Meetings

Agendas and minutes are available by clicking here  

Youth Network - Tuesday, Sept. 13, 8 a.m. - Community Center, 303 W. Main

Housing Commission - Wednesday, Sept. 14, 6 p.m. - Allen Terrace

Senior Advisory Commission - Thursday, Sept. 15, 1 p.m. Community Center, 303 W. Main

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

PC gives green light to Downs development project

The Planning Commission voted 7-2 on Sept. 7 to recommend approval, with conditions, of Hunter Pasteur Northville’s Planned Unit Development (PUD) and Preliminary Site Plan to redevelop the Downs Race Track and sections of S. Center, Cady and Griswold into a mixed-use development.

The development proposes to be a primarily residential area with commercial space on Cady St. Housing styles include single-family homes, townhomes, row houses, carriage houses, single-family attached homes, a condominium building, and an apartment building. In addition, two new parks would be added: a central park and a river park. Daylighting the river, creating a new south gateway and contributing toward the restoration and relocation of the historic log cabin would be among the public benefits resulting from the project.

The PC’s Sept. 6 meeting was held at the Northville Community Center to accommodate members of the public who wanted to comment on the project. There were approximately three hours of public comment and nearly four hours of deliberations among commissioners. The meeting ran from 6:30 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. (The vote was taken at the end of the meeting, which was Sept. 7.) Two dissenting members were Vice Chair Steve Kirk and Commissioner Jeff Gaines. Public comments – some from people who have spoken previously – were wide ranging with many focusing on concerns regarding density and traffic. Several also provided written comments. View them on the website.

The meeting came just one week after the PC’s Aug. 29 special meeting, where commissioners collaborated with City Planner Sally Elmiger and Special Counsel Carol Rosati, to revise a draft list of conditions that would be attached to the PC recommendation to City Council. Those conditions were further refined at the Sept. 6 meeting. Part of the motion includes a list of public benefits and cites where the developer deviates from design standards with the commissioners’ consent.  

Chair Donna Tinberg expressed pride in the comprehensive deliberations by the Planning Commission relative to the preliminary site plan/PUD that began in earnest in April 2022 following a formal public hearing in March 2022. Various revisions by the developer were presented in response to commissioners’ suggestions, task force recommendations and public opinion. Tinberg was complimentary about the civil discourse of public comment.

“Part of our city’s character is how we behave toward one another,” she said. “Diverse opinions were expressed and listened to respectfully throughout the process. I really appreciate that about this community.”

City Council is expected to begin considering the Planning Commission’s recommendation later this month and there will be opportunities for the public to provide comments to City Council during that process. The City Council could delete, change or add conditions to the PC’s list prior to voting. If the PUD and preliminary site plan are approved by Council, the developer will return to the Planning Commission for approval of the final site plan. A final site plan is likely to be submitted in phases that align with the construction schedule. Meanwhile the Downs Project Advisory Commission (DPAC) will make recommendations to City Council regarding project costs and funding sources.

View the Aug. 29 video here.
View the Sept. 6 video here.

City Council recap of Sept. 8 meeting

Note: This meeting was rescheduled from the Sept. 6 meeting due to the Labor Day holiday.

Agenda changes: Council Member John Carter requested the City Council meeting minutes from Aug. 1 be moved from the consent agenda to the regular agenda (9D). City Manager Pat Sullivan asked that the purchase agreement for new property discussed in closed session be added to the agenda (9C). Mayor Brian Turnbull requested that the city park at E. Main (Jaycee Park) be added to the agenda prior to his closing remarks (9E).

Brownfield grant to offset costs of Foundry Flask clean-up – On behalf of City Manager Pat Sullivan, Brownfield Redevelopment Authority consultant Samantha Seimer, of AKT Peerless, explained the need for Council’s support to apply for a $800,000 grant through EGLE (Michigan Dept. of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy). The city is eligible for such funding on an annual basis. The funding would offset part of the $2.47 million requested by developers of 456 E. Cady to capture Tax Increment Financing (TIF) to cover the cost of brownfield clean-up at the building site. Council approved the request.

DPW to purchase new pick-up truck – Council approved a request by DPW Director Mike Domine to purchase a new 2023 Ford 350 pickup truck. This new truck will replace a 2005 F150 truck, which will be sold. Government pricing was obtained through MiDeal and purchased from Signature Ford.

Grant application for safe street project - Council agreed to participate in a SEMCOG regional application for the Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) grant program to redesign the intersection at S. Center and Cady streets and bring those streets into alignment at the corner. The funding is part of a federal program (U.S. Dept. of Transportation) that will provide $5 billion in funding over five years for infrastructure projects that are shovel-ready and safety oriented. Letters of support for the project will be submitted to SEMCOG.

