Detroit City Council Planning & Economic Development Committee Meeting

July 16, 2026

The Detroit City Council Planning and Economic Development Standing Committee met on July 16, 2026, to address multiple agenda items including public hearings for tax incentives for the Busy B Hardware redevelopment and the Co. Van Dyke 2 project, air quality emergency response to hazardous wildfire smoke, and various contract approvals. The meeting was marked by extensive public comment on procedural transparency, environmental justice, and equitable development.

Consent Calendar

• The minutes of the previous meeting were approved by unanimous consent.
• Line items 9.1–9.3 (590 East Jefferson) were combined and sent to formal session with a recommendation to approve without objection.
• Line item 9.4 (status council member Mary Waters – memorandum on DLBA follow-up questions) received and filed.
• Line item 9.5 (status council president James Tay – memorandum on homeless services contract matrix) granted a one-week bringback.
• Line item 9.6 (status council member Angela Whitfield Callaway – memorandum in support of Senate Bill 1053) received and filed.
• Line items 10.1 and 10.2 (two alley sewer repair contracts, LGC Global/Detroit Grounds Crew and Major Contracting Group, each $25 million for 4 years, funded by CDBG-DR) were approved and sent to formal session.
• Line items 10.3 and 10.9 (master plan update contract amendment for Smith Group, $100,000 increase; community outreach ordinance report for master plan) were approved/sent to formal session.
• Line item 10.8 (resolution in support of Senate Bill 1053) sent to formal session with recommendation to approve.
• Line item 10.10 (good faith in housing ordinance request) referred to Law Department and LPD, to return September 10, 2026.
• Line item 10.11 (request for report on owners of 10+ residential/commercial properties) referred to Housing & Revitalization Department and Assessor’s Office, to return September 10, 2026.

Public Comments & Testimony

• General Public Comment (9:30 AM – 10:10 AM): Eleven virtual speakers raised concerns. Speakers called for masks to be distributed at bus stops and rec centers due to wildfire smoke; criticized the 211-page sixth general text amendment as procedurally improper; demanded ICE removal from Detroit; alleged corruption by council members and city officials; reported incomplete sidewalk repairs from the city’s sidewalk program; urged delay of items 10.10 and 10.11 until the master plan is completed; accused city officials of election fraud; called for improved notifications about air quality; and requested the master plan be released to the public.
• Public Hearing – Obsolete Property Rehabilitation (Busy B Development): Six speakers addressed the 1025 public hearing. Speakers questioned the developer’s past projects, the need for a 100% property tax abatement, the number of community meetings held, the adequacy of parking, and the lack of a hardware store. One speaker expressed support for historic preservation.
• Public Hearing – Brownfield Plan (Busy B Development): Five speakers addressed the 1035 public hearing. Speakers demanded a federal injunction against the city council’s approvals, questioned community engagement (one speaker stated residents were not notified of meetings), and asked why only two two-bedroom units were planned. A speaker asked for clarification on why a brownfield designation applies to a non-contaminated site.
• Public Hearing – Commercial Rehabilitation District (Co. Van Dyke 2): Five speakers addressed the 1040 public hearing. Speakers asked about the number of ADA-compliant units, automatic door openers, keypad access, parking costs ($100/month), community meetings held, and whether the project would include affordable units for families. One speaker requested that all community engagement be documented with sign-in sheets and positions recorded.

Discussion Items

• Air Quality Emergency Response: Council members expressed frustration that they were not notified by the administration before a public alert was issued at 11:30 AM. The health department reported the AQI was at 585 (hazardous, maroon level) and masks were being distributed to four recreation centers. They noted Detroit Alerts 365 has only 6,000 opt-in subscribers and urged residents to sign up. The climate and disaster task force will continue coordination with multiple departments.
• Sixth General Text Amendment (Zoning): Planning Director Marcel Todd requested a one-week extension to allow law department reconciliation and introduced a revised version harmonized with the screening/buffering and adaptive reuse ordinances. Councilmember Young asked about including autonomous vehicle infrastructure in future parking reform ordinances. The item was approved and sent to formal session; the substantive discussion was set to return September 10, 2026.
• Co. Van Dyke 2 – Commercial Rehabilitation District (PA 210): The developer, Clifford Brown (Woodborne Partners), presented a $15.5 million mixed-use project at 1500 Van Dyke with 47 apartments (20% at 80% AMI), 1,100+ sq. ft. of retail, 43 parking spaces, and a community mural. The item was brought back as a line item for one week, pending the separate brownfield plan.

Key Outcomes

• Busy B Development – Obsolete Property Certificate (PA 146): Approved and sent to formal session (unanimous). The 12-year 100% property tax abatement on improvements will reactivate 22,716 sq. ft. at 1401 Gratiot Avenue, creating 60 construction jobs and 1 permanent FTE; 4 of 17 units (20%) are at 80% AMI.
• Busy B Development – Brownfield Plan (Act 381): Approved and sent to formal session (unanimous). The developer will receive $2,216,789 in tax increment financing (TIF) reimbursement for demolition, infrastructure, and affordable housing costs over 12 years; the plan includes a 30-year affordability covenant for 4 units.
• Air Quality – Next Steps: The climate and disaster task force will continue coordination; seniors will receive masks via Department of Neighborhoods senior advocates; the health department will push additional public service announcements and explore emergency mask funding.
• Sixth General Text Amendment: Extended viability via approval of line item 10.6; substantive discussion and introduction postponed to September 10, 2026.
• Co. Van Dyke 2 – Commercial Rehabilitation District: Public hearing concluded; item returned as a line item for one week (next meeting).
• Master Plan Update Contract: Amendment approved ($100,000 increase to Smith Group; contract through Dec 31, 2026).
• Alley Sewer Repair Contracts: Two $25 million contracts (total $50 million) approved for inspection, rehabilitation, and replacement using federal CDBG-DR funds from the 2023 severe weather event.
• Good Faith in Housing Ordinance: Referred to Law Department and LPD; returned September 10, 2026.
• Large Landlord Report: Referred to Housing & Revitalization Department and Assessor’s Office; returned September 10, 2026.