Ordinance, fence chart new ‘terrain’ in Northville

Scott Spielman

A section of Northville Township once destined to be a public safety training facility has turned into an enforcement issue, instead.

Township officials are reacting to complaints from residents about the former Detroit House of Corrections (DeHoCo) property that the township purchased from the City of Detroit several years ago. The expanse of land in the western portion of the township is vacant save for the man-made hills created when dirt was moved for a nearby development-hills and an otherwise empty piece of land that have become an attraction for would-be daredevils on All Terrain Vehicles (ATVs). A makeshift course has been carved into the property where motorbikes and other vehicles run through all hours of the day and night.

“We’ve had people set up lawn chairs to watch all the activity,” said Township Manager Chip Snider. “It’s become a major problem. There are liability issues.”

The township has an ordinance against that kind of activity and recently enacted another one to cover sport utility vehicles (SUVs) after residents complained that people were now driving pick-up trucks and other off-road vehicles out there, too.

“It’s 24/7 that the activity is going on out there,” said John Werth, director of Northville Public Safety.

The property, located out near Five Mile and Ridge roads, was identified last year as a potential location for a public safety training facility planned as an expansion for Schoolcraft College. There are six access points to the property. The township board authorized the expense of about $5,000 to fence off those entrances.

“The word is out; this attracts a lot of people,” said Werth. “We’re just trying to reduce the activity.”

The first time the proposed expense was introduced, it was tabled on a 4-3 vote. Township Trustee Marv Gans said he didn’t want to spend the money; he wanted to see if additional signage and the new ordinance would cut down the activity, instead.

“We have to give the ordinance a chance to work,” said Gans. “I can’t see wasting our money on something that really doesn’t do the job. I’d rather see it spend on something that will benefit our residents.”

Werth said the township has issued several tickets and three of them have been thrown out by the court. There is signage out there, but he said additional signs would be put up and elevated-the existing signs were attached at 6 feet high, the new ones will be 11 feet from the ground.

Clerk Sue Hillebrand said the fencing would help reduce the activity, which has become a major problem. In addition to sending police officers out there regularly, the township has to clean up the property.

“It’s an enforcement issue now,” she said. “We are spending resources. We’re going to continue to spend resources.”

Township Supervisor Mark Abbo said he was in favor of putting up additional signs and fencing as well to show the residents who had complained about the activity that they were trying to stop it.

Trustee Mindy Hermann, who had voted to table the issue, voted to take it up again. The second time, it was approved, 6-1.

“If we’re going to do it, let’s do it right,” said Abbo. “People who want to break the law are going to find a way to do it. What this will do will keep the honest people honest.

“We want to send a strong message,” he added. “We want everyone to know that this is illegal.”

--

Source: http://www.journalgroup.com/Northville/11049/ordinance-fence-chart-new-terrain-in-northville

---

Add this page to your favorite Social Bookmarking websites