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Council debates role of Southfield Boulevard in master plan as public engagement continues
Summary
Lathrup Village councilors discussed whether to keep the Southfield Boulevard concept in the master plan, urged more interim engagement and prioritization in surveys, and weighed parking and village-center trade-offs ahead of a June town hall.
Lathrup Village councilors spent the meeting probing how the city’s master plan update should treat the contested Southfield Boulevard concept and how the public-engagement process should be structured going forward.
Council members and staff noted consultant-written responses in the meeting packet but said the city has not signaled a clear position on whether the boulevard should remain an explicit assumption in the plan. A council member said the written responses were “helpful” but urged more council touchpoints before a fall draft so elected officials can influence trade-offs rather than responding to a near-final package.
Staff reminded the council that consultant Jill provided written answers after Mitch Webster was unable to attend the meeting. The discussion flagged two practical concerns: potential loss of on-street and right‑of‑way parking under a boulevard scheme, and whether a boulevard would actually improve walkability and local business access.
“Supporting everything isn’t feasible,” one council member said, urging that future surveys ask residents to prioritize specific trade-offs — for example, whether fewer parking spaces would be acceptable in exchange for other goals — instead of allowing blanket support for multiple items.
Councilors discussed differences between Lathrup Village and larger neighboring cities used as benchmarks, noting the village’s smaller scale and stronger reliance on adjacent communities for some services. Several members said the village center vision should be reassessed in light of limited development to date and new local factors (including a school project raised by staff) that could change demand.
Staff and council also debated timing for technical coordination with RCOC transportation planners. Staff recommended such a conversation occur after the town hall planned for June so the council and RCOC have public input to inform next steps; some council members worried waiting too long would make adjustments harder if RCOC proceeds on its existing schedule.
The council did not take a formal vote. Members agreed to surface the boulevard question at the June town hall and to schedule additional opportunities for council input before draft plan decisions are made.
