Farmington Hills City Council on Aug. 11 approved a package of administrative and operational measures, including zoning‑text changes for the OS‑4 office/research district, a street‑lighting installation at 12 Mile and Orchard Lake, an extension to a sanitary‑sewer payback opt‑in window, authorization to finalize a long‑term agreement with Oakland County for Heritage Park, and an upheld Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) cost deposit request.

Collectively, the votes will change code language for an office/research district, fund immediate capital work at a major intersection, give property owners additional time to elect multi‑year sewer paybacks, and begin a county partnership to redevelop Heritage Park.

Zoning text amendments (Ordinance C‑5‑2025)

The council gave final enactment to Ordinance C‑5‑2025 (second reading) to add definitions for artisan manufacturing and live‑work units and to revise permitted uses, height/area/bulk standards and off‑street parking rules in the OS‑4 district. Planning Director Charmaine Kettler Schmaltz said the changes add uses requested by council (including vocational and tutoring centers and small indoor recreation under 3,300 square feet) and postpone consideration of bonus‑height provisions for a future text amendment. The ordinance passed on a roll call vote; the planning staff said it will become effective 21 days after enactment.

Street lighting at 12 Mile and Orchard Lake Road

The council authorized a purchase agreement with DTE Electric for intersection lighting work (DTE work order 75200945). Senior engineer Mark Zakzewski told council the work replaces an existing overhead cobra lamp with a 206‑watt LED, adds a second mast‑arm LED fixture and installs seven underground‑fed 206‑watt LED decorative posts with banner arms on the east side of Orchard Lake. DTE’s quoted installation price was $60,387 with a three‑year revenue credit of $12,641; the city’s net installation cost is $47,746 and estimated annual operating/maintenance is about $4,213. Council approved the agreement; staff said installation will be coordinated with the county road project at the same intersection.

Sewer payback extension (13 Mile Road sanitary sewer payback district)

Public Services senior engineer Tammy Gushard summarized a request from a district property owner whose septic system is failing and who sought the city’s previously offered 10‑year installment payback agreement. Council had adopted the original payback resolution on Dec. 2, 2019 and required property owners to enter the installment agreement within five years. Citing demonstrated individual hardship and the council’s discretion under city code, council voted to amend the earlier resolution and extend the opt‑in deadline from five years to seven years (new deadline 12/02/2026). Staff will notify all benefiting properties of the change.

Heritage Park interlocal agreement with Oakland County

The council authorized the city manager and clerk to sign an interlocal agreement with Oakland County to operate Heritage Park. The county will provide an initial $4,000,000 payment to Farmington Hills after a roughly six‑month planning and transition period (target submittal of a park action plan by 03/31/2026). The agreement is structured as a 30‑year renewable partnership; staff said the funds will support capital improvements, operations and an agreed plan developed jointly with county staff and returned to the council for approval.

FOIA appeal: deposit and fee waiver denied

A FOIA appeal by Charles Blackwell sought to challenge a city fee estimate for searching text messages. City legal counsel recommended upholding the city’s itemized cost estimate and denying a fee waiver; the council adopted a resolution upholding the $51 deposit/estimate and denying the waiver request. The council’s motion cited FOIA provisions allowing reasonable cost recovery for searches that exceed statutory time allowances and the need for higher‑level staff to review potentially sensitive messages.

Appointments and other procedural actions

Council also:
- Appointed members to the Beautification Commission and the Innovation, Energy and Environmental Sustainability Committee; and
- Named Councilmember Boulware as the voting delegate to the Michigan Municipal League annual meeting on Sept. 17, 2025.

Why this matters

The ordinance changes update the city’s OS‑4 district and parking standards to reflect new uses and to better align code language with current development interests. The DTE streetlight project is a near‑term capital safety and visibility improvement at a heavily travelled intersection. The Heritage Park interlocal marks a major partnership that will channel county millage funds into local capital and operations with a multi‑year planning process. The sewer payback extension provides narrowly targeted relief for property owners facing failed septic systems.

Speakers and sources cited in the meeting

- Charmaine Kettler Schmaltz — Director, Planning and Community Development (zoning text amendment).
- Mark Zakzewski — Senior Engineer, Public Services (street lighting).
- Tammy Gushard — Senior Engineer, Public Services (13 Mile sewer payback).
- Ellen Schneckle — Director, Special Services (Heritage Park interlocal).
- City attorney and FOIA counsel (presented legal rationale on FOIA cost recovery and waiver standards).

Formal actions (summary)

- Ordinance C‑5‑2025 (zoning text amendments): Enacted on second reading; effective 21 days after adoption.
- DTE street lighting purchase agreement (work order 75200945): Authorized; net installation cost to city $47,746; estimated annual operating cost $4,213.
- 13 Mile sanitary sewer payback district: Council amended the original resolution to extend the payback opt‑in window from 5 years to 7 years (new deadline: 12/02/2026).
- Heritage Park interlocal agreement (Oakland County): Authorized city manager and clerk to sign; 30‑year renewable agreement with $4,000,000 county payment pending planning period and approved park action plan.
- FOIA fee/deposit: Council upheld city’s itemized cost estimate and denied a fee waiver; motion carried.
- Appointments and MML voting delegate: Approved (councilmember Boulware appointed as voting delegate).