Maplehill Townhouses Move Forward Over Objections

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A new townhouse development moved forward in Rochester Hills, despite heavy opposition from some neighboring property owners who say it will both increase traffic and affect the safety of their neighborhood.

At a meeting Tuesday, the Rochester Hills Planning Commission approved the proposed development of 10 townhomes on a dead-end street in Maplehill Road neighborhood, The Oakland Press reports.The vote was 6-0, with two members of the commission absent.

About 50 neighborhood residents, who have organized under the name of No Condos on Maplehill, asked the commission to deny developers’ request and preserve the character of the single-family neighborhood.

A restaurant on the other end of the street was also recently approved. Lisa Parsons, a member of the group, said that the two developments combined will put another 20 cars a day on the residential street. Also, a 60-unit apartment building was recently approved a mile away from Maplehill.

The big problem with the townhouse development was access for emergency vehicles. The Planning Commission will take up that issue, along with other issues related to the project, in meetings with city staff and the city attorney in the coming months.

The next steps are for the engineering staff to approve the plans once Birmingham developer Ron Jona obtains the necessary permits, then issue a land improvement permit that would allow the developer to begin grading the site.

Site work could begin in the spring.

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