Discuss Detroit » Archives - January 2008 » Livonia asked to annex Northville Township land « Previous Next »
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Novine
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Username: Novine

Post Number: 467
Registered: 07-2007
Posted on Tuesday, March 18, 2008 - 11:05 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Freep confirms rumors heard around town:

http://freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll /article?AID=/20080318/NEWS02/ 80318082

Northville Township is really in the hole now. If they had worked out a deal with the city of Northville, they could have protected the area in question from annexation . Absent any such agreement, it's all but a foregone conclusion that this development will happen in Livonia. You can bet that Livonia isn't going to give a rip about how the development will impact the surrounding Northville area or residents as it doesn't border any residential areas in Livonia.
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Danny
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Post Number: 7193
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Posted on Tuesday, March 18, 2008 - 11:48 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

WHAT! Livonia annexing parts of Northville TWP. is like Nazi Germany annexing the Rhinelands of Chechoslovakia. Livonia will become Wayne County's biggest suburb.
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Hudkina
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Username: Hudkina

Post Number: 142
Registered: 12-2004
Posted on Wednesday, March 19, 2008 - 12:23 am:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

The area in question isn't very big and the current population is something like 20 (all moved to the land by the developer)

It will seem odd having Livonia be a near perfect square with a little "wart".;)
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Thoswolfe
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Username: Thoswolfe

Post Number: 37
Registered: 11-2007
Posted on Wednesday, March 19, 2008 - 7:38 am:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Not a new strategy- developer allies with nearby city to intimidate and push through development plans. Like Miracle Mile/Bloomfield Twp/Pontiac.
Interesting- in that article Livonia's Mayor called Schostak an outstanding corporate citizen (???)
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Johnlodge
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Post Number: 5711
Registered: 10-2003
Posted on Wednesday, March 19, 2008 - 8:20 am:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Why are people living in trailers on the site? If you say the developer moved them there, what incentive did they have to do such? Seems like this is a very short, undetailed article about what is a much bigger, more interesting story.
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Novine
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Post Number: 468
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Posted on Wednesday, March 19, 2008 - 8:51 am:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

The people in the trailers were supposedly moved onto the property to provide "security" for the site. Turns out that was a bogus claim. Everyone in the area has been expecting this to happen. A quick Google search on "northville" and "annexation" will provide more background.
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Chandyside
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Username: Chandyside

Post Number: 13
Registered: 08-2005
Posted on Wednesday, March 19, 2008 - 9:50 am:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Let 'em have the site. I grew up at 7 & Haggerty and had many "walkaways" from the hospital visit my street. Judging by those, more "sane" ones and the horror stories you'd hear about that hospital I'd say the chances of a Poltergeist-style/bad karma/horror movie scenario residential development are really high.
Seriously, though, this is just the latest in a litany of half-thought-out land-grab development that will leave that area looking thoroughly gutted and which has already displaced a herd of deer and who knows how much other wildlife and biodiversity from the former orchard (Meijers) and wooded marsh (McMansion Ridge). ugh.
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Detroitman32
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Post Number: 13
Registered: 03-2008
Posted on Wednesday, March 19, 2008 - 10:13 am:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Might it be time for the Third Livionian War?

But I just don't like suburbs getting too large... or important. Divide and conquer is the way I prefer it.
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Danny
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Post Number: 7197
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Posted on Wednesday, March 19, 2008 - 11:59 am:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Dearborn is a 7x5 mile city and it is still big.
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Danny
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Post Number: 7198
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Posted on Wednesday, March 19, 2008 - 12:05 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)





People of Northville TWP. UNITE! Save your land from Livonian annexation. Looks like the SBC's appeal to the 1978 Charter TWP. Act is a reality.
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Paulmcall
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Username: Paulmcall

Post Number: 747
Registered: 05-2004
Posted on Wednesday, March 19, 2008 - 1:18 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

As a resident of Northville Twp. I think we would have a vote on an annexation. That does seem like a land grab out of nowhere.
This land was practically sold once before and then environmental questions came up. I used to live in Livonia and it is a very nice place to live. I do think they should shore up areas they already own before trying to expand.
I don't think this will be approved.
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Novine
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Post Number: 469
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Posted on Wednesday, March 19, 2008 - 2:04 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

"I don't think this will be approved."

