Council approves conditional rezoning for Troy Trail North with developer-donated park and 156-unit cap

The Troy City Council on March 2 approved a conditional rezoning for the Troy Trail North property on the east side of Livernois north of Big Beaver, allowing redevelopment with a cap of 156 residential units and a developer‑donated 5.3‑acre park and playground.

Brent Savenaugh, community development director, told the council the rezone request would change the parcel’s zoning from R‑1C (single‑family) to RT (family‑attached) and that the applicant has offered conditions intended to limit density and improve predictability. “The total number of units is proposed to not exceed a 156,” Savenaugh said during the presentation, adding the site plan and materials would be conditions of approval.

Developer Joe Maniaci, who identified himself at the meeting, said the project includes three housing types — single‑family homes, townhomes and stacked flats — and that “each unit is, everything is for sale.” He said the developer would build at least two stacked‑flat buildings initially and could switch later to townhomes if market demand dictated.

The rezoning packet and staff presentation noted the project would dedicate a 5.3‑acre park to the city, including a playground the applicant would build and convey. Several council members framed the park donation as a public benefit that reduced the overall intensity the developer might otherwise build under a straight rezoning.

During public comment Mary Ellen Barton urged additional seasonal wetland review and cautioned against the city inheriting long‑term costs for drainage or flood mitigation. “Accepting property that requires substantial future drainage corrections, grading work, or flood mitigation could place a significant burden on taxpayers,” Barton said, urging that any necessary corrections fall to the developer.

Savenaugh and the developer responded that wetland and floodplain issues would be addressed in preliminary and final site‑plan engineering reviews and that licensed engineers would design required drainage and detention. Savenaugh said planning commission reviewed the application and recommended approval by an 8–1 vote.

Mayor Pro Tem Chanda moved the conditional rezoning, and the motion was supported and approved in a recorded vote. The council’s approval includes the listed conditions limiting unit count and requiring the conveyed park and playground to meet specified site‑plan and material standards.

Next steps: the developer will proceed through preliminary and final site‑plan review, engineering and permitting. Council members repeatedly emphasized the need for detailed engineering on wetlands and drainage before construction begins.