Local Farmington Hills residents are up in arms as a housing development proposal threatens the area's wetlands and could exacerbate existing drainage issues. The Farmington Hills Planning Commission gave a green light to Windmill KRE New Developments for 38 cluster homes on a 16-acre tract, despite concerns voiced by the community over the loss of natural space and the fate of local wildlife, reported Hometown Life.
During meetings where residents aired grievances about potential flooding and degradation of their quality of life, Steve Hall, a local homeowner, questioned the city's post-development support saying, "We want to know if the city has a plan to protect us as homeowners after the developers are done with their plans and have left," he told Hometown Life. The developer has countered with assurances that new storm sewers would ameliorate the standing water issue, potentially benefiting neighbors.
Adding to the controversy is the project's potential impact on local wetlands, amidst a backdrop of wildlife that reportedly includes foxes, hawks, and snapping turtles, detailed a resident in an interview with Farmington Press. The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy may require the builder to devise a mitigation plan for the wetlands, further prolonging the development process, as per information from The Oakland Press.
Despite the unanimous approval by the commission sheer volume of concerns raised led Commissioner Steven Stimson to press the developer to engage with the community; however, he clarified the process saying, "This is the first of multiple hearings on this," suggesting a window for ongoing dialogue he said, according to Hometown Life. With multiple hearings yet to come, both the residents and the developers appear to be girding for a protracted affair as the fate of Farmington Hills' green space hangs in the balance.
