Livonia council approves Spree permits, housing projects and infrastructure plans; delays asphalt-millings waiver

The Livonia City Council at its February study session approved a slate of permits, contracts and funding items for community events, housing developments and water-system planning, while sending a request to waive the city's hard-surfacing ordinance for asphalt millings to the regular May 7 meeting for further review.

Council members approved event permits and road-closure requests tied to the city's Livonia Spree celebration, granted planning and waiver approvals for two private residential developments, awarded multiple park and historic-preservation contracts and moved forward funding agreements and grant applications for water-system work and small-business and senior-building upgrades.

Why it matters: approvals in the consent packet clear logistical and funding hurdles for summer events, add roughly 158 senior and townhome units to the city's housing stock in separate projects, and advance a citywide lead service-line replacement plan that seeks a low-interest Drinking Water SRF loan. The one item set aside for a later meeting could change how property owners may use asphalt millings in parking areas.

Most significant actions

- Spree permits and closures: The council approved banner locations, temporary road closures (including parts of Farmington, Linden and Stark), carnival permits, a fireworks permit for American Fireworks at Skaminsky Veterans Park and use of Ford Field and adjacent park facilities for the city's Spree events in late June. Kaley Havanagh Reed, executive director of the Livonia Spree, said the banners will show dates and that the event will include enhanced fireworks and other attractions.

- Senior housing expansion (Emmett/"Aletha" expansion): The council accepted planning commission recommendation and approved a waiver-use petition for a planned residential development by Emmett Contracting that would add two buildings with a combined 58 senior independent apartments at parcels on Farmington Road (14821 and 14829 Farmington). Developer Brad Emmett told the council the buildings will be primarily brick and masonry and will connect to the existing Aletha Apartments amenities; he said the project mixes mostly one-bedroom units and larger units of about 1,000 square feet.

- Townhome development (Robertson…