Why not? Who's going to vote against it? The Mayor of Livonia sounds like he's in the pocket of the developers.
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Gistok
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Post Number: 6515
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Posted on Wednesday, March 19, 2008 - 2:08 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Danny, I think in your Nazi Germany reference... you meant Sudetenland, not Rhineland.
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Mtm
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Post Number: 280
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Posted on Wednesday, March 19, 2008 - 2:44 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

As another Northville Twp. resident, I, too, hope this doesn't go through and, if allowed to vote on the issue, would vote it down. Part of the issue the developer is having with the Twp. is that the zoning commission is looking out for the area and trying to preserve some nature and open space. The developer wants to slam in as much as they can which isn't surprising since they're goal is $$ not nature.

On a different thread before, we talked about the major mall the developer wants to put in and I mentioned traffic in the area, which already horrendous, and the plethora of existing empty shopping space in the area (NE 5 and Haggerty, NE 5 and Newberg, SE 5 and Newberg).
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Yeti
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Username: Yeti

Post Number: 49
Registered: 09-2007
Posted on Wednesday, March 19, 2008 - 2:54 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Northville Township to fight Livonia annexation
By Daniel Duggan

Advertisement
Click Here!
Northville Township attorneys will contest whether residents should have been able to file a petition to legally move a 414-acre parcel of property out of Northville Township and into Livonia.

Petitions were filed yesterday to have the former Northville Psychiatric Hospital site — and a proposed $800 million development — annexed into Livonia. The petitions were signed by seven people currently renting temporary houses on the site.

If the petitions are validated, the matter will be subject to a vote by Livonia residents and the seven Northville Township residents.

<b>“So Livonia voters will be asked to put this on a ballot issue, and seven squatters will be able to disenfranchise 28,000 Northville Township residents,” said Northville Township Supervisor Chip Snider.
</b>
The mixed-use development, to be called Highwood, is proposed by a joint venture between Bloomfield Hills-based Real Estate Interests Group Inc. and Livonia-based Schostak Bros. & Co. Inc.

The developer wants to build 42.2 acres of retail space, medical-office space and 1,000 residential units on the 414-acre site at the southwest corner of Haggerty and Seven Mile roads.

In an effort to stop the annexation action, Snider said the township will challenge whether the residents should legally be on the site. He said a hearing is scheduled for tomorrow.

At issue are the occupancy permits for the four temporary houses the residents are living in.

Northville Township filed a lawsuit in November, challenging the permits. The township approved the idea of temporary housing on the idea that trained security guards would live on the site, Snider said. The township felt duped when it learned the residents are families paying rent to the developers.

Snider said the annexation idea will be defeated if the township can prove that the residents should not be living on the site.

A second strategy to quash the annexation may come from the Legislature. Rep. Marc Corriveau, D-Northville Township sponsored a bill that will disallow certain larger townships from land annexation by neighboring cities.

REIS spokesman Steve Mitchell, chairman of East Lansing-based Mitchell Research & Communications Inc., declined to comment on the annexation actions.

“We are aware the petitions have been filed and cannot comment further,” he said.

In November, REIS filed suit in Wayne County Circuit Court against the township for the right to build the development.

The Highwood project has been stalled since April because Northville Township and REIS can’t agree on several terms, such as the amount of retail at the site and paying for the cleanup of environmental and medical waste.

(Message edited by yeti on March 19, 2008)
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Wazootyman
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Post Number: 328
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Posted on Wednesday, March 19, 2008 - 4:24 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

In other news, Livonia's "Main Street" moves from I-96 to the Main St. formerly known as "Downtown Northville".

