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Residents say legacy trees were promised but removed; commission hears repeated complaints
Summary
Multiple Royal Oak residents testified that developer promises to save legacy trees at 4704 Rochester Road were broken when four trees were removed in December 2024; residents urged enforcement and penalties and asked the commission to rescind approvals or require replacement plantings or payment into the city's tree fund.
Multiple residents told the Royal Oak City Commission on Jan. 13 that four "legacy" trees at 4704 Rochester Road were promised to be saved during earlier approvals but were cut on Dec. 18, 2024. Speakers asked the commission to hold the developer accountable, rescind the site-plan approval, or require additional green space and penalties.
Thomas Horman described hearing a public assurance from the developer's representative at a May 13, 2024 meeting that "we're saving 3 very large legacy trees," then watching equipment arrive Dec. 18 and the trees reduced to logs that evening. Nancy Poprovsky said she called the city seeking intervention that same day and urged a severe penalty because "money cannot get those trees back." Several other speakers echoed concerns about developer promises and the Planning Department's enforcement steps.
City staff (planning/engineering) and a commissioner noted the developer said access to the stormwater detention basin required removal and that the developer would either plant replacement trees or pay into the city's tree fund; Planning Director Joseph Murphy confirmed the site had been out of compliance with the approved landscaping plan, that warnings had been sent, and that a site-plan violation process was initiated earlier (and that the temporary certificate of occupancy had a set-to-expire date in July previously). The transcript records residents provided photographic documentation and correspondence to staff.
Speakers also raised related development issues at 111 North Alexander and 723 North Main, framing them as examples of how recent approvals affect single-family neighborhoods and urging the commission to honor Planning Commission recommendations and apply consistent standards.
No formal enforcement action or new penalties were adopted at the meeting; residents were told staff would follow up and that the city had previously initiated warning letters and a planned site‑plan violation. Commission members expressed sympathy and asked staff for further information and next steps.
