Royal Oak commission approves downtown restaurant plan, playground and traffic-safety measures

Royal Oak — The City Commission on Aug. 11 approved a series of routine and project-specific items, including a downtown restaurant’s amended plan of operation, a parks installation, and traffic-safety upgrades.

The commission unanimously approved a request from Royal Oak Good Times Food and Drink Inc., at 100 S. Main Street, to amend its plan of operation and operate as Bella LaMone. Chief Moore told commissioners the police department reviewed the proposal and was not opposed. Owner Adam Merkel and attorney Kelly Allen described the concept as a traditional Italian restaurant with the first floor available for banquets and private events and the second floor operating regular dinner hours; Merkel said the venue would close by 11 p.m. most nights. Commissioner Chisholm moved approval; the motion passed unanimously.

The commission also approved a parks recommendation to install the Kensington play structure at Red Run Park. Parks staff said the project was recommended as the most cost-effective and accessible site and noted an original budget of about $260,000. Commissioners asked for benches with backs and minor placement adjustments to promote social interaction; staff said the vendor can swap backless benches for benches with backs at slightly higher cost. The commission approved the project with that modification.

On traffic safety, the commission approved two speed humps on Linwood Avenue (between Woodward and 12 Mile) and directed staff to include them in the 2026 road program at an estimated cost of about $19,000. Staff also recommended enhancements to unsignalized crosswalks on North Main Street north of 11 Mile, including rectangular rapid-flashing beacons (RRFBs) at University and Pingree, removal of one northern University crosswalk, a pedestrian refuge island, and restriping that eliminates one parking stall near Pingree. Staff estimated the crosswalk and striping work at roughly $34,000 and said the funds are available from the city’s miscellaneous traffic safety budget.

The commission received and accepted the annual report of the Human Rights Commission, which Chair Rachel Andrews said included a broad community survey and outreach at Pride and Juneteenth events. Andrews told the commission the HRC will release survey results publicly and hold small-group meetings to develop programming inspired by findings.

Procedural items included approval of the meeting agenda and the consent calendar. Several items were pulled for discussion during the meeting and acted on, including motions discussed above. The meeting adjourned after completing business.