Look out, here we come.
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Raptor56
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Username: Raptor56

Post Number: 294
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Posted on Wednesday, March 19, 2008 - 5:07 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

With all of the shadowy intrigue, this story could end up in a novel.
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Ray1936
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Username: Ray1936

Post Number: 2878
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Posted on Wednesday, March 19, 2008 - 6:41 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Maps, anyone????
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Thnk2mch
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Username: Thnk2mch

Post Number: 1109
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Posted on Wednesday, March 19, 2008 - 7:23 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)









From Schostak's website.

See "Highwood"
http://www.schostak.com/developments/
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Novine
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Username: Novine

Post Number: 470
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Posted on Wednesday, March 19, 2008 - 10:05 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

You can see from the maps that if the entire area was annexed to Livonia, the Livonia "peninsula" would extend almost 2 miles into Northville Township. That would be a jurisdictional mess as far as providing police and fire services to the surrounding areas.
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Fareastsider
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Posted on Thursday, March 20, 2008 - 12:52 am:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

You can also tell from the maps that this will be a unique development unlike any other in metro Detroit.
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Hudkina
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Post Number: 144
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Posted on Thursday, March 20, 2008 - 3:47 am:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

A jurisdictional mess? How so? It's hardly any different from Dearborn Heights or Westland. Both have what could be described as "peninsulas".
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Danny
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Post Number: 7199
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Posted on Thursday, March 20, 2008 - 6:59 am:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

The Troops of Livonia a proposing a march to Northville TWP. after annexation is completed.



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Thnk2mch
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Post Number: 1110
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Posted on Thursday, March 20, 2008 - 8:13 am:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

The entire city of Garden City is a peninsula, surrounded on three sides by Westland.
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D_mcc
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Username: D_mcc

Post Number: 454
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Posted on Thursday, March 20, 2008 - 9:28 am:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Yeah Fareastsider...its a TND...Tradition New Urbanist Development...which means its a bunch of phooey wrapped in picacca
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Novine
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Post Number: 471
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Posted on Thursday, March 20, 2008 - 11:24 am:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

"The entire city of Garden City is a peninsula, surrounded on three sides by Westland."

True. I should have called the Livonia extension a panhandle. That's more accurate than a peninsula.

(Message edited by Novine on March 20, 2008)
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Hudkina
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Post Number: 146
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Posted on Thursday, March 20, 2008 - 3:20 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

I understand what you were saying, and I would say Westland and Dearborn Heights have exactly what you think would be a "jurisdictional mess". Westland has a narrow "L-shaped" stretch of land that is only 1/2 mile wide that is separated from the rest of the city that might as well be a part of Wayne, Inkster, or Romulus.

Dearborn Heights is effectively split into two parts connected only by a narrow 3 mile stretch of land that is only about 1 block wide.

Hell, Brownstown TWP is effectively split into three separate and disconnected areas. The main bulk sits just south of Taylor, there is a small stretch along I-75 between Flat Rock and Gibraltar, and the last section is a relatively large chunk on the shores of Lake Erie just south of Gibraltar and east of Rockwood.

In any case, this "panhandle" would hardly be a new concept to city development patterns here, and when you consider other metropolitan areas these "panhandles" are actually quite normal.

BTW, Garden City is bordered by Inkster for a significant portion of its southern boundary and Dearborn Heights for its eastern boundary.

