Troy Zoning Board of Appeals - September 2015 Meeting Recap

City staff has posted the video recording of the 9/15/15 Troy Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) meeting to YouTube. At the bottom of this post is the video. (The meeting actually starts shortly after the 1:35 minute mark of the video.)

Click here to download the entire Agenda Packet from the September 15th meeting.

There were three items on the agenda:

1. A variance for 2106 Rochester (in order to build two new homes). The ZBA approved the variance. I voted "yes" to approve the variance.
2. A variance for 2060 Rochester (to legitimize a recently built home). The ZBA approved the variance. I voted "yes" to approve the variance.
3. A variance for 2040 Rochester (to legitimize a recently built home). The ZBA approved the variance. I voted "yes" to approve the variance.

Troy Trail and Pathway Project - August 2015 Meeting

Photo from 8/20/15 public meeting

On 8/20/15, I attended a public meeting, sponsored by the City of Troy and the Trail and Pathway Committee, to discuss the proposed Trail and Pathway project. According to the Troy Times, "the proposed project includes an 11-mile nonmotorized trail and pathway system that would connect the Clinton River Trail in Auburn Hills to the Civic Center Campus on Big Beaver."

Based upon public feedback, it looks like the City has gone back to the drawing board for the first segment of the trail from Firefighters Park to the northwest border of Troy. Below is the the email communication that attendees at the August 20th public meeting received...

The City of Troy staff would like to thank you for participating in the public engagement process for the proposed trail and pathway. The comments provided were helpful in determining the next steps in this plan. Comments indicated that the City of Troy staff should consider an alternative route that only uses major roads and not through subdivision streets and behind or aside residential homes. City of Troy will host another public engagement forum where everyone will have an opportunity to learn about the two or three proposed routes and its differences. At the end, participants will have the ability to leave comments on either routes and give preference to one route or the other. The date for the public engagement will be announced through mailing all homes abutting each route a letter inviting him or her to attend and through various forms of communication to the community. We will also be updating the website at www.troymi.gov/troytrails with the new proposed routes using major roads and allow participants to leave comments on the map. Please also use this website for current information on the process and the announcement of the public engagement date. As always, if you have any specific questions, you can email or call me.


Kurt Bovensiep, Public Works Manager

According to the City's website, a second public engagement regarding Troy’s Trail and Pathway proposed routes will be held on Monday, October 5th, 2015 at 6:30pm to 9:00pm at the Troy Community Center. Click here for additional information.

Good to hear that the City of Troy is still committed to this trail system!

Photo from 8/20/15 public meeting

Thanks to Kurt Bovensiep and Ashely Levin from Troy's Department of Public Works, I've uploaded a couple of informative documents that you can view/print by clicking on the links below...

• Troy Trail and Pathway Route Classifications

• Trail Safety Concerns

Kurt and Ashely actually provided several other files that I wanted to post here but they were way too big to post on the web.

City of Troy Boomers & Shakers Master Plan Forum

On 8/17/15, the City of Troy held a Boomers and Shakers Master Plan Forum at the Troy Community Center. Thanks to an article in the Troy Times (click here to view/print), I learned that Troy city leaders wanted to hear from "seniors, empty nesters and baby boomers" about what’s important to them as they update the Troy Master Plan. Since I fall in the baby boomer category, I decided to attend the forum.

The City's website stated, "the purpose of this forum is to engage with empty nesters, baby boomers and seniors to learn what their concerns are when it comes to issues such as housing, transportation, walkability, safety and security, recreation and cultural activities." Click here to read more on the City's website.

City Economic & Community Development Director Mark Miller sent me (thank you Mark!) an electronic copy of the slides that were displayed during the forum. Click here view/print the slides.

Also, I've posted below a few photos I took during the presentations.