Northville Community Divided Over Street Closures
In the charming city of Northville, the topic of seasonal street closures continues to spark heated debates among residents. As we dive into the latest developments, it appears that an advisory question regarding the seasonal closures of Main and Center Streets will not be on the ballots for either Wayne or Oakland Counties this November.
The Backstory
It all started at a special city council meeting back in late July, where the Northville City Council voted to propose a question for the upcoming election. The question asked whether the city should keep the seasonal closures of these streets, which turned them into a pedestrian-friendly zone from May until October. The closed area consists of Main Street from Center to Hutton and Center Street from Main to Dunlap.
The proposal received support from four out of five council members. However, one notable dissenting voice belonged to Mayor Pro-Tem Barbara Moroski-Browne, who expressed concerns that the advisory question did not adequately reflect the opinions of all city stakeholders and was lacking in precedent.
Legal Hurdles
However, things took a turn when Jonathan Brater, the Director of Elections for the State Department, stepped in. He informed Wayne County Clerk Cathy Garrett that the Northville city charter does not allow for such an advisory question to be placed on the ballot. In his communication, Brater pointed out that the Attorney General has also stated that local governments are prohibited from placing advisory questions on ballots without explicit legal authority.
This created a bit of a scramble for the Wayne County election commission as they considered the implications of this ruling. Since counties need to finalize their ballot language at least sixty days before the election, which falls on September 6 in this case, there was little room for maneuvering.
The Community’s Split Opinion
The downtown street closures have been divisive since they were first implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic. The aim was to support local businesses while ensuring there was enough space for social distancing. Fast forward to today, and some community members feel it’s time to revert to the pre-pandemic way of life.
Indeed, in 2022, the Northville City Council voted to make these street closures a permanent fixture, later extending the policy to cover April through November while allowing traffic during winter months. Amid this backdrop, a nonprofit group named Let’s Open Northville emerged, advocating for the reopening of the streets to traffic year-round. They have even taken legal action to back up their stance, claiming that the closures contribute to increased traffic in nearby residential areas and pose safety risks while hurting local businesses.
Voices from the Community
Members of the nonprofit have been vocal in their opposition to the advisory question itself. Attorney and board member Joe Corriveau condemned the city council’s efforts, labeling them as “rushed” and “poorly researched.” He added that this ongoing issue has significantly affected the community and criticized the city for only adding to their burden.
What Lies Ahead?
As it stands, the advisory question will not make it to the ballot this November. This decision leaves the community at a crossroads: will the city council continue to push for seasonal street closures, or will they consider reverting back to pre-pandemic norms based on community feedback?
It’s clear that the residents of Northville are invested in the discussion surrounding their city’s streets. The outcome of this debate will likely shape the downtown experience for years to come. As opinions continue to clash, one thing is for sure: the heart of Northville will keep beating to the rhythm of its community voices.
