a sprinkler system, don’t rely on it to thoroughly water the tree. A two- to four-inch layer of mulch over the roots provides substantial benefits for tree growth and good health but don’t mulch right up to the trunk. Do not weed whack too closely and don’t stake the tree.             

Northvillians and friends,

I truly hope you are enjoying your summer in the Ville. It is outstanding to see Northvillians and visitors strolling around our town taking in concerts, dining at restaurants, and eating ice cream. Enjoy the season to the fullest and take in one of the city’s 46 concerts.

This week I wanted to touch on one of the older organizations in town that is part of the DNA and fabric of our community – the  Woman’s Club, which is the oldest branch in the state. We will explore this and some of the other women’s organizations in town. 

But first, let's look at some special events and good news

- Art House - City of Northville Plein-Air “Paint Out” was July 22-24, reception July 30th - Link

- Buy Michigan Now Festival, August 5-7 (Downtown) - Features small businesses with their Michigan-made products, local entertainment, unique food and a Kids Zone. Link for info.

- COVID Test Kits – Packages available free at Northville District Library (212 W Cady)

- Police Dept. accreditation – Congrats to the entire City of Northville Police Team for being awarded accreditation from the Michigan Association of Chiefs of Police (MACP). Our Police Department is one of only 47 agencies in the state to achieve accreditation, out of a total of 582 separate law enforcement agencies.  

View the entire letter here or on the city website.

Brian Turnbull

Mayor, Northville

Visit the Farmers’ Market for fresh produce, unique items

The Farmers' Market is held Thursdays, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., at 7 Mile and Sheldon.

Whether you come to the Northville Farmers’ Market to buy farm-grown produce, flowers for your garden, items that add beauty to your home and yard, or personal items such as specialty soaps, purses or jewelry, you’ll find unique items and fresh goods here. There's a food court section tucked in the market’s southwest corner with picnic tables, food trucks, and food vendors serving from tented tables. There are plenty of baked goods throughout the market to eat on the spot or take home for dessert.

Gardeners relish getting advice from the master gardeners’ booth, manned by experts from the MSU Extension. They are there to answer questions and provide information about growing plants, trees and flowers. 

There are 50 vendors – full-season and weeklies – that are well spread out to allow plenty of room to circulate. The CDC states that being outdoors and having fresh air helps reduce the risk of catching COVID-19 but people still need to be careful. 

For those who want a nice memento of their visit, step inside the butterfly wings painted on the back of the storage building.

Photo by Liz Cezat.         

Doing Business

Receive texts regarding safety issues through Nixle

Notification of serious traffic accidents, severe weather conditions, downed live wires and other safety issues are being communicated by the city’s Nixle service. To receive text alerts to a mobile phone, sign up at Nixle.com. Nixle posts also appear on the city's social media platforms. 

2022 Summer taxes

Summer 2022 taxes are due July 1 and payable without penalty and/or interest through Aug. 31 at 4:30 p.m. On Sept. 1, 2022, a 2% penalty will be added. Payments can be made by mail, drop box, automatic payment, or online. If you have any questions, please call 248-449-9901.

Around Town

Crime mapping pinpoints car thefts, home break-ins and other criminal activity

The City of Northville uses an online crime mapping system that coordinates with Oakland County’s CLEMIS system to show the location and type of crime that has occurred on a digital map within 24 hours after a police report has been filed.

CLEMIS is a report management system that compiles crime reports from police departments in Oakland County, including Northville, and makes them available to the public. Oakland County takes that information one step further by allowing police departments to directly subscribe to a service from that populates the crime data on a map.

 Users have the option of looking at the online map in real time or searching back 180 days at crimemapping.com.

Walk your wheels in the social district

For the safety of pedestrians, restaurant patrons and servers, and others, please do not ride your bike or skateboard in the social district. It’s much safer to walk your wheels. The district encompasses N. Center from Main to Dunlap and E. Main from Center to Hutton, with common areas including sidewalks, roadways, Town Square, and Old Church Square. 

At Home

Check the batteries on your smoke detectors

Smoke detectors are important safety devices to have in your home. Make sure you are testing them regularly and replacing them when needed. 

Test the battery in your smoke detector monthly by pressing and holding the test button. Some people find it easier to use a pencil to push the test button. While the button is pressed, you should hear a loud alarm. If the sound is weak or nonexistent, replace the batteries. If your smoke detector is sending off false alarms with cooking smoke, burning toast or humidity, it may be a sign that it’s failing and needs to be replaced.  

The general rule is to replace a smoke detector every 8-10 years. Check the back of the device for the manufacture date. 

Maximize water use on lawns and gardens 

To keep the cost of water as low as possible, remember to follow the City’s odd/even watering system regulations. Homes with addresses that end in odd numbers can only water on odd days: 21th, 23rd, etc., while addresses that end in an even number can only water on even days: 22nd, 24th, etc. Automatic sprinkler systems may only be used between 12 a.m. and 5 a.m., following the odd/even rules. Manual watering with a hose (not attached to a timer), is permitted between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m., also adhering to the odd/even rules. Notices will be posted on the homes of residents who are watering outside their required times/days, and civil infraction violations may be issued. (See the Code of Ordinances, Sec. 86-48.)

Carbon monoxide detectors can alert you of serious airborne poisoning 

A carbon monoxide (CO) detector is an important safety device to have in your home. It can alert you to carbon monoxide poisoning, which can’t be detected by your senses but can cause severe illness with symptoms such as dizziness, headache, nausea and vomiting. Make sure CO detectors are placed in the right locations of your home and are replaced at the end of their lifespan. 

For each floor of your home, place a CO detector on a wall about 5 feet above the floor and in the same room as a fireplace or flame-producing appliance. You may also want to place one in your garage since the poisonous gas can travel through drywall. If your home has only one CO detector, it should be installed in the main bedroom or in the hallway outside of the sleeping area.

If your CO detector is sounding continuously and you have signs of CO poisoning, find fresh air and call 911 immediately. Emergency responders are trained to identify and treat the symptoms of CO poisoning and firefighters use equipment to find the source of carbon monoxide leaks and stop them. 

The general rule is to replace a CO detector every 5 - 7 years. Check the back of the device for the manufacture date. 

How to read your Neptune water meter

Residents in households that have the new Neptune water meter can access instructions on the city website about how to read the water meter. Keeping track of the volume of water registered on the meter on a regular basis can help detect spikes in usage and potential water leaks. This information can help homeowners make adjustments to their water usage through actions such as repairing leaks or switching to low-flush toilets and water-saving faucets.

Compost and wood chips are available

Compost and wood chips are available for free at City’s DPW facility located at 650 Doheny Drive. This material is available Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Instructions on how to open the gate are posted near the keypad. You must supply your own containers and load your own compost.

The compost is created from leaves collected each fall by the city. These leaves are routinely turned, which reduces their volume by 90% and converts this scrap material into a rich, organic matter. The resulting compost can be used by residents to improve soil in landscape and flower beds, gardens, and flower pots. In addition, the DPW uses compost for its landscaping needs in city parks, cemeteries, and other public properties. Residents can use wood chips in their flower beds to help retain moisture, reduce the need for water and prevent water runoff. It is not recommended to use wood chips in vegetable gardens.