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Residents press council on speed bumps, drainage, litter and local development; council outlines next steps
Summary
Residents told the council May 12 they want faster action on speeders, drainage, litter and local development; staff outlined petition, enforcement and follow-up steps.
Several Southfield residents used the May 12 communications period to press the council on neighborhood quality-of-life issues including unleashed dogs, drainage over roads, speeders, litter and local development. Council members and staff responded with program details, enforcement steps and follow-up commitments.
Stacy Jackson, president of the Beachwood Acres Homeowners Association, asked the council to investigate a narrow parcel sold by Oakland County and subsequently offered for sale by an LLC; she asked the city to verify any restrictive covenants and planned uses. Council acknowledged code enforcement and planning would monitor the parcel and follow up.
Multiple residents spoke about speeding and requested speed bumps. Council representatives described the city’s traffic-calming program: neighbors petition to demonstrate 60% support on a street, staff monitor speeds and the police may try enforcement or portable measures before speed bumps are installed; if approved, the program is city-funded and residents incur no cost. The council also described a portable radar sign program the police deploy to warn drivers and said battery issues sometimes render units temporarily offline.
Other concerns raised included standing water over roadways (DPW said it was surveying drainage and will look for solutions), litter and tall grass (code enforcement issued letters and is monitoring the area), holes in construction fencing and activity related to nearby apartment construction (code enforcement to continue monitoring), and four gas stations clustered within a quarter-mile on Northwestern Highway. Trina Scott and other residents asked for more outreach about business openings; staff said the city posts public-notice maps and planning materials online and sends notices to homeowner association presidents within 350 feet (the city’s practice; state law requires 300 feet).
Residents also asked about EV chargers for a new development; city staff said electrical infrastructure had been included but the chargers were not part of the developer’s first phase. The council agreed to ask the planner about accelerating charger installation and asked residents to submit specific locations for portable radar signs and drainage concerns so police and DPW can respond.
Council and staff said they are pursuing additional road funding at the state and federal level for streets including Lincoln and Mount Vernon and will provide a report on the Northland redevelopment at an upcoming Committee of the Whole meeting.
