Development may be on the horizon at former Sarah Fisher site

FARMINGTON HILLS — At a Farmington Hills City Council meeting March 3, City Council members unanimously approved an amended proposal for development at the former site of the St. Vincent and Sarah Fisher Center, which was  located on the northwest corner of 12 Mile and Inkster roads for approximately 75 years before relocating to Detroit more than 15 years ago. Since then, the site has been vacant.

The center previously housed mothers and children in need.

The project was first introduced in 2021, and after the 7-0 vote, City Council members showed a combination of joy and relief.

“I am so happy to see this come to fruition,”  City Councilman Randy Bruce said. “Seeing proposals come and go and watching those buildings deteriorate over decades, (this) will really add a lot to our city.”

Farmington Hills  Mayor Theresa Rich concurred.

“We are so excited about this,” she said. “Can’t wait to see the contract.”

Getting to the contract may take some time.

The development is called Villas at Pebble Creek, and according to Charmaine Kettler-Schmult, who is the director of the city’s planning and community development department, the project had some revisions and has transitioned into what is set to be a 75-unit, site-built, detached, one-family homes project.

Before a contract comes to the City Council, it must first be approved by the city’s attorneys.

There is a back-and-forth process between the city’s legal team and the developer’s legal team. According to Kettler-Schmult, the city’s attorneys coalesce everything that has been put together and approved to date and the developer’s legal counsel does the same.

“Frequently, development companies are interested in the installation and sale of the property,” she said. “They may not be quite so interested in what happens after residents take over.”

As a result, eventualities are put in the agreements so everyone knows what their responsibilities are moving forward, according to Kettler-Schmult. Eventualities are considerations for future land users at the property.

“The city tries to make sure we have eventualities considered,” Kettler-Schmult said. “Like, who’s going to be responsible for replacing that road in 20 years? Who’s going to be responsible for maintaining the landscaping when the development company pulls out.”

Eventualities and installations are among the things included in the contract and the agreements, according to Kettler-Schmult. The development company reviews it through their legal counsel and when there is a final document, it will then  go to the City Council for final approval.

Kettler-Schmult gave a cursory overview of what happens after the contract is signed and before the builders can break ground.

Once the agreement and approval process is completed, there is an engineering review.  Currently, at the site there is a limitation of the sanitary service on the property, according to Kettler-Schmult.

“There will need to be an update on that system to accommodate any new homes,” Kettler-Schmult said. “The city is partnering with the development company to do those upgrades. That is at least a year out.”

Developers like to move in a sequence from demolition, to underground construction, to roadways, to home construction, according to Kettler-Schmult.

“I wouldn’t anticipate seeing anything soon on the actual construction site other than perhaps demolition,” Kettler-Schmult said.