Royal Oak delays decision on vacating alley behind 1624 E. 11 Mile Road

The Royal Oak City Commission on Monday postponed indefinitely a request to vacate half of a 16-foot public alley behind 1624 E. 11 Mile Road, saying commissioners want clearer plans and legal guidance before giving up public property.

City engineer Donahue told the commission the petitioner wants to combine two parcels at the southwest corner of 11 Mile and Campbell and potentially install EV charging in the parking area. Donahue said there are no utilities in the requested portion of the alley except for a DTE pole at the western corner, and that the draft resolution would retain easements to protect utility access. He said staff from police, fire, DPS and planning raised no objections to the vacation.

The question before commissioners was whether vacating the alley would deliver a public benefit or simply transfer maintenance and access to private owners. Commissioner Kullo moved to postpone the petition indefinitely to allow staff to research whether state law permits conditioning alley vacations and to give the petitioner time to provide rudimentary plans; Commissioner Chisholm seconded the motion, which passed on a voice vote.

Petitioner representative Mohammed Ali Abdullah told the commission his father has owned the gas station and adjoining parcel since 1999 and that the family wants to combine parcels partly to simplify tax and parcel records and to pursue modest improvements, including two EV chargers. "We're looking at two right now," Abdullah said, and said initial materials had been submitted to DTE.

Opponents and neighbors raised concerns about access and fairness. Bill Harrison, speaking during public comment, said some property owners have been asked to pay for alley repairs and questioned whether vacation would shift costs unfairly. "They shouldn't have to pay to maintain the alley behind their building," Harrison said.

Commissioners debated several practical and legal issues: whether reserved easements would prevent permanent structures on the vacated strip, whether the city would lose leverage to secure community benefits if it conceded the alley before seeing plans, and whether the alley sees regular public use for walking, biking or local circulation.

Legal counsel told the commission staff would research whether state law limits the city—s ability to require public benefits as part of an alley vacation. The motion to postpone was framed as a pause to allow the petitioner to produce basic plans and for city staff to return with guidance rather than a rejection of the request.

The commission also directed staff to collect additional information about public use of the alley and the legal options for conditioning vacations. When the petitioner and staff are ready to proceed, the council can bring the item back for consideration.

The public hearing on the alley was opened and closed at the Sept. 8 meeting; no final vacation was approved.