City Council Minutes

Mr. Beaubian introduced the report (previously delivered to the various Commission members), Downtown Traffic Study for the City of Northville. He stated the purpose of the study was to analyze in detail the:

- operation of the intersection of Center and Main and the effect of a "no left turn" restriction;

- various scenarios for the operation of Mary Alexander Court;

- future impact of a proposed regional postal facility on the intersection of Cady and Wing and Cady and Center and an analysis of a possible traffic signal at these intersections;

- operation of intersection of Dunlap and Hutton and the conversion to a T-intersection; and

- to offer recommendations to improve pedestrian movement and safety throughout the downtown area.

The crash history of the past three years, involving the significant intersections of the downtown area, revealed that nearly 50% involved parked cars.

Several key intersections in the downtown area were analyzed with the following recommendations:

Center and Main:

- Left-hand turns be prohibited on Center Street.

- Divert northbound left-hand turning traffic to the Center and Cady intersection.

- Divert southbound left-hand turning traffic to the Center and Dunlap intersection.

Center and Cady:

- A traffic signal is not warranted at this time.

- If left turns are prohibited at Center and Main, install a dedicated left turn lane on northbound approach at Cady.

- Complete curb drops on all corners of the intersection.

Hutton and Dunlap:

- Retain the channelization islands and replace trees and shrubs with lower plantings.

- Review crash history after improvements before possible rebuilding of intersection.

- Repaint the crosswalks.

Hutton and Main:

- Consider constructing curb extensions on the southbound approach of the intersection.

- Provide a crosswalk across Main Street on the westbound approach.

- Consider a pedestrian signal head across the north leg.

- Provide curb drops on all corners.

- Provide four-faced traffic signal if south Hutton Street becomes two-way.

Wing and Cady:

- Traffic signal not warranted at this time, even with the possible expansion of the Post Office.

Mary Alexander Court and Hutton:

- Maintain one-way operation on Mary Alexander Court.

- Consider converting Hutton between Mary Alexander Court and Main Street to two-way operation.

- Traffic circle is not needed at Mary Alexander Court and Hutton Street

- Paint a crosswalk across Mary Alexander Court at Center Street.

Additional points of discussion included the problems of making Mary Alexander Court a two-way street, new technology used in pedestrian safety, angle versus parallel parking on Mary Alexander Court, and possible traffic patterns when prohibiting left-hand turns on Center Street. It was stated that the study took into account a slight annual increase in traffic with no new development, except for the possible Post Office expansion. It was also pointed out that it is dangerous to put a signal where one is not warranted, and that better signage is needed to indicate where parking is available.

DDA Director Lori Ward explained the assignment of the subcommittee, which was appointed by the Mayor after a previous joint meeting on possible future development in the City. Four issues emerged at the initial meeting of the subcommittee: Cady Street development and ancillary issues, traffic and pedestrian circulation, the Hutton Street curve, and the Cady Street terminus. The subcommittee proposed the following conceptual design plan:

- Downtown to be expanded to include property presently north of Dunlap to property south of Cady Street. The northern boundary would be formed by an extension of Randolph Street crossing Center Street and connecting to Hutton Street. The southern boundary would be formed by an extension of Beal Street that would cross through the present Northville Downs property and connect to Wing Street.

- This larger block, bordered on Main, Center, the new extended Randolph, and Hutton Street with liner buildings, would allow a more efficient and larger parking lot behind the Marquis Theatre.

- Two new blocks of commercial or service shops could be realized in the property developed between Cady Street and the newly created extension of Beal Street.

- At the extreme east quadrant of the City (Belanger Building), a development similar to the Kerry Town of Ann Arbor could be realized, with a possible permanent home for the Farmers’ Market.

Questions arose regarding the development of the proposed parking areas, the concept of "zone" parking versus "dispersing" parking, and who would build the parking areas.

Specific open spaces were designated in the conceptual design plan. Additionally, two north/south pedestrian walkways were outlined: one skirting both sides of Ford Field and traveling south bordering Mill Pond; and one starting at the Randolph Street extension through the parking lot area, through the Main Street buildings, the newly proposed Cambridge Place, Cady Street, and into the extended Beal Street.

Planning Consultant Don Wortman outlined steps the Planning Commission could take to facilitate any approved elements of the design plan.

- Amending the Master plan to incorporate a modified Downtown Area Plan.

- Draft language to be inserted in the Zoning Ordinance establishing setbacks along Cady Street.

- Investigate options for incentive based zoning.

- Investigate extending the Height Overlay District to other areas of Cady Street.

The areas proposed to be included in the newly expanded DDA include:

- On the west, the businesses on Wing between Main and Dunlap, and the present Gardenviews.

- On the west, the Municipal Buildings including City Hall, the Community Center, and the Library.

- On the west, the Post Office area.

- On the north, the Mill Race Village.

- On the east, the Ford Plant area, the Belanger properties, and Foundry Flask property.

- On the south, the Northville Downs site.

The benefits of expanding the DDA boundaries include:

- The ability of the DDA to play a proactive role in the development of these properties by participating in identifying potential developers and in negotiating the potential projects.

- The DDA will be allowed to spend TIF and 2 mill revenues on improvements in these areas.

- The DDA would be able to improve the southern entrance to the downtown.

- The DDA would be able to participate in projects located in these areas, maximizing the chances of the projects obtaining grants.

The liabilities of expanding the DDA boundaries include:

- The affected taxing jurisdictions would have the ability to "opt out" from capture in the new areas. This could leave the DDA capturing only the City portion of the revenue.

- Increasing the boundaries without increasing the revenues could dilute the amount and quality of the downtown projects.

- Wing Street area may be sensitive to DDA expansiom into a residential neighborhood.

The benefits of extending the DDA expiration date include ensuring its operation through the life of bond issuance of construction projects, taxing jurisdictions cannot "opt out", and insuring its operation through various projects such as the Post Office expansion, and Cady Street development.

Questions arose regarding the inclusion of specific properties, the tax income generated by the Northville Downs property, and the financial ramifications of a new TIF boundary.

Mayor Johnson reiterated the purpose of the meeting was to share the subcommittee’s conceptual design plan for the downtown. He expressed personal and public gratitude for the quality and quantity of work performed by the Committee members. He stated he and the committee members will be attending the various Commission meetings to receive feedback on the information presented.

There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned.

Respectfully submitted,

Carol T. Kasprowicz

Recording Secretary