Madison Heights council delays decision on Dartmouth alley vacation after residents raise traffic concerns
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Summary
City staff recommended postponing the requested vacation of a 17-foot alley serving properties on West 12 Mile and Dartmouth so a traffic study and Road Commission review can be completed; residents urged council to reject the change at the Nov. 10 meeting.
City staff recommended that the Madison Heights City Council postpone action on an alley vacation request affecting a 17-foot improved alley between 601 West 12 Mile Road and 28767 Dartmouth Road, and council voted to delay the proposal to the Nov. 10 meeting.
The city planner told council staff had received a requested traffic study and recommended postponement so staff could "fully review the traffic analysis, meet with the road commission of Oakland County, and prepare a complete recommendation for council's consideration." The planner recommended a motion to postpone the alley vacation request, PEE25-01, to the Nov. 10, 2025, council meeting; council made and seconded that motion and approved it by voice vote.
The alley provides access to an adjacent parcel and to property at 611 West 12 Mile Road. Residents who spoke during the public-comment period urged council to reject or delay the proposal until traffic impacts and legal constraints were clarified. "For 1 hour from 5PM to 6PM, I counted a total of 226 car interactions," said Kathy Sapia, identifying herself as a resident of the Dartmouth/Caram Drive/Bel Air Streets neighborhood. She added she counted "200 car interactions" between 7:30 a.m. and 8:30 a.m. and warned the alley access would add "a daily minimum of a 170 additional cars."
Neighbor Timothy Genster, whose property borders the alley, said the alley currently carries utility lines to his house and warned the change could create safety, noise and property-value concerns. "The proposed egress, which we query Michigan left to travel north on Dartmouth, will further create bottlenecks, increase noise and pollution, and add to the neighborhood frustration," Genster said. Resident Chris Webster questioned whether the property could be demolished and repurposed for parking without a zoning change and noted an existing parking lot adjacent to the site.
Council members and staff emphasized the item was postponed to allow technical review rather than being decided tonight. Mayor Grafton said he "look[s] forward to more information on the well documented traffic study as well as what the RCOC might have for some recommendations" before the Nov. 10 vote.
The postponement means staff will complete the traffic analysis and consult the Road Commission of Oakland County before the council takes a final vote at its next meeting.