Residents press Council on facility petition policy and neighborhood development concerns

Several Farmington Hills residents used public comment on Feb. 10 to press council to revise the city’s facilities‑use policy and to raise a neighborhood zoning complaint.

Lisa Goldstein and Lynn (Linda) Pawlowski said they have conducted nonpartisan signature gathering for ballot initiatives in prior election cycles and urged the council to allow reasonable petition activity at city facilities. Goldstein told council the city’s current policy had effectively blocked signature gathering at recreation facilities in 2022 and asked for broader allowances similar to neighboring cities such as Livonia and Troy. Pawlowski said she favors designated outdoor areas that do not block entrances or interfere with events and asked that the policy remain simple and not overly restrictive.

In a separate comment, Farmington Hills resident Pamela Santo described opposition to a planned expansion by a nearby facility on Moran Street (the applicant identified in public comments as the Tahit Center). Santo said the project would add parking along her property line, increase nighttime lighting, raise rodent concerns and worsen traffic near the Orchard Lake/12 Mile intersection; she said she submitted a doctor’s note and asked the city to respond to neighborhood safety concerns.

Council did not take action on the comments but staff and council members acknowledged the request: the mayor invited residents to follow up with city staff, and the city’s planning office will have the petition and neighborhood concerns on file for any pending application review.