Purchase Agreement for MacDonald Ford Property – Council agreed to allow the city manager or mayor to sign a purchase agreement with Main-Seven 7 LLC for the sale of real estate at the former MacDonald Ford site, subject to the revisions discussed at the closed session on Sept. 8. The land, being sold for $1 million, will be used to build a new Farmers’ Market. The city will have six months to conduct due diligence on the property, including an environmental analysis and survey. The closed session was held with city attorney Greg Need.

Public comment on this item – 

Nancy Chirri, 661 W. Main, said the purchase shouldn’t occur before a decision is made on the Downs development. She noted that Council Member John Carter answered her other concern about the need for an environmental study of the property. Carter said that would be part of the due diligence.

Ed Brazen, 370 Fairbrook, asked how the purchase would be funded. Mayor Brian Turnbull said options are being reviewed, including the possibility of a public/private partnership or potential funding from the Downs developer.

City Council Aug. 1 minutes – Council Member John Carter and Mayor Pro Tem Barbara Moroski-Browne asked that several sentences relating to a 2020 street closure traffic study be deleted from the minutes since they weren’t actually discussed at the meeting. Moroski-Browne expressed concern that segments of the discussion on downtown street closures weren’t reflected in the minutes and people would need to listen to the video to learn what was said. Going forward, she wants important segments of discussion among council members to be included in the minutes. The Aug. 1 meeting minutes were approved with revisions to the traffic study section.

Jaycee Park clean-up – Council approved a motion for a budget amendment of $4,600 to be allocated to the DPW to provide additional wood-chipping services at the park on East Main (Jaycee Park).  This service was provided after volunteers cut down dead trees and trimmed trees, guided by the city arborist. Mayor Brian Turnbull said Wayne County has agreed to remove the logs in the river spillway that are blocking waterflow.

Public comment: Denise Jenkins and William Demray, DDS, stated their opposition to the permanent downtown street closures, saying if it’s to be done correctly it could cost $5 million and take five years to implement. In a prepared statement read consecutively, they cited several issues with the street closures – ranging from the aesthetics of the street furnishings and corner barricades to the lack of drop-off places and loading zones. They asked council to reconsider their vote of Aug. 1 to permanently close the two sections of downtown streets.  

Council comments

Mayor Brian Turnbull thanked members of council and the Sustainability Team for all the work they have done for the city’s benefit through task forces and other involvement. He said the riverwalk will become a reality with the groundwork being laid now and it will be ready for the next generation.

Council Member John Carter said, in the spirit of helping others, he wishes Main Street League good luck and good weather for its fundraiser this Saturday (Sept. 10) to benefit the Living and Learning Enrichment Center. 

Council Member Andrew Krenz said he met with the city manager to discuss how to keep the public informed of council’s pending review and decision on the Downs preliminary site plan/PUD. He said he wants to manage people’s expectations. He noted, “Four years have gone into this and there’s more to come.”

Council Member Marilyn Price said the Beautification Commission is holding its annual awards luncheon on Sept. 27.

Mayor Pro Tem Barbara Moroski-Browne encouraged people to attend the Victorian Heritage Festival on the weekend of Sept. 16-18, rain or shine.

View the video here.

Lake Street reconstruction is in progress

Infrastructure work continues on Lake Street. The storm sewer work has been completed and water mains are being installed. The milled section will stay on the surface during the water main replacement so residents can still drive on the street. There will be intermittent closures – with signs posted. Watch for construction activity at the intersections of Lake St. and Grace, Carpenter, Horton and Novi Street. Please avoid the area while construction is underway unless you are a resident.

Teal ribbons prompt support for ovarian cancer patients and survivors

Have you noticed teal ribbons tied around lamp posts in downtown Northville to honor National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month? The legwork was done mostly by women who have survived this cancer and want others to know that ovarian cancer is one of the silent cancers with subtle symptoms.

There’s no early detection test for ovarian cancer, said Terrie Karebian, local organizer of the September ribbon-tying campaign and four-time ovarian cancer survivor. There’s a high recurrence rate, and typically, people are only diagnosed correctly 15 percent of the time.

According to the Michigan Ovarian Cancer Alliance (MIOCA), symptoms can include bloating, pelvic or abdominal pain, difficulty eating or feeling full quickly, or urgency or frequency of urinating. It’s recommended to see a doctor, preferably a gynecologist, if you experience any of these symptoms regularly. More information can be found at mioca.org.

Annually, there are 22,000 new cases of ovarian cancer in the U.S., with 600 to 700 cases occurring in Michigan. Approximately 14,000 women die of ovarian cancer or a related illness in the U.S. each year.  

Representing ovarian cancer survivors from across the state, MIOCA works to advance federal and state legislation to improve funding and support for survivors. The nonprofit speaks as the voice of survivors educating legislators about the public policy initiatives critical to saving lives from ovarian cancer. Each March, MIOCA sends a group of advocates to Washington, D.C., for the National Ovarian Cancer Lobby Day to represent the voices of those affected by ovarian cancer.  

