2022 Berkley Year End Update

2022 has brought many new businesses in Berkley, some new faces on City Council, updates to our infrastructure, and new plans for the future.

Parking Study

The City and Downtown Development Authority have begun a commercial parking study. The purpose of the study is to evaluate the city's parking needs and consider approaches that could be used to meet those needs. The results will then be used to update our parking standards as part of a comprehensive rewrite of our zoning ordinance that is coming up soon.

I'm serving as a member of the study's steering committee. A meeting will be held sometime in January or February to gather public input.

Business Road Closures

Council discussed the use of parking spaces for outdoor dining and retail and the closure of streets like Griffith at 12 Mile. A $300 permit fee through April 30, 2023 was approved, at which time the special outdoor use will expire. This is now open to any business.

This discussion will continue on if and how these outdoor dining and retail options might be made permanent. From my point of view, we need to finalize the details with full public participation to determine what will work best for the city rather than continuing to kick the can down the road.

New Businesses in 2022

Berkley saw a lot of new businesses open in 2022, as well as some old favorites coming back, and there are new businesses just around the corner.

This list is probably not comprehensive, but it is all of the stores and restaurants I'm aware of.

Open Now

Aqua-Tots youth swim school.
El Patio Mexican Restaurant.
Flipside Records.
Hard Luck Barber Shop.
Little Lou's Hot Chicken.
Nada & Co. home decor.
Our Neighborhood Academy providing real world learning opportunities for young adults with special needs.
O'Mara's Irish Restaurant and the Blarney Stone Pub have reopened.
Perch 313 vintage rugs and decor.
Reduex Market specializing in restyled, vintage, and handmade home décor.
Zoom Room dog training.

Coming Soon

Chazzano Coffee Roasters, opening January 3 at 10am.
Pita Way Mediterranean eats.
Apartments at the former La Salette school are expected to open in the first quarter of 2023.
Five marijuana dispensaries are in various stages of construction (see below).

Marijuana Update

The city has completed the process of awarding five licenses for marijuana retail businesses. Work is underway at most of them.

The locations are:

butter, 2222 11 Mile Rd
Quality Roots, 3916 11 Mile Rd
Moses Roses, 3120 11 Mile Rd
Lume, 1949 12 Mile Rd
Seven Point, 28557 Woodward Ave

Click the image below for an interactive map of the locations.

During this process, multiple unsuccessful applicants sued the city. Recently, the State Court of Appeals ruled in favor of the city. The city's law and scoring were found to be legal, upholding the lower court's ruling. The city was also found to be in compliance with the Opening Meetings Act, reversing the lower court's decision. This is a published opinion meaning that the ruling is a binding precedent statewide.

Talk with Dennis

My next Talk with Dennis event is Thursday, January 12. Stop by the library between 6 and 8pm to ask any questions or share concerns you may have.

Construction Updates

The water main and road reconstruction on Kenmore and Cornwall is substantially complete. Sidewalk and lawn repairs will be completed in the spring. Some of the driveway aprons near 12 Mile are substandard and the city is requiring the contractor to repair those.

Repairs to Wiltshire Road have been approved for 2023. The plan is for a full road reconstruction and water main replacement from Woodward to Mortenson and repaving the road from Mortenson to Coolidge. The project is expected to start in the spring but may have a delayed start due to on-going supply issues. There will be an on-site meeting for residents who will be impacted to discuss the project and answer questions.

Residents living on these sections of Wiltshire are urged to have their sewer line inspected by video. Any necessary repairs that involve digging up the road will be much cheaper to perform now than if you must fully restore the newly repaired road.

The city is continuing lead service line replacements throughout the city. This project is expected to take until 2041. The city will find and replace lead water lines even if you take no action. However, check the city website for information on how to have your lines checked and, if needed, replaced sooner.

City Council Updates

In November, Representative Price won her election to the Michigan House, leaving a vacancy on city council. After considering 11 applications, Council named Mike Dooley to fill the vacant seat. He will be sworn in on January 9.

At the final meeting of the year, Mayor Terbrack announced is retirement from public office after 15 years of service. He feels that due to increased family and work obligations, he is no longer able to give his job as Mayor the attention it deserves and so he is stepping down.

This leaves another vacancy on council to be filled. Information about the process and how to apply is available on the City's website.

Other Updates

October 17: City council approved the last marijuana license, a parking study, road maintenance, a gun buyback program, and more.
November 21: Council gave their final approval to make the road diet permanent; approved Downtown Design Guidelines, updates to construction standards, and AirBnB regulations; formed a committee to fill a Council vacancy, and more.
December 5: Council heard presentations from applicants for the vacant seat and continued the discussion on the Griffith road closure, among other matters.
Deccember 19: Council named Dooley to the vacant seat, the Mayor retired, and more.

Kitten Update

I've been told I must continue to provide kitten pictures because they're cute.

Cosette, the gray one with one eye, is now toilet trained (on the human toilet). Nicolete is still struggling.

This was the first year the kittens experienced a live Christmas tree. They loved playing and laying under and around it. I think they think we got it just for them.

Cats with pumpkin

Cats resting on a blanket

Cats sleeping in basket

Cats in front of Christmas tree

Upcoming Events

Talk with Dennis, Tuesday, January 12 from 6 to 8pm at the library.
WinterFest, Saturday, February 4 from 12 to 2pm at the Community Center.
Leprechauns Scavenger Hunt, March.
Leprechauns Day Out, March 16-19.
Downtown Block Party, March 18.
City Council
- Regular meetings on January 9, February 6, March 6, and March 20.
- Special Meeting to name a new Mayor Pro Tem, January 3.
- City Council Vacancy Ad Hoc Committee, tentatively January 6.
- Special Meeting to fill the council vacancy, tentatively January 23.
Planning Commission meetings on January 24, February 28, and March 20.
Zoning Board of Appeals meetings tentatively on February 13 and March 13.
More events are on the City Calendar.

Other News Resources

Sign up for the city's monthly newsletter or see past editions.
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Follow me on Facebook.
I'm active on Nextdoor and the Berkley Residents Forum on Facebook.

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Dennis Hennen, Berkley City Council