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Farmington Hills preliminarily authorizes Oakland subdivision paving, directs design review and reissued petition
Summary
After hours of public comment about mature trees, front-yard impact and unclear petitioning, the City Council preliminarily authorized converting the Oakland subdivision’s gravel roads to hard-surface pavement subject to preliminary design, an informational meeting and a reissued petition; construction would not begin until at least 2028 under current scheduling.
The Farmington Hills City Council on Jan. 26 preliminarily authorized converting the Oakland subdivision from gravel to hard-surface pavement, but directed city engineers to prepare preliminary design plans, hold an informational meeting and reissue the neighborhood petition for resident reaffirmation before final approval.
The decision came after an extended public hearing in which city engineer Mark Sakzewski summarized the petition process and technical options for the street cross-section. "Of the 68 properties, 45 signed in favor of paving the road, 16 not in favor, and 9 property owners did not respond," Sakzewski told the council, and he described trade-offs between an 18‑foot pavement with ditching and a 22‑ to 27‑foot curb‑and‑gutter section that requires storm‑sewer work.
Why it matters: Residents in the Oakland subdivision said they support paving in principle but raised repeated concerns about loss of front‑yard landscaping, removal of mature trees, drainage design and whether petition signers had enough information. Several speakers urged the council to delay any final authorization until design details were developed and shown to homeowners.
At the hearing, longtime resident and Historic District Commission chair Ken Clemmer, who said his HOA began the process in 2024, urged collaboration with engineering to preserve landmark trees: "We have many trees that were big when the subdivision was planted back in 1925," Clemmer said, and asked the city to be sensitive to historic homes and vegetation. Julia Bellamy, a parent, said a "huge ditch would significantly impact" usable yard space for her young child and asked the council to allow residents to review designs before a final vote.
Council members pressed staff on practical options. Several members said they were open to a narrower 18‑foot pavement with valley gutters or curb‑and‑gutter in places to reduce the footprint. Council discussion also flagged questions about septic fields near some yards and the limits of the city's standard 50‑foot right of way. DPS Director Jacob Rushlow told the audience design work would not likely start until 2027 and construction would not occur until 2028 at the earliest under the current capital improvement schedule.
The motion approved by council authorizes a preliminary conversion subject to: the city preparing a preliminary design plan; an informational meeting where residents can review impacts; and a subsequent reissued petition so residents can reaffirm support in light of the design. The motion also directs staff to identify a project schedule consistent with the capital improvement plan and local road budget.
What remains: The approved step is preliminary — the council did not adopt final construction plans or funding for buildout. Engineering will produce designs intended to reduce impacts where feasible (for example, by using valley gutters or narrowing lanes), and a second petition and public meeting will give residents a formal opportunity to weigh in on the plans before council considers final authorization.
The council vote to give preliminary authorization carried by voice vote. Staff and council emphasized that no physical work would start for at least a year and that trees and other right‑of‑way impacts will be identified during the design phase.
