The Planning and Economic Development Committee convened on October 16, 2025, to address a full agenda featuring multiple public hearings on zoning amendments, development exemptions, and property rehabilitation projects. The session was marked by significant public concern regarding the complexity and timing of proposed zoning text amendments, with many residents expressing distrust in the rushed process and demand for greater community engagement. The committee approved several projects, including a community farm redevelopment and a major office building conversion, while deferring the controversial "Housing and Parking" ordinance to allow for additional consultation and the scheduling of a dedicated public hearing.
10:15 AM Public Hearing (Rezoning for Detroit Farm and Cider & Jehovah Shalom Church): Leandra King and Woodrow Hankins presented a request to rezone seven parcels from R2/R5/R6 to SD1 (Special Development Small Scale Mixed Use) to allow for a youth equestrian farm, cider pressing, retail sales, and a church expansion including child care and event hosting. The City Planning Commission recommended approval.
10:35 AM Public Hearing (Sixth General Text Amendment): Staff presented 17 substantive and non-substantive changes to the zoning code, including conditional allowances for lofts in R1/R2, by-right lofts in B2/B3/B4 districts, expanded allowances for tattoo parlors and brew pubs, removal of 500-foot spacing for miniature golf, and changes to the definition of "family" (increasing unrelated occupancy from 2 to 4).
10:55 AM Public Hearing (PA 146 Certificate for Wayne Tower LLC): Representatives from Black Acre Management requested an Obsolete Property Rehabilitation (OPR) certificate to redevelop the vacant 1200 Sixth Street office towers into 354 residential units (71 affordable), a 114-room hotel, and commercial space. The project promises a $71.9 million investment and 333 construction jobs.
8.1, 8.4, and 8.7 (Screening and Buffering Amendment Updates): Director Marcel Todd clarified that most changes to the screening ordinance no longer require public hearings, with only one item requiring future review. The items were initially approved but required reconsideration to ensure the correct procedural action (Receive and File vs. Introduction).
8.2 (Broderick Tower PA 210 Commercial Rehabilitation District): Councilmember Johnson confirmed she had met with the developer and addressed constituent concerns. The item was moved for approval.
8.5 (Housing and Parking Ordinance - COO Proposal): This item, proposed to increase housing capacity by modifying zoning in R2-R6 districts, became the primary discussion point. Director Schneider and COO team acknowledged community confusion, particularly regarding historic districts and the North End. They proposed adding explicit exemptions for historic districts and committing to further engagement in the Lower North End (R3 zones).
9.16 (Miscellaneous Council President Pro Tem): Request for LPD assignment clarification was brought back in one week pending resolution.
Other Dispositions:
Approved for Formal Session (with amendments):
Deferral/Postponement:
Removal/Referral:
Procedural Clarifications:
Public Engagement Commitment:
On any general item, please raise your hand now. Uh if you are uh calling in or here for a particular um public hearing, you will have an opportunity during that portion of the meeting to give your comments, but so I'm just asking you to please reserve your your time for that moment. But if you're calling about anything in general uh that's on the agenda or just in general, period, please raise your hand now. I think I saw two hands in the committee of the whole. All right. Uh going once, going twice, going three times. Collection of public comments have now concluded. Uh Ms. Caprice, good morning to you. Good morning, sir. We have 14 callers online, two in person. Okay. So it takes us to uh 16 callers. As I mentioned, we have uh quite a number of public hearings today. So we want to move briskly. I'm gonna give everyone uh a minute for general public comment. And we're gonna allow our two individuals to come to the microphones who are in the committee of the whole currently. And just as a word of advice, if uh when you get to the microphone, you want to push that button at the bottom and let the all let the red turn uh green. Oh, we have one. Okay, sorry about that. We have one person who wants to speak. And we're gonna have to give everyone the same amount of time, so please be mindful of the clock. And your time begins now. Good morning. Good morning. How is everybody doing? Doing blessed. I'm Reverend Cheryl Clark, and yes, we all are blessed because we woke up this morning. Um, my property is 13845 guided. Um, which is sits in R2 area, and so I'm here to get recognition for that community to be a part of this uh advancement in development with the condos. Right now they are two sitting on Lumpkin, and I don't know if they I don't know what, but anywhere it's two sitting, two condos sitting on Lumpkin. So that's how I became aware of the fact of what's happening over there. So that's all I have to say. The citizens that well, that's not all I have to say. The citizens that live in that area have been there for 50 and 60 years, and they should not be left out of this development. Again, I'm Reverend Cheryl Clark. My address is 13845 guided 48212. Thank you. Thank you so much. All right, we shall now go to our folks who are calling online. Who's our first caller? Our first caller is Owner Papa. All right, caller, the floor is yours. You have a minute, general public comment. Good morning, and through the chair, may I be heard? Yes, ma'am. Yes, one minute is really not enough to give the public for general comments. Um this this whole this whole committee has been a fraud. What you have planned is to take the money from citizens, property taxes, and fill holes for the things that you have been planning and doing. I think it's a moral you must be morally bankrupt to come to the people in the city after you've bankrupt their city and then turn around and take their surplus property tax dollars and use them to feel the shortfall for corporate America.