[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6476137,"mediaKeyId","5731324-4584698fc70d25f0c1d6175a6763186b","parentId",5731324,"title","Council remands Dartmouth parking-as-principal-use plan to Planning Commission; schedules alley-vacation hearing","audioSeconds",941,"startMs",4352000,"endMs",5293000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5731324-4584698fc70d25f0c1d6175a6763186b&start=4352&end=5293","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5731324-4584698fc70d25f0c1d6175a6763186b/thumbnail_4352000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6476137/Madison-Heights/Oakland-County/Michigan/Council-remands-Dartmouth-parking-as-principal-use-plan-to-Planning-Commission-schedules-alley-vacation-hearing","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6476137-f823e5d354decdd8bba8445949a12668/orig.mp4?Expires=1773595807&Signature=H6cDRYHMorzaoAC1M6LXz5nzpLMcK6ORzkcusrMsQp~FXtSUwUq9UZMYaC29IagnnxuB6WXc5vn8JRqiLCZbkFDAfW6JcDKB7CInPSYsVir3s~iBQB-TjIvO~JJu-oJzMbpril~RnC9QAxUAwpkhbjzGkvjUoPu2qfjk3JVGNUnUkb9ozfZbBGHqF8RH-i~YiKMRpfg38nGmML~CaH6xIXNSWHHDY7gVYtcAU03Re8Kl5yME6v1SBBmUEnPByihc8i3sY2o70LkACX36pQU-nSgXozsNFtNgX8-vjTPjN43-M92798-LYPnpUs6tVIBZhZwnucu1AMA389wcXq7wWw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Madison Heights","date","2025-09-08T22:57:22Z","article","Madison Heights City Council voted on Sept. 8 to remand the special land use application for a parking lot and drive aisle intended to serve a proposed restaurant on Dartmouth Street back to the Planning Commission, and to schedule a public hearing on a related alley-vacation request for Oct. 13.

The applicant (identified in the packet as Nature Companies) requested special land use approval under Madison Heights Zoning Ordinance sections 10.06 and 15.05 to develop parking as a principal use on a residential parcel at 28767 Dartmouth Street. Staff told council the Planning Commission had previously recommended denial of the request because of site-plan concerns; the applicant submitted a revised concept plan on Aug. 28 and held a public town-hall meeting to gather input.

Multiple neighbors spoke during the meeting. Resident Kathy Sapia, identifying herself as a long-time neighbor of Dartmouth, Caron Drive and Bel Air Streets, opposed the proposal and said traffic, deliveries and garbage pickups tied to a restaurant expansion would “negatively impact our neighborhood” and could lower home values. Sapia said that a new interchange and traffic pattern on 12 Mile Road forces drivers to use the alley and Dartmouth streets to access the site, and that the project could generate about 160 cars she said would be routed through neighborhood streets.

Another neighbor, Timothy Ginster, asked whether homeowners would need to disclose the development to prospective buyers; the council said it could not provide legal advice at the meeting and recommended Ginster consult a realtor.

Planning staff recommended postponing council action on the special land use until the Oct. 13 meeting and remanding the revised plan to the Planning Commission for its Sept. 16 meeting. The council voted to remand the case to the Planning Commission and to return the matter to council on Oct. 13; a council member said privately on the record that they did not “see any world where this makes sense” for the neighborhood, reflecting council caution expressed during debate.

Separately, staff received a petition to vacate a 17‑foot alley that provides access between 1601 West 12 Mile Road and 28767 Dartmouth Street; staff recommended council set a public hearing for Oct. 13 and refer the alley vacation request to the Planning Commission if the related special land use case was remanded. Council voted to refer the alley vacation to the Planning Commission and set the Oct. 13 public hearing; staff will supply updated utility-company letters and Department of Public Services information before the hearing.

The remand keeps the revised concept plan under Planning Commission scrutiny and preserves the Oct. 13 council meeting as the next opportunity for a final decision on both the special land use and the alley vacation.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","September 8, 2025 - Regular City Council Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","After extensive public comment opposing a proposed restaurant expansion and related parking lot on Dartmouth Street, City Council remanded the special land-use application back to the Planning Commission for further review and set a public hearing for an alley vacation tied to the project.","taxTitle","Madison Heights, Oakland County, Michigan","taxId",55558,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6476143,"Council approves Mount Zion Lutheran's special land use to open private K–8 school at 510 West Gerard",1286,2464000,3750000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5731324-4584698fc70d25f0c1d6175a6763186b&start=2464&end=3750","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5731324-4584698fc70d25f0c1d6175a6763186b/thumbnail_2464000.jpg","/articles/6476143/Madison-Heights/Oakland-County/Michigan/Council-approves-Mount-Zion-Lutherans-special-land-use-to-open-private-K8-school-at-510-West-Gerard","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6476143-da7dd15f89a211d7cca6b390ce4dc555/orig.mp4?Expires=1773595807&Signature=KOmJE1Y9ZCwSgG8L86GRpiGKwsbIhVtzGsmCbRF2GsrAMt3STGLkVD9NM-aCRc3tuB8RsvakxpBEpHalNsIpKtoHC-fqgY2phlLZ1tsJ9xWQF68KEFPEYfpq0qC1B3RBrV8gbIVGmVuCMW9aptcUNqxHd~6Q98S06z~5Ia-1PjCRKO5PN5PuwMK265tCzHf0rpEyBzSiN9i3sX442bTbNyeBzPbka6ptdScwMgU1gEGdc8PtJciuRhSnGzJFFxwDiFeZw~MN7FhphIp1qLwEQTXOEwlS9DFPEl5AySfx~w80JqQjhxVWMDKXzCps0HU4guInw~0tOq-kkUeW7C22gA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Madison Heights City Council voted to approve a special land use permit allowing Mount Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church to operate a private kindergarten-through-eighth-grade school at 510 West Gerard Avenue, the council announced Sept. 8.