A better example of a "peninsula" would be Orchard Lake Village which is surrounded by West Bloomfield TWP on all sides except for a stretch where it connects to Keego Harbor.
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Thnk2mch
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Post Number: 1113
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Posted on Thursday, March 20, 2008 - 7:19 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

This, from Garden City's own website:

quote:

"Garden City is bound on the north, west and south by the City of Westland."



http://www.gardencitymi.org/de partment.asp?p=profile

( it also says this: "The City of Inkster borders Garden City on the south, and the City of Dearborn Heights abuts Garden City's east border" )
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Catman_dude
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Posted on Thursday, March 20, 2008 - 7:26 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

It's ironic that Westland is mentioned here but not the story of how Westland itself came to be. Yep, Livonia wanted to annex the part of Westland (then Nankin Township) that the new Westland Shopping Center was to be built. The township folk revolted at the idea and voted to incorporate as a city of Westland. So same story today, different township.
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Hudkina
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Posted on Thursday, March 20, 2008 - 8:27 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Garden City's southern border runs just over 3 miles from Inkster Rd in the east to just west of Radcliff St in the west. Roughly half of the border is with the city of Inkster while the other half is with the city of Westland.

I didn't say that Westland doesn't share a portion of Garden City's southern border, only that Inkster also shares a significant amount of the border, therefore indicating that Garden City can't really be considered a "peninsula".
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Ggores
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Posted on Friday, March 21, 2008 - 7:22 am:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

livonia has nicer, safer, drivers.
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Thnk2mch
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Post Number: 1116
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Posted on Friday, March 21, 2008 - 8:12 am:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

quote:

I didn't say that Westland doesn't share a portion of Garden City's southern border, only that Inkster also shares a significant amount of the border, therefore indicating that Garden City can't really be considered a "peninsula".



Whatever.... :-)

I guess it couldn't be a peninsula without water anyways.
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Novine
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Posted on Friday, March 21, 2008 - 9:05 am:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

"In any case, this "panhandle" would hardly be a new concept to city development patterns here, and when you consider other metropolitan areas these "panhandles" are actually quite normal."

That might be true but it doesn't change the fact that it makes for a mess. Does anyone think that the shape of Dearborn Heights makes for the efficient delivery of city services? I don't. As for other metropolitan areas, these extensions often occur into rural areas with minimal services. In this case, Northville Township provides almost all of the services of a comparably sized city. To have another city dividing it in two along a two mile stretch, especially when it's only a half-sized township in the first place, only guarantees a mess. This would be especially true for future residents who are going to wonder why, with Northville schools and Northville zip codes, why they have to wait for a fire truck or police car to come all the way from Livonia when they live just a minute or two from the same services in Northville Township.

(Message edited by novine on March 21, 2008)
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Dxdy
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Posted on Friday, March 21, 2008 - 12:15 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

http://www.detnews.com/apps/pb cs.dll/article?AID=/20080320/U PDATE/803200495/1361

Thursday, March 20, 2008
Judge sets trial date in Psychiatric Hospital annexation fight
The Detroit News
NORTHVILLE TOWNSHIP -- The movement to annex the sprawling, bucolic and perhaps contaminated Northville Psychiatric Hospital into Livonia hit a snag this afternoon.

One week after seven renters who moved onto the 414-acre grounds last fall filed petitions for the annexation, Wayne County Chief Circuit Judge William Giovan today set a May 13 trial date to determine whether they can be registered to vote in Northville. The distinction is huge. If a judge agrees with Northville Township attorneys and finds they aren't eligible voters, the renters could have no legal standing to file for a vote on annexation.

The development is the latest in a bare-knuckled, multi-faceted fight between the township and REIS Northville LLC. The developers are pitching one of the most ambitious projects in Metro Detroit's sluggish economy: Highwood, an $800 million, village-like mix of offices, homes and shops on the hospital

Township officials wouldn't approve plans without modifications, including the size of some lots and height of some buildings. Developers countered the high-density project couldn't work that way and filed a federal suit.

That's one of several fronts of the battle, including legislation in Lansing that would protect Northville and other charter townships from this type of annexation.

The property hugs the border of Northville and Livonia, whose zoning rules could accommodate the project. If an annexation vote goes forward, only Livonia residents and the renters would be able to cast ballots.

