More than 150 Novi residents are trying to slam the brakes on a proposed townhome project they say is too big, too dense, and in the wrong place. They have filed a petition challenging Robertson Brothers Homes' request to rezone roughly 31 acres near Grand River Avenue for a 161-unit townhome community, and many say they plan to pack last night's City Council eligibility review. The plan would shift the land from light industrial to high-density multiple-family housing on a parcel directly across from the Henry Ford Providence hospital campus, and opponents argue the pace and scale of growth would chew up remaining woodlands, clog local roads, and strain city services.
Neighbors worry about trees, wetlands and traffic
Homeowners whose properties back up to the site told reporters they feel the project would slice into the wooded buffer behind their yards and disrupt wildlife that still roams the area. "What's left of our woodlands and wetlands is everybody's backyard," resident Ann Nelke said, according to WXYZ. Other neighbors pointed to traffic and infrastructure worries and delivered a petition with more than 150 signatures to city officials.
Developer's plan stresses open space but admits wetlands tradeoffs
According to city planning documents, Robertson Brothers is proposing 161 for-sale townhomes spread over about 31 acres, with roughly 24 net acres remaining after accounting for wetlands and about 6.5 acres identified as natural features on the property. The company told planners the project would directly affect only about 0.5 acres of wetland to create roadway access, would keep around 78% of the site as open space, and would include a minimum 75-foot building setback with berms and screening. Those specifics are laid out in the City of Novi planning commission minutes.
Planners flagged tradeoffs and suggested alternatives
Planning commissioners credited parts of the layout but cautioned that "any development of the parcel would have woodland and wetland impacts" and questioned whether the overall intensity matches Novi's recently adopted master plan. They asked if ranch-style or senior-oriented units had been explored and encouraged the applicant to spell out specific public benefits that might justify a Planned Rezoning Overlay. The record also notes that the development team shifted the wetland buffer to roughly 60 feet from the property line and proposed an internal trail connection to the ITC corridor, according to the City planning record.
What's next: council eligibility review
After the Planning Commission discussion, the proposal was sent to the full City Council for an eligibility review scheduled for Monday night. No vote on the project is expected at that meeting, and residents say they intend to turn out in force to make their objections heard. City Manager Victor Cardenas told reporters the review is still in its early stages and that the city welcomes public input, according to WXYZ. Council members will consider the eligibility findings before deciding whether to instruct staff to draft a formal PRO agreement or send the plan back for changes.
