The two families are asking for punitive and actual damages, as well as attorney fees, because the city did not reveal public information. The case is before Oakland County Circuit Court Judge Fred Mester.

Mester formerly presided over the Sandstone Associates Limited Partnership v. City of Novi, and in that case had awarded the developer approximately $70 million after the city refused to allow Sandstone to build on other property in the city.

In return for dropping the case, the city gave Sandstone more than 75 acres of land in what had been known as North Novi Park. The city claimed the given-up land had never been designated for parkland, and that residents would have had to pay hundreds of dollars in extra taxes each year to pay for the settlement.

However, the city also tried to give away additional land for a right of way along Dixon Road, that included land owned by the Coblentz's and the Lewandowskis. The city offered the two families $15,000 if they would release deed restrictions on the property, which had said the land was only to be used for residential or agricultural uses.

Sandstone plans a mixed-use development on the 75-acre site.The two families tried to obtain further written information about the Sandstone deal. However, city officials stymied written Freedom of Information Requests, according to attorney Gary Rossi, who said that the city deliberately botched the FOIA request, leaving out documents, exhibits and side agreements.

"The city of Novi has willfully and intentionally refused to provide the requested documents and or concealed the information from the general public," Rossi said.

Novi officials could not be reached for comment on this story.

Instant Insights /

Homeowners Say Information Held Secret Regarding Land Swap

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