The new residents live in modular homes on the wooded property and pay rent to the developers. REIS' representatives initially said they were moved onto the grounds to provide security. Township officials feared the move was a precursor to an annexation vote -- especially because a high-profile Lansing attorney represented their court fight to temporarily register to vote.


--
Friends Don't Let Friends Annex Land
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Charlottepaul
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Posted on Friday, March 21, 2008 - 12:36 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

"....one of several fronts of the battle, including legislation in Lansing that would protect Northville and other charter townships from this type of annexation."

Because everyone knows that the more divided up municipalities are, the better off a whole metro area will be. Yeah right! Give me a break. Any differences between Livonia and Northville are far to small to be squabbling over. So much for metro Detroit being close to the verge of coming together. Sure is great that the metro area has so much going for it that none of the communities feel the need to work together [sarcasm implied]. It's universally theorized that regionally run metro areas (be them annexed or governed) are better off.
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Charlottepaul
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Posted on Friday, March 21, 2008 - 12:38 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Glad that southern metros have been able to learn so much about what northern rust belt cities did wrong. Thank you Charlotte for supporting mass transit and annexing surrounding communities! Things will work out better in the long run...
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Hudkina
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Posted on Friday, March 21, 2008 - 12:49 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

If that legislation goes through charter townships will be able to have their cake and eat it too. It's ridiculous that we even have to go through this mess to build a development like this. This is why we need to get rid of townships. They are an outdated and wasteful icon from a bygone era.
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Novine
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Posted on Friday, March 21, 2008 - 1:29 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

"It's ridiculous that we even have to go through this mess to build a development like this."

What's ridiculous is that the developers thought they could bully their way to get what they wanted. The township was up front with what their zoning and master plan would allow. If the developers didn't want to abide by those rules, they should have never bought the property or negotiated with the state to get a lower price. The township's position is both reasonable and supported by law.
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Charlottepaul
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Posted on Friday, March 21, 2008 - 1:42 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Yeah, well unfortunately not all laws (be them at the local or state level) are looking to unite metro areas.
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Novine
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Posted on Friday, March 21, 2008 - 1:52 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Can we drop the charade that this annexation attempt was anything more than an effort to bypass the zoning laws in Northville Township? Livonia is one of the prime obstacles to any regionalism in SE Michigan and let's not pretend otherwise. Northville Township shares a number of services with the City of Northville, a claim that Livonia can't make about any of its city services.
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Hudkina
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Posted on Friday, March 21, 2008 - 1:57 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Actually the developers have the law on their side. Otherwise you wouldn't see lawmakers "scrambling" to make it unlawful...

What's at issue is the legality of the housing permits and whether the developers have used them improperly, therefore bringing to question whether or not their petitions for annexation are legitimate. The township is fighting this kicking and screaming when it should realize it is only a TOWNSHIP! If it wants dominion over its own land then it should incorporate into the city of Northville Hills, like most of the former townships around here...

Otherwise, it is perfectly lawful for a city to annex land from a neighboring township when the voters of the city and the residents of the land in the township vote to approve it.

It doesn't matter what the other residents of the township think, they don't live in a city. They live in a chunk of a county that was long ago subdivided into a township for the simple function of running schools and elections.

While legislation in the past created "super townships" by allowing some to form charters, it still doesn't change the fundamental fact that they are not a true municipality.
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Hudkina
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Post Number: 152
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Posted on Friday, March 21, 2008 - 2:02 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Also, it doesn't matter what reason a city has for wanting to annex township land. Zoning regulations are irrelevant. It is obviously true that the developers are tired of trying to strike a deal with Northville TWP, but it doesn't matter. This is a matter between the residents of Livonia and the residents of the disputed land in Northville TWP.

The only thing left to settle is whether or not the residents of said land are legally allowed to reside on the land.
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Novine
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Posted on Friday, March 21, 2008 - 2:29 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

"The only thing left to settle is whether or not the residents of said land are legally allowed to reside on the land."

