Title
Request for Site Plan Approval - File No. PSP2025-0014 - for the City of Rochester Hills to develop Nowicki Park with a community center building, playground, dog park, walking paths, maintenance building, and associated site improvements on approximately 34.5 acres of land, located at 670 N. Adams Rd. and Parcel Nos. 15-08-151-001 and -002, and 15-08-100-006, -007 and -008, on the east side of Adams and south of Tienken, zoned R-1 One Family Residential; Steve Sutton, P.E., Nowak & Fraus Engineers, on behalf of the City of Rochester Hills, Applicant
Body
Resolved, in the matter of City File No. PSP2025-0014 (Nowicki Park), the Planning Commission approves the proposed Site Plan, to allow for the construction of an upgraded City Park, including a community building, open air pavilion, restroom facilities, dog park area, outdoor playground, pathway systems, parking areas, and associated infrastructure systems in the R-1 One Family Residential District, based on plans received by the Planning Department on September 11, 2025, with the following findings and subject to the following conditions:
Findings
1. The site plan and supporting documents demonstrate that all applicable requirements of the Zoning Ordinance, as well as other City Ordinances, standards, and requirements, can be met subject to the conditions noted below.
2. The proposed project is being constructed in a manner that provides for dedicated parking areas that provide adequate parking and the site will be accessed via an entrance/exit with dedicated exit turn lanes, directly to Adams Road, which is a major roadway, thereby promoting current and future safety and convenience of vehicular traffic both within the site and the general area.
3. Off-street parking areas for the general public are being provided for the park site based on the occupancy of the proposed buildings and structures in addition to general attendees of the park.
4. The proposed development and associated improvements should have a satisfactory and harmonious relationship with the existing development in the adjacent vicinity since the park is being left largely natural with structures taking up a small portion of the site area, is being heavily landscaped, and design accommodations in excess of ordinance requirements have been made in an attempt to reduce impacts to surrounding neighbors.
5. The proposed development will not have an unreasonably detrimental or injurious effect upon the existing characteristics and features of the site or those of the surrounding area. The proposed improvements will bring newly desired recreational opportunities, including a dog park, to a portion of the City that has not historically had an improved park and the Parks department has determined that 90 additional parking spaces over those required for building occupancy onsite will be sufficient to accommodate parking needs generated by general park users.
6. The Planning Commission finds that a modification to allow the required number of allowable parking spaces to be exceeded is appropriate, given the size and unique nature of the park that requires additional parking above and beyond those spaces solely required for the buildings.
Conditions
1. The applicant shall address all remaining comments and notations as depicted on the reviewed site plans.
2. Staff will investigate with the Road Commission for Oakland County the possibility of adding berms or plantings within the road right-of-way.