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Madison Heights council postpones public hearing on Dartmouth alley vacation to Oct. 27
Summary
The Madison Heights City Council opened a public hearing Oct. 13 on a request to vacate a 17‑foot alley near West 12 Mile and Dartmouth but postponed a decision to Oct. 27 so a traffic study recommended by the city and Oakland County Road Commission can be reviewed.
MADISON HEIGHTS, Mich. — The Madison Heights City Council opened a public hearing Oct. 13 on a request to vacate a 17‑foot‑wide alley between 601 West 12 Mile Road and properties on Dartmouth Street but voted to postpone a decision until the council’s Oct. 27 meeting so members can review a traffic study recommended by city staff and the Oakland County Road Commission.
City staff told the council the alley vacation petition (PE25‑01) affects adjacent properties at 601 West 12 Mile Road, 611 West 12 Mile Road and 28767 Dartmouth Street and that all adjacent property owners have signed the petition. The applicant requested postponement to allow a traffic study to be completed; the council voted to postpone by voice vote.
The hearing drew multiple nearby residents who said the neighborhood already experiences heavy and fast traffic and that further changes could increase safety risks and reduce property values. “We have an average of 100 to 180 cars driving down our street every hour,” resident Kathy Lasila said. Timothy Gester, an adjacent property owner, brought photos he said show regular backups at the alley outlet and asked the council to wait for the study before acting.
Developer and applicant representative Brian Nager said the request is contingent on approval of a special land‑use request and that the alley is antiquated. Nager said improvements connected with the alley vacation would make the area “safer, more beautiful, walkable” and that the applicant has letters of support from other Madison Heights residents.
Other residents described daily quality‑of‑life concerns, including children and pets at play and events or deliveries that could further complicate traffic on Dartmouth. “Say no to the Dartmouth Alley access project,” neighborhood resident Kathy Sapia told the council. Several speakers asked the council and staff to consider traffic calming or other neighborhood protections before any permanent change.
Council members said they want to review the traffic analysis before taking action. A motion to postpone consideration of PE25‑01 to the council’s Oct. 27 meeting carried on a voice vote.
The council invited residents back to speak at the Oct. 27 meeting when the study is expected to be available.