Actually not. There's several ways that the township can block the annexation before it ever gets to a vote.

"While legislation in the past created "super townships" by allowing some to form charters, it still doesn't change the fundamental fact that they are not a true municipality."

This is rubbish. All municipalities derive their existence from state law. Townships are no less of a municipality than a city.

(Message edited by novine on March 21, 2008)
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W_chicago
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Posted on Friday, March 21, 2008 - 3:12 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

I think REI's "Highwood" plan is really shitty, but I also think that Northville Township's reasons for opposing it are all wrong... for instance, the township want massive lots, and huge setbacks that will just be more sprawl.

Highwood has SOME elements new urbanism, but there are some unnecceary aspects (such as 8 story apartment buildings when they could just increase the density throughout, and big box stores and parking lots). Not to mention the townhouses, apartments, office, and retail are all in different section. Its like modern developers have lost all knowledge of how to build real cities... they are stuck in this cycle of suburban madness.

My opinion is that the City of Northville should annex that part of the Township and apply the same zoning ordinances (which are very new urbanist, opposed to the township which is the opposite, and almost exclusively suburban).

There has been lots of talk about the commercial section of Highwood, and how it will compete with Downtown Northville. Why not have them compliment each other? Build out Downtown Northville into the Highwood area, with grid streets, houses, townhouses, apartment buildings, "village centers," pocket parks, etc.

Folks in the Township say this development will "change the face of Northville" when they forget that the face of Northville has been obliterated in the past 10-15 years by massive sprawl developments by Pulte and and the like. Why continue this suicidal development pattern? Why not change the trajectory of development to be sustainable and pedestrian friendly????

I'm no longer a Northville resident, but I can say that Northville is way different than 10 years ago. WAYYY different. It's almost in a different world, separate from reality (one in which every single person has an one acre lot with a McMansion and an SUV). See ya Northville, nice knowin ya. I'm moving to the city, following all my fellow youths who are fleeing the suburban nightmare for a better life.
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Hudkina
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Post Number: 154
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Posted on Friday, March 21, 2008 - 4:34 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

I can see the city of Northville annexing all of Northville TWP to effectively become one large rectangular Northville.
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Hudkina
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Post Number: 155
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Posted on Friday, March 21, 2008 - 4:48 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Novine, a municipality is an incorporated entity such as a city or village. Michigan townships were never incorporated, and therefore are not true municipalities. The creation of charter townships brought a level of government that was very similar to an incorporated municipality, but they still aren't municipalities.

Also, I'm curious as to what other things need to be settled in regards to the process of Livonia annexing the land? Once it is determined whether or not the housing permits are valid, a vote by Livonia residents and the current "Highwood" residents is all that it will take for the annexation to occur. (assuming the judge rules the housing permits are valid.) I'm not an expert on the case, but I believe that since Livonia already filed the petition for annexation, even if Northville TWP decided to incorporate into a city, the land that is currently designated "Highwood" will still go to Livonia.

I'm also curious as to why you're so opposed to this? It's not like this is the first time something like this has happened. It's barely been a year since Pontiac annexed a portion of Bloomfield TWP to build something very similar to this. And if you go back to the 50's, 60's, and 70's the suburbs were fighting over jurisdictions like crazy.
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Novine
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Posted on Friday, March 21, 2008 - 9:59 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

"The charter township shall be a municipal corporation, to be known and designated as the charter township of ............................, and shall be subject to this act, which is the charter of the charter township. "

http://www.legislature.mi.gov/ mileg.aspx?page=getObject&obje ctName=mcl-42-1

Most of your argument is over semantics but from a legal standpoint, a township is no less legitimate than a city or village. The state legislature has the power to create or do away with any form of local government and the distinctions you draw between the various forms of government are minor compared to the similarities.

I'm not going to get into all of the details but there are several ways for Northville township to block the annexation. All involve working with an adjacent municipality, like Northville city, but any of them would effectively prevent the annexation to Livonia from going through.

