Neighbors urge council to deny Forest at Riverwalk cluster plan, citing wetlands and flooding risks

The Farmington Hills City Council held a public hearing Nov. 10 on the Forest at Riverwalk cluster site plan, a proposal to build 33 single‑family homes on a roughly 16.3‑acre tract south of Folsom Road between Parker Avenue and Lundy Drive. The plan’s consultant said the development would occupy a net 13.8 acres of buildable land and proposes clustered lots to preserve natural areas.

Planning consultant Joe Tangari of Giffels Webster summarized the application and zoning review, noting the project is being proposed at a density of about 2.38 units per acre — lower than the RA‑3 district’s by‑right density of about 3.48 units per acre — and that the plan requests minor reductions in front and side setbacks to allow typical lot widths of 55 feet. Tangari also said the applicants had obtained an EGLE (Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy) wetlands permit and that certain landscaping and buffer details remain subject to planning commission approval.

Developer Stuart Michelson said the team reduced an earlier 38‑lot proposal to 33 lots after EGLE comments and public input. Michelson told the council the developer agreed to grant a…