Your Voice

Fix the problem

I have lived in Northville for over 70 years. In my opinion the street closures are a big mistake. For years, people came to Northville to see our beautiful Main Street. Parking has always been limited, so driving down the street was often the way many people saw Main Street, including our stores, restaurants, and historic buildings. Often, just seeing Main Street by car, inspired a visitor to park and walk back to shop or have dinner. For example, my cousin came to Northville during a festival when the stores were closed. She saw something she wanted in the window at Long’s Plumbing, and came back the following week to purchase it. Now, with the street closures this opportunity no longer exists.

For many people, whether they are 70 years old or 100, parking and walking to reach Main Street is too difficult and frankly dangerous. Even with normal mobility, being dropped-off at the door of a business isn’t just a common courtesy but a necessity. Friends of mine loved eating at Table Five, but haven’t been able to since the street closures. They cannot park close enough for her husband to walk to the front door and he refuses to be embarrassed by being forced to use a wheelchair. And during winter weather, with cold, wind, snow and ice, who is going to walk several blocks to shop or eat on our Main Street or Center Street, especially when none of the nearby towns have closed their roads?

After 70 years, I am shocked that street closures are taking our beautiful little town out of the running compared to other towns. Rather than spending money on consultants to fix the problems created by closing our streets, funding should be used to improve the back doors of shops and businesses that can be reached more easily from our city parking lots.

Mary Ware

Poorly thought out

The move of the Downs to the MITC corridor is poorly thought out, and will most likely negatively impact the community at large. Horse racing is in demise, which means that this property would probably be another gambling casino long term. In another article it was noted that the owners are seeking a state grant, which I also oppose. Thank you for allowing input from the community.

Carolyne Brown

Keep track in Northville

I live in the Plymouth Pointe Condos at Ridge and North Territorial roads. I am not in favor of this new proposed location. I would rather see the Downs stay where it is. Spend the money at the existing location and revitalize it. The Downs has been there for decades, so leave it there where everyone knows where it is. Money has already been spent for streets, utilities, drainage, landscape, etc.

There are semi trucks up and down Five Mile all day long every day of the week going toward the dump. There doesn’t need to be more congestion.

Larry Stefan

Overseeing projects

I’ve heard the mayor happily praising the various committees and all the projects on the drawing board in Northville. Among other concerns, I question the city’s ability to oversee this work. Two of the more visible projects recently built in the city - the two homes on the former Northville School Main Street School site and the condos on Center Street north of Dunlap – aren’t what was planned. The Center Street condos has issues in terms of height and setbacks, and were ultimately forced to tear up and rebuild their sidewalk. The Main Street School site was supposed to leave room for a pocket park for the community. Maybe I’m missing something, but I don’t see a pocket park anywhere on the property. If, even now, we don’t properly oversee the existing projects, how will we ever keep tabs on the multitude of massive new proposed projects?

Karren Yurgalite

What about the roads?

I think the proposed racetrack for the Ridge and Five Mile property is ok, and frankly a unique use with potential for additional public uses, such as the soccer and concert ideas. But what never seems to be addressed is if the roads will be improved and widened for this extra use?

Just look at how Beck Road is swamped with traffic after all the upscale subs went in from Six Mile to Grand River. I am sure Plymouth Township Supervisor Kurt Heise will quickly point out that the roads are not the township’s responsibility, and Mr. Carlo of Northville Downs probably hopes this issue will not be raised. Can anyone name an area development project where the roads were improved/widened prior to the build? What a concept.

Which civil engineering firms have studied this issue and approved the road usage with no improvements? What is the projected traffic once this development is completed, including satellite commercial and residential units? Let’s not forget the heavy truck traffic going to and from the landfill on this same road. It seems the developers and township planners want to rush this through in hopes that it can be completed before the road issue becomes critical. It reminds me of the NFL game where the team with the ball quickly hurries to the line of scrimmage hoping to run the next play before the other side throws out the red challenge flag to review in detail what went on. Let’s not rush to slam this in without addressing the “damn roads.”

We all know Wayne County has a terrible track record of road building and maintenance, and would take many, many years (if at all) to widen Five Mile. So I propose if this is truly such a boon, that the developer and township partner with the county to find the money to widen the road prior to the build, and not after which would certainly greatly disrupt the newly established race track and residential traffic.

