Planning and Economic Development Standing Committee Meeting - May 7, 2026
Planning and Economic Development Standing Committee Meeting - May 7, 2026
The Planning and Economic Development Standing Committee met on Thursday, May 7, 2026, with a quorum present (Councilmembers Johnson, Santiago Romero, and President Pro Tem Young). The meeting included a public hearing on a rezoning request by the Great Lakes Water Authority (GLWA) for a new pump station in the Jefferson Chalmers neighborhood, general public comment on data centers and other issues, and consideration of several property and zoning items. The committee voted to bring the public hearing back in two weeks and approved or deferred other agenda items.
Consent Calendar
- Motion to approve the minutes of the previous meeting — passed without objection.
- Motion to send line item 6.3 (property sale at 1633 West McNichols) to formal with recommendation to approve — passed without objection.
- Motion to send line item 7.1 (zoning amendment for 11 parcels on Temple, Trumble, and Perry Streets) to formal for introduction of ordinance and setting of public hearing — passed without objection.
Public Comments & Testimony
General Public Comment (2 minutes per speaker):
- Several residents spoke about data centers, urging a formal task force instead of a working group, citing concerns about environmental impacts, energy overconsumption, water use, and lack of transparency. Speakers included Eden Bloom (District 4 resident, Detroit People's Platform) and Theo Pride.
- Other speakers addressed the GLWA pump station, expressing opposition due to lack of community engagement, property acquisition methods, environmental contamination, and increased water rates. Toy New Reeves (Jefferson Chalmers resident) and multiple others spoke against the project.
- Additional comments covered topics such as the nuisance abatement program, motor city match, water affordability, and bus service.
Public Hearing Comment (1.5 minutes per speaker):
- The majority of callers and in-person speakers opposed the GLWA pump station rezoning, arguing it was an industrial use in a residential area, criticizing the lack of a community benefits agreement, and questioning the fairness of property purchases. Specific concerns included noise, odor, dust, water contamination, and the impact on elderly residents.
Discussion Items
Public Hearing: GLWA Rezoning Request (700 Connor Street)
- Eric Fazzini (CPC staff) presented the proposal to rezone from R2 to R5 or PD to allow construction of a new sanitary pump station. The site is in District 4, Jefferson Chalmers, adjacent to the existing Fruit Storm Pump Station (built 1955). The new station would be 42 feet tall, 80 feet deep, and cost $138 million. CPC recommended approval with conditions (max height, screening, landscaping).
- GLWA representatives (Navid Meram, Paul Ransom) detailed the project’s purpose: to isolate the existing storm pump station for maintenance, manage dry weather flow, and reduce flood risk. They cited 24 community engagement events, design changes (lowering height, adding windows, increasing landscaping), and commitments to restore disturbed areas and maintain communication.
- Councilmember Johnson emphasized the need for community benefits and noted ongoing work on a resolution. Councilmember Santiago Romero asked for clarification on pump station depths. Council President Pro Tem Young raised questions about power reliability, staffing capacity, and the need for a microgrid. GLWA stated they are studying a microgrid and have installed dedicated power lines.
- Deputy Director Sam Smalley (DWSD) supported the project, noting it will help mitigate flood risk on the east side and that green infrastructure projects are underway.
- The committee voted to bring the public hearing back as a line item in two weeks.
Other Items:
- Line items 7.2 and 7.7 (NEZ transfer and CBA assignment for Lafayette West development) were discussed. The lender (UC Lafayette Partners) is stepping in as owner, with 102 apartments and 35 condos (50% occupied). The developer committed to investing in the property and bringing in a new manager. The committee approved sending to formal.
- Line items 6.1, 6.2, 6.4, 6.5, 7.3, 7.4, 7.5, 7.6 were brought back (one week or two weeks) without objection.
- Line item 7.8 (Councilmember Waters’ request for DLBA documentation on nuisance abatement) was referred to LPD to be brought back in two weeks.
Key Outcomes
- Public hearing on GLWA rezoning — brought back as a line item in two weeks (May 21, 2026).
- Line items 7.2 and 7.7 (NEZ transfer and CBA assignment for Lafayette West) — sent to formal with recommendation to approve.
- Line items 6.3 and 7.1 — sent to formal with recommendation to approve.
- All other property and zoning items (6.1, 6.2, 6.4, 6.5, 7.3, 7.4, 7.5, 7.6) — brought back in one week (or two weeks for 6.1/6.2).
- Line item 7.8 — referred to Law and Police Department, to be brought back in two weeks.
Meeting Transcript
For the Planning and Economic Development Standing Committee meeting on today, Thursday, May 7, 2026. Madam Clerk, will you please call the roll? Good morning. Councilmember Letitia Johnson. Present. Councilmember Gabriela Santiago Romero. Present. Council President Pro Tem Coleman Young. Madam Chair, we have quorum. Thank you. Having a quorum present, we are now in session. And good morning, Member Santiago Romero. Is there a motion on the minutes? Good morning, Madam Chair. Motion to approve. Hearing no objections, that action shall be taken. We are going to move into general general public comment. If you are joining us and would like to make a public comment, please raise your hand, whether in person in the committee of the whole or joining us virtually, please raise your hand. If you're here for the public hearing, you may have two bites at the Apple. We only have one public hearing on the agenda. Um please raise your hand. I see one, two, three, four, five six hands raised in the committee of the whole. Good morning, Ms. Gray. How many hands do we have raised virtually? Good morning, madam chair. We currently have nine hands raised for virtual public comment. All right, we're going to give everyone two minutes. If you will please set the clock and if we can have folks line up or join us in the seats for in-person public comment, we will get started with the folks in the committee of the whole. Ladies first. And once you are ready, yep, you can touch the base of the microphone and the light will turn green, and you have two minutes for general public comment. Good morning. Um, I wanted to come before you in regards to our concern about environmental justice. Between Connors Avenue, Otto Road, there are four water waste plants. They're requesting for three more. We have an issue in regards to the air quality prosperities. We have a higher rate of respiratory diseases and other health issues, toxic chemical exposure, contamination risk. We already have someone in my household with arsenic. Older pollution, air pollution, noise pollution, property values, home repair expenses, misaligned, zoning, blowing dirt, quality of life is too close to our homes, and the preparation for emergencies when it arises. Thank you. Thank you. Aidan Bloom, morning. Thank you. Good morning. Uh my name is Eden Bloom. I'm a resident of District 4. And I live less than a mile from the shoemaker site where there's been talk of a potential data center. I also work with Detroit People's Platform. Support their call to shift the policy work on data centers from an unaccountable working group to a city council task force. In March, you all voted six to two to pass a resolution brought by Councilmember Benson calling for a two-year moratorium on data center permits.
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