In a public meeting with Main Street Oakland County consultants, Highland resident Jim Lloyd voiced many residents' hopes for a future downtown.

"I'd like to see a clear visual story that tells me about the history of Highland," Lloyd said.

Township residents at the May 15 meeting spoke with Main Street consultants Michael Schroeder and Keith Tianen about roads, green space, building design and new features they would like to see in downtown Highland.

Schroeder is a community development consultant and landscape architect with Westwood Professional Services in Minnesota. Tianen is a traffic consultant from Pinckney.

The Downtown Development Authority and the Road Commission for Oakland County were also in attendance.

Residents suggested several new features, including a concert stage or gathering area, more sidewalks, a bicycle path connecting Milford and Highland and more facilities for outdoor activities such as archery, canoeing and horseback riding.

Schroeder reminded residents that the Main Street program emphasizes historical preservation as well as downtown development.

"We are trying to find a set of character-defining features in Highland that we can build a pattern around," he said.

When Schroeder asked residents what they did not want changed, responses included the Highland Feed & Supply building, resident Roscoe Smith's historic gas pumps, Highland State Recreation Area, historic barns and the green space between Colasanti's and the Highland Station area.

Ease of movement and travel within the township was one of residents' main concerns.

"I'd like to see more roads than what we have, because what we have is completely congested," said resident Julia Dowson.

A second meeting on May 16 addressed road design in Highland Station. Bahm said that the DDA hopes to lower the speed limit downtown, making the area safer for pedestrians and cyclists. The Road Commission for Oakland County, which sets or changes speed limits, sent representatives to both meetings.

Director Jill Bahm said that the DDA's main goal in revitalizing the Highland Station area was to have a more pedestrian-friendly area.

Bahm said the DDA has yet to receive the consultants' report, which should include recommendations on road width, on-street parking along Milford Road and other possible changes in the downtown area.

The next step in the Main Street program is a needs assessment on June 13 and 14. Property owners in the Highland Station area may contact the DDA at (248) 887-7200 to set up an interview with needs assessors.