Members of the City of Northville Planning Commission have supported a recommendation from the Farmers Market Task Force to establish the amenity outside the proposed Northville Downs development.
Planning commissioners continued their deliberations on the topic of parks, open spaces, and the Farmers' Market during the meeting last week. The current plan allocates space for a temporary Farmers' Market location until the market can be moved to a permanent location. The Farmers' Market Task Force recommended an off-site location as preferred over a permanent location on the Downs project site.
The 2018 Master Plan, which guides the Downs development, states that a preferred land use of the racetrack property could include the Farmers' Market. The Farmers' Market Task Force members noted that given the current reality, locating the market off-site would be acceptable as long as it remains in the city and meets the criteria for vendors and shoppers. The preferred new site identified in the Task Force report is the former MacDonald Ford land at Seven Mile east of River Street, where the task force envisions building a year-round facility and expansion.
After much discussion, commissioners supported the recommendation to locate the Farmers' Market somewhere other than on the Downs site. As plans for the project move to a conclusion, planning commissioners will need to consider how relocating the market influences their thinking about public benefits of the project, officials noted.
Developer of the Downs project Randy Wertheimer said it will cost $200,000 to pave the land to host the market temporarily. The Farmers' Market will be on their site for three years - two of those years at the temporary location. The current site is planned for 25 units of housing and the temporary area is planned for 10 units and an additional eight condos that can't be built until the market moves off the site. Wertheimer said the temporary site provides better parking for vendors than the current site at the Downs. The developer is expected to cover the cost of electrical and water at the temporary site.
Wertheimer said the development team is making a $26 million commitment. Of that, he said, $16 million is projected to be returned in Brownfield credits. He didn't elaborate on how the other $10 million will be spent.
