For Safety's Sake, Residents Ask for Compromise in Big Beaver PUD

Dozens of Troy residents living in a neighborhood near Big Beaver and Crooks roads  to express their concerns about a proposed Planned Unit Development from AF Jonna Development, saying the project's current layout could pose safety risks to drivers and pedestrians on Alpine Road just north of Big Beaver.

The development, for which a public hearing was held Monday evening, includes a one-story, 24,000-square-foot retail building and a 4,000-square-foot bank branch along the Big Beaver frontage, in addition to 16 single-family residential plots to the north.

Several residents – including Troy Planning Commissioner Tom Krent, who lives in the neighborhood and spoke on behalf of other residents – said traffic is already congested on Alpine Road and adding a driveway on Alpine for a drive-through bank so close to Big Beaver Road would simply be dangerous. Krent suggested moving the bank to the east side of the development so it would no longer be a safety issue.

“We welcome this development; we think it’s great," Krent said, though he added, “Your biggest responsibility to the residents of Troy is safety.”

Representatives from AF Jonna Development said they have already compromised by decreasing the width of the driveway on Alpine and setting it back farther from Big Beaver Road, but residents said it was not enough.

Councilman Dane Slater sided with residents and noted the lack of a traffic study at the intersection of Alpine and Big Beaver roads. 

“I’m waiting for somebody to give me the other side that this is going to be the safe project at Alpine and Big Beaver," Slater said. "I’ve asked the traffic guy, and I didn’t get an answer from him. That’s the most important issue to me.”

Council asked the developer to complete a traffic study by Sept. 24 and voted 6-0 to table the issue until the traffic study is complete.