In addition to advocating for legislation, MIOCA provides resources and support to survivors and their families, educates Michigan communities, and funds innovative ovarian cancer research.

Northvillians and friends,

I am beginning a fall series on schools, the Victorian Heritage Festival, cider mills in the area, and colors of the season. Historically, since Northville’s first school was built in 1853, the Ville has always been known as a “Center of Learning”, with private and public schools. From one-room schoolhouses to various learning centers, including Schoolcraft College, educational development has been a top priority and an integral part of the fabric of this community since 1827.

Among the events going on around town:

-Cars and Coffee, Saturday, Sept. 10, 8-10 a.m. – Join our monthly gathering (second Saturdays), 212 W. Cady Street, behind Old Village School next to the library. Bring a car/bring yourself.

-Northville: The Bicentennial City History Lecture – at the Northville District Library, presented by the Mayor, Sept. 13, 7 p.m. Register here.

-The Victorian Heritage Festival – Sept. 16 to 18, Friday Parade, Victorian Saloon, festivities, games, and bands, see link for additional information, visit the Chamber of Commerce website.  

View the entire letter here or on the city website.

Brian Turnbull
Mayor, Northville

Doing Business

Online payments for utility bills, taxes and more

Citizens can pay online for taxes, utilities, delinquent property taxes and other miscellaneous payments. Go directly to the BS&A website and enter your address. You will be redirected to the Point & Pay website to make a payment, which also includes a convenience fee of 3% for credit cards (minimum $2) and for e-checks a $3 fee for payments up to $10,000 or $10 for any amount over $10,000.

Save time – schedule inspections online

The City of Northville offers online inspection scheduling. Contractors and homeowners may schedule inspections using an online portal to request all types of inspections, such as building, electrical, plumbing and heating. Users need an assigned permit number, obtained from the City Building Dept., when using the Inspection portal. If you are requesting an inspection for the following business day, it must be scheduled by 3:30 p.m.

Around Town

Have fun in city and township Parks

There are many parks – large and small – available for individuals, families and groups of friends to gather in both the city and township. Some are small pocket parks located within a neighborhood; others are larger spaces with plenty of room for nature hikes, ball playing or frisbee tossing. Some parks have play structures. Check out the variety of parks maintained by Northville Parks and Recreation on the department’s legend/map. All the parks are open to the public. (Membership is required at the dog park.)

Report water main breaks

Each year the City of Northville has between 10 and 20 water main breaks. If you see water bubbling out of the ground on City property, contact the Public Works Department at 248-449-9930 or 248- 349-1234 after hours and report its location. The sooner the leak is identified and reported, the quicker it can be repaired, reducing the chances of contamination entering the water system and minimizing the cost for lost water.

Street sweeper keeps City streets clean

The city does street sweeping regularly on downtown streets and twice yearly on residential areas. A full sweep of the city covers 25 miles. If you want to request a street sweep due to debris or following a storm, please contact the DPW at 248-449-9930.

At Home

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.)

Northville Police Department has free gun safety locks

Don’t take the risk of having an unlocked gun get into the wrong hands - especially if you have young children and teenagers. You can pick up a free gun safety lock at the Northville Police Department lobby. There are no forms to fill out and no waiting.

Sewer back ups

An individual making a claim for property damage or physical injury due to sewerage backup on their property must prove that the public sewer had a defect. Further, they must prove that the City of Northville knew or should have known about the defect, in the exercise of reasonable diligence, and failed to take timely action to repair or remedy the defect.
These steps are outlined in the State of Michigan’s Public Act 222 of 2001, known as sewer backup legislation. The legislation clarifies when municipalities are liable for sewer backups, sets standards to determine the extent to which a municipality is liable, and provides a process to seek compensation when a backup occurs.

If you experience an overflow or backup of a sewage disposal system or storm water system and seek reimbursement, you must file a written claim with the City of Northville within 45 days after the overflow or backup is discovered. Claim forms may be obtained online, by calling DPW at 248-449-9930 or inquiring at the front desk of City Hall.

When presenting a written claim, you will be required to provide the following items:
1. Copies of receipts for cleaning costs, plumbing bills, or other bills.
2. List of the damaged items and receipts to prove the age of your items. Reimbursement for the actual cash value of damaged items is the maximum amount payable.
3. If possible, bring pictures of items damaged during the storm water or sewer back-up.
The filing of a claim does not guarantee reimbursement.

Most homeowner’s insurance does not cover sewage backups but insurance often can be obtained as an added item. Also, consider having a plumber install a check valve - backflow preventer - to reduce the risk of backups and related damage.