Troy City Council voted unanimously Dec. 1 to approve a conditional rezoning application, JPCR 2025‑002, for the proposed "Village of Hastings" on the east side of Livernois, north of Square Lake.

Community development director Brent Sabonat told the council the roughly five‑acre site is currently zoned in two districts (R1B and neighborhood node) and the conditional rezoning would convert most of the property to an RT one‑family attached district. The package submitted to council included a site plan and a conditional rezoning agreement with voluntary conditions the applicant offered to reduce potential impacts on neighboring properties.

Sabonat and meeting materials described the development as 25 total dwelling units: three existing single‑family homes along Livernois that the applicant proposes to keep, plus 22 new units made up in staff’s description of four ranch‑style detached single‑family homes, four duplex ranch units and 14 two‑story attached units. The traffic memo from the city’s consultant (OHM Advisors) estimated that the 22 new units would generate about 14 trips in the morning peak hour (4 inbound, 10 outbound) and roughly 17 trips during the afternoon peak; the consultant concluded the project would not ‘‘excessively impact’’ Livernois, Square Lake or the surrounding network, according to Sabonat.

The Planning Commission held a public hearing on Feb. 25, took action April 8 and recommended approval (8‑0) with three design considerations. Sabonat said the applicant voluntarily provided the requested items: a draft conditional rezoning agreement to be reviewed by the city attorney, an updated photometric plan and a 15‑year deed restriction on the three existing homes to prevent demolition for that period.

Public commenters at Tuesday’s hearing split positionally. Mary Ellen Barton, who said she represents concerns of nearby residents, opposed the rezoning and cited possible traffic, flooding and character changes if more attached units abut established R1B homes. By contrast, Jeff Williams, vice president of the Telford Ridge Homeowners Association, told the council the developer (identified in public remarks as Gary Ebertheria) had met HOA conditions, reduced the project from earlier, larger proposals, and that the Telford Ridge HOA unanimously supported the revised plan. Williams noted written commitments that the developer would not connect Telford Drive to Square Lake and would not purchase or develop an adjacent parcel, which he said were part of the neighborhood assurances.

Council members asked specific questions about deed restrictions, park maintenance and potential road widening. City staff and the applicant said the homeowners association would maintain the proposed park space and that the deed restriction, as a recorded instrument, generally runs with the land for the restricted period. Sabonat and other staff emphasized that Livernois is under road commission jurisdiction; if engineering drawings later warrant roadway changes (for example a bypass/turn lane), the road commission would review and the city would coordinate with the commission and the developer on any required modifications.

Several council members praised the long public process and revisions: they cited reduced building height (no more than two stories where earlier proposals included three), extensive buffering and new landscaping shown in the plans, and the 15‑year deed restriction. Councilmember discussion acknowledged continued neighborhood concerns about weekend congestion and left‑turn movements at Livernois but generally accepted the consultant’s conclusions and the applicant’s voluntary mitigations.

Mayor Pro Tem Chanda moved approval of JPCR 2025‑002; Councilmember Rebecca Chamberlain supported the motion. The council approved the conditional rezoning by roll call with all members present voting "yes." The motion carried.

Next steps: if the developer proceeds, the civil engineer will prepare final engineering drawings and submit them to the road commission and city staff for review, and the conditional rezoning agreement will be finalized, signed and recorded so the deed restriction and other conditions will run with the property. The applicant estimated a roughly two‑year timeframe to proceed toward construction, subject to engineering review and permitting.