My opposition to this comes from the belief that this annexation is contrary to the intent of the annexation laws. Such an annexation might make sense if the township was unable to provide the necessary services to allow for orderly development of the area. But no such claim can be made. This is simply being done to circumvent the zoning laws of a community. The same was true in the Bloomfield Township case. In both cases, a strong case can be made that the future residents of those annexed or to-be annexed areas will be worse off for the annexation, not better.
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Hudkina
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Posted on Friday, March 21, 2008 - 11:43 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

You talk about semantics as if this isn't what the hang-up is about. The township is suing the developer over the semantics of the housing permits...;)
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Jim
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Posted on Saturday, March 22, 2008 - 10:24 am:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

I am curious as to where the buyers will come from to live in 1000 units of residential space and which areas will need to be destabilized more than they are now to fill these 1000 units.
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Thnk2mch
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Posted on Sunday, March 23, 2008 - 8:39 am:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Here is another article on this...

http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs .dll/article?AID=/C5/20080320/ NEWS12/80321008/1110/CFP02
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Charlottepaul
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Username: Charlottepaul

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Posted on Sunday, March 23, 2008 - 9:54 am:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

"The legislation that passed 101-8 in the house, HB5779, is designed for townships with populations of 20,000 or more currently providing a full range of services to their community, Corriveau said."

Yeah! Another municipal definition!
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Novine
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Username: Novine

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Posted on Sunday, March 23, 2008 - 10:41 am:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Not really. That standard is already in state law as "urban townships". Corriveau's legislation simply applies that standard to the annexation laws.

"I am curious as to where the buyers will come from to live in 1000 units of residential space and which areas will need to be destabilized more than they are now to fill these 1000 units."

Someone should ask the Detroit News editorial board about that. They spouted off about the battle in the Sunday opinion page. The News believes that thousands of new residents will flock to this area, benefiting whichever community the development is located. They ignore what's been happening in SE Michigan for at least 30 years. At best, Livonia will merely see a shift of residents from one location in the city to another. They also dodge what it would cost for Livonia to provide services to this panhandle if the annexation took place.
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Charlottepaul
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Posted on Sunday, March 23, 2008 - 11:50 am:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

"They also dodge what it would cost for Livonia to provide services to this panhandle if the annexation took place."

Why wouldn't the cost be the same if it weren't annexed? It's gonna cost whichever 'city' it is in the same amount, no?
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Novine
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Posted on Sunday, March 23, 2008 - 9:09 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

"Why wouldn't the cost be the same if it weren't annexed? It's gonna cost whichever 'city' it is in the same amount, no?"

No, Northville Township already services the area with police, fire, etc. New residents would require additional services but does it really make sense that Livonia can do that more efficiently than Northville Township?
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Dxdy
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Posted on Monday, March 24, 2008 - 6:33 am:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Livonia would have to build a new fire station west of 275, whereas Northville Twp already has a station right behind the property.

The police, DPW, etc., have farther to drive than the Northville trucks. And, until the developers actually do demolish the old buildings, the Livonia police will be crossing 275 over and over again to roust the trespassers. The alleged security people now on the property know nothing about their security role, they were just put there to file the annexation papers.
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Dxdy
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Posted on Monday, March 24, 2008 - 6:41 am:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Also, Livonia will likely cave in and give the developer a brownfield exemption, which Northville has denied. Livonia taxpayers will then foot the bill for the cleanup, somewhere north of $15 million.
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Thnk2mch
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Posted on Monday, March 24, 2008 - 1:37 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

quote:

Livonia would have to build a new fire station west of 275, whereas Northville Twp already has a station right behind the property.



Livonia already has a new fire station ON Seven Mile around Levan. It seems to be about the same distance as Nothville's on Six Mile.
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Dxdy
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Posted on Monday, March 24, 2008 - 2:08 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

As long as they can get through the Seven Mile and Haggerty/275 intersection.

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