Detroit City Council Planning Committee Meeting - May 21, 2026
Detroit City Council Planning and Economic Development Standing Committee Meeting - May 21, 2026
The committee met on Thursday, May 21, 2026, to consider a rezoning and master plan amendment for the Junction McGraw redevelopment, a related brownfield plan, and several other agenda items. The meeting included extensive public comment, presentations from developers and city staff, and votes on multiple items.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Mr. Smith (in-person) demanded a meeting with Council President Pro Tempore Coleman Young regarding Cronos Concrete, citing dust, dumping, and blight in District 3. He threatened to protest if no meeting occurred. Councilmember Young responded expressing safety concerns about protests near his home and family, and urged a proper process. Several virtual callers supported Mr. Smith, criticizing the council’s responsiveness.
- Other callers raised issues including: the Detroit bankruptcy discharge and pension concerns (William M. Davis); a mobile unit from Wayne Metro (Betty A. Varner); opposition to data centers referencing Utah (Cindy Dara); and allegations of election fraud and retaliation by landlords (Blackbag, Shay).
- On the rezoning public hearing, nine callers spoke. Supporters noted extensive community engagement and potential jobs; opponents cited insufficient mitigation for truck traffic, rodent migration, property value impacts, and called for stronger community benefits agreements.
- On the brownfield plan public hearing, seven callers spoke, questioning the definition of blight, the use of tax increment financing, and urging a moratorium on brownfield redevelopment.
Discussion Items
- Rezoning and Master Plan Amendment (Items 9.5 & 5): Staff from the City Planning Commission and DEGC presented a request to rezone approximately 25 acres from R2 (two-family residential) to M2 (light industrial) and B4 (general business) to facilitate a 400,000-square-foot warehouse and logistics facility. The master plan would be amended to light industrial and medium-density residential. Developer Latimer Ashley Capital outlined community engagement (over 15 meetings), changes including a smaller building, a new road, retention pond, and a pedestrian walkway honoring Kronk Gym. Councilmember Santiago Romero expressed initial opposition but supported after community feedback, asking about job commitments, wages (union scale, ~$58,000/year), and Detroit resident hiring (target 50-60%). Councilmember Young sought metrics on property value increases and spin-off jobs. The public hearing closed with a motion to send to formal session with recommendation to approve.
- Brownfield Plan (Item 7): A traditional brownfield plan for the same 145 parcels proposed $62 million in redevelopment with $18.5 million in tax increment financing eligible activities (environmental testing, demolition, infrastructure). Reimbursement over 30 years. The City of Detroit Brownfield Redevelopment Authority presented. Public comments included concerns about soil management and rodent migration. Councilmember Santiago Romero asked about resident incentives; staff explained TIFF only applies to development parcels. Motion to send to formal session approved.
- Line Items 8.1 and 8.2: Motion to bring back in two weeks.
- Line Item 8.3: Property sale at 1755 14th Street (near Michigan Central Station) for innovation district, approved.
- Line Items 8.5, 8.7, 8.8: Brought back in two or three weeks.
- Line Item 9.4: CDBG reprogramming to consolidate funds for home buyer assistance. Councilmember Young requested metrics on housing crisis goals; staff noted 3,000 new units and 10,000 preserved under 2025 strategy. Motion to approve.
- Line Item 9.9: Property sale to Genesis Hope for affordable homeownership via community land trust, approved.
Key Outcomes
- The rezoning (Line 5) and master plan amendment (Line 9.5) were moved to formal session with a recommendation to approve.
- The Brownfield plan (Line 7) was moved to formal session with recommendation to approve.
- Line items 8.1, 8.2, 8.5, 9.3, 9.6, 9.7 were brought back in two weeks; 8.7 and 8.8 brought back in three weeks.
- Line items 8.3, 8.4, 9.1, 9.2, 9.4, 9.9 were sent to formal session with approval recommendations.
- Line items 8.6 and 9.8 were received and filed.
- Line items 9.10 and 9.11 were referred to appropriate departments.
Meeting Transcript
Joining us for the planning and economic development standing committee on today, Thursday, May 21st, 2026. Madam Clerk, will you please call the role? Good morning. Councilmember Letitia Johnson. Present. Councilmember Gabriela Santiago Romero. Present. Council President Pro Tempore Coleman Young. Thank you for putting that pro-tempore on there. Here. Madam Chair, we have quorum. Thank you. Having a quorum present. We are now in session. Good morning, colleagues. Is there a motion on the minutes? Motion. There's a motion to approve the minutes. Hearing no objections, that action shall be taken. We are going to go into general public comment. If there is anyone joining us in the committee of the whole or virtually who'd like to make a public comment, please raise your hand. Public comment will be cut off at 1010. So you have three minutes to raise your hand virtually if you'd like to make a public comment. Noting we have two hands raised by one person in the committee of the whole. Good morning, Miss Great. How many hands do we have raised virtually? Good morning, madam chair. We currently have 13 hands raised for virtual public comment. All right, we're going to give everyone a minute and 30 seconds for general public comment. We do have two public hearings and a discussion on the agenda. If you will please set the clock, we'll get started with the gentleman here in the committee of the whole, Mr. Smith. Please assume your seat. Good morning. I want to say uh so my message is gonna be wholly directed to uh councilman President Pro Tim uh Coleman Young, who happens to be my neighbor. So I am working to get Cronos concrete down zone and shut down. I made a 15-minute video yesterday about the conditions. People are dumping tires, dumping pallets, there's dust, they own a lot across the street. This is a billionaire family. There's crack sidewalk, people are living in deplorable conditions, and President Pro Tim, who is citywide, thinks he does not have to meet with constituents about this issue. I've met with councilmember Johnson. I've talked to councilwoman uh Gabriella Science Burrell's chief of staff. We had a good conversation. I'm also I've also met with Councilwoman Mary Waters. Councilman Scott Benson declined my meeting. So anybody who speaks after me, if whatever your issue is, let me know. I will spend 30 seconds of my time every single day if you talk if you ask Coleman Young to meet with Detroit uh Ham Tramic Coalition and myself about Cronos Concrete. I'm gonna use my time for you. If you help me today and request this meeting, I'm going to be outside of his home tonight with a bullhorn. I'm gonna go to the 7th precinct, let them know be out there too.
openpublica.com