Let’s do it right for a change.

Honor DDA vote

J. Kopenski

On February 28, the Downtown Development Authority voted unanimously for the City Council to open both Main Street and Center Street. I believe most merchants and residents now support this. There is a growing concern that all 32 restaurants in the city and businesses will be challenged with the two main arteries barricaded off. This combined with six or more separate construction projects related to the Downs demolition and build out will discourage many from eating or shopping in Northville. Now that we have the full visibility of these projects, we trust the City Council will open the streets and only close them for the many special events we can create to attract families and shoppers just as we did before Covid, and honoring the DDA vision and flexibility.

Jim Nield

Protect Johnson Creek

Friends of the Rouge (FOTR) has recently become aware that the owners of Northville Downs are proposing to relocate their horse racing track to Plymouth Township to a 40-acre parcel on the easterly portion of a 128-acre swath of the broader site near Five Mile and Ridge. This proposed development would run directly along Johnson Creek, the last remaining cold water tributary in the entire Rouge watershed.

FOTR envisions a future where a clean and vibrant Rouge River is the center of our community. Individual and community actions protect and improve the health of the Rouge River, assuring that its natural, economic, and recreational value enhances the quality of life in the Rouge River ecosystem. It is with our mission in mind that we express our concerns regarding the potential developments along Johnson Creek. The concerns Friends of the Rouge has regarding the development are as follows:

1. Development of this parcel will result in vegetation removal and creation of more impervious surface, which increases stormwater runoff that can lead to increased water temperatures, sedimentation, and habitat loss in Johnson Creek.

2. This parcel is directly adjacent to Johnson Creek, the only cold-water tributary of the Rouge River and Blue Ribbon Trout stream that is home to the endangered red side dace, and cold water fish such as mottled sculpins and johnny darters.

3. Friends of the Rouge has monitored Johnson Creek benthic macroinvertebrates and fish for decades. Johnson Creek is a tributary of the Rouge River that has a rich diversity of aquatic macroinvertebrates, including sensitive stoneflies, caddisflies and mayflies. There is data that demonstrates that increased impervious surface in the watershed decreases diversity in aquatic biota.

4. There is a concern about the pollutant load that racetrack operations/ housekeeping could have on Johnson Creek. Runoff of pollutants such as nutrients from horse manure, horse washing, and gravel fines from the track surface would be a detriment to Johnson Creek water quality.

5. Plymouth Township does not have dedicated green space referenced in its Master Plan. Green space is necessary for the well-being of township residents as well as to provide climate islands to offset climate change.

Friends of the Rouge asks that the Plymouth Township leadership acts cautiously when beginning this new era of development. Please consider the consequences of removal of vegetation within the floodplain and replacing it within more impervious surfaces. FOTR recommends that the developer employ a stormwater strategy that is greater than the minimum requirements of the local, county, and state standards. Additionally, it is important to note that FOTR’s position follows the recommendations found in the State of Michigan’s MI Healthy Climate Plan to protect Michigan’s land and water by restoring existing wetlands and waterways.

Marie McCormick Executive Director, Friends of the Rouge

Call it a win-win-win situation for Northville Township’s board of trustees and its constituents.

When Roger Lundberg, 74, decided to resign as the township clerk in March, so he could spend more time with his three young grandchildren, Cyndy Jankowski, a trustee elected in 2020, immediately expressed interest in taking the baton from him. In essence, the two elected officials serving in their first terms switched spots on the board.

“I’m really looking forward to this opportunity,” said Jankowski, who also brings nine years of previous experience as a Northville school board member. “Our board members are just so collaborative and so welcoming and have really been congratulatory in making the switch.

“Roger wanted to spend more time with family and I had the opportunity to take on a fulltime position, where he takes on a more part-time position. The timing is right, and I’m really looking to continue to move forward with the rest of our board members.”

The move took place on Feb. 16, as Lundberg and Jankowski, who were both elected to fouryear terms in November 2020, were appointed to serve out the other’s term. The clerk’s position is a full-time job, while trustees serve on a part-time basis.

Because Lundberg’s resignation letter was received within 30 days, the township board could name his successor and thus avoid the need for a special election. With that, there will not be any disruption into the clerk’s office’s handling of a May 2 bond renewal election for Northville Public