The council’s approval covers special land use case PSP 25-04 and incorporates the Planning Commission’s recommended conditions: school operations must substantially comply with the submitted project narrative; a one-way “Do Not Enter” sign at the southern Barrington Street driveway to ensure circulation; review of any playground or sports-field improvements through the Technical Review Committee as a minor site-plan matter; and installation of transitional landscaping along the western and northern property lines.

Randy Witterf, identified in the record as president of Mount Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church, told the council the congregation intends to “be as good a neighbor as we possibly can” and said the church plans landscaping improvements to increase the buffer between the school’s outdoor space and adjacent yards. Pastor Tom Nalman, the church pastor, said the church is “excited” to open the school and described the project as the next step for a growing congregation that will largely use existing building space.

Neighbor Alice McKay raised concerns during public comment about children reaching through or climbing the shared fence, the proximity of playground equipment to her bedroom windows, and groundwater and drainage questions. Council members pressed the applicants on plans to protect children and avoid adverse impacts to neighboring yards; the applicants said they plan native plantings and rain gardens to screen the property and address drainage where possible.

The applicants described initial enrollment and growth as modest: the council record includes an applicant statement that 25 students is an optimistic five‑to‑10‑year projection. The council emphasized the importance of ongoing neighbor communication and supervision when children use outdoor areas; no change to the church’s existing religious use was proposed or required by the approval.

The motion to approve the special land use was moved and seconded on the record; council members voted in favor and the motion carried. The approval is subject to the conditions recommended by the Planning Commission and to any further review required under the city’s minor site-plan or Technical Review Committee processes.","City Council approved special land use PSP 25-04 permitting Mount Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church to operate a private K–8 school at 510 W. Gerard, with conditions including one-way signage, site improvements review and transitional landscaping.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6476149,"Madison Heights Fire Department launches Community Connect to share resident data for emergency response",304,256000,560000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5731324-4584698fc70d25f0c1d6175a6763186b&start=256&end=560","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5731324-4584698fc70d25f0c1d6175a6763186b/thumbnail_256000.jpg","/articles/6476149/Madison-Heights/Oakland-County/Michigan/Madison-Heights-Fire-Department-launches-Community-Connect-to-share-resident-data-for-emergency-response","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6476149-50f061308b1360c6af85f578ab7b474c/orig.mp4?Expires=1773595807&Signature=C1aL22UCQhz4OaNeUWQzQiMeSOuRou5-iBMIw4q5hhNpyApID5k6ZJNHybtnFcrLmiKlRCxym6xeWNPnvBMJGOkNKnzx1bv0SrEAlNCzsyBBMpGXzZIwvGrNsnti~tGfWtYvWeGDNp4PSzvpfpG1iYm02NXV-MeaGEfkdq0aUFY2QnmM4J2XoV3QKs-WqXz7s6Y162Lkl2Ch-uaVWithbVsYBa55cghME7z70A9vZBAzp4kKV5qYAsgEK8g2l7XSrwNq~kviWTF1vj7AeRY1mWUnxSyXcbEWEg22zIj9D0GP1LTZLl90p7d42h6TYStFl0UVcQKUYgXI0KsTix6UPQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Madison Heights Fire Department introduced Community Connect, a voluntary online platform that lets residents and businesses provide property and occupant information to first responders, Fire Chief Greg Lolito told the City Council on Sept. 8.

Chief Greg Lolito said Community Connect is “the most significant outreach program our department has ever launched” and described it as a secure portal that can include medical or mobility needs, pets, access points, building layouts and hazardous-materials information to help crews make faster, safer decisions during emergency responses.

The program is free, and residents and businesses create secure accounts and enter details the department can access at the time of response. “Having this information before we arrive allows our crews to make a faster, safer, and more informed decision, enhancing our capabilities to protect lives, property, or even our firefighters,” Lolito said.

City staff will promote registration through the fire department page on the city website, event flyers with QR codes and a public open house at the department. Lolito said the department will hand out informational flyers at community events including the Revenant Heights open house on Sept. 13.

Chief Lolito said the department is offering a sign-up incentive: a random drawing for 24 fire blankets for residents who register during the initial outreach period. He also said the department has partnered with a local credit union to support outreach and that the platform will prompt annual reminders for residents to confirm or update their information.

The presentation closed with an invitation to residents to register online or at upcoming in-person events; no council action was required.","Fire Chief Greg Lolito introduced Community Connect, an online, voluntary platform for residents and businesses to share property and occupant information with first responders; city staff will promote sign-ups at events and via the city website.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council remands Dartmouth parking-as-principal-use plan to Planning Commission; schedules alley-vacation hearing

Council approves Mount Zion Lutheran's special land use to open private K–8 school at 510 West Gerard

Madison Heights Fire Department launches Community Connect to share resident data for emergency response