Ferndale Planning Commission Meeting – March 18, 2026

The Ferndale Planning Commission met on Wednesday, March 18, 2026, at 6:30 PM in City Hall. The meeting included adoption of planning commission bylaws, election of officers, and a discussion on a temporary moratorium on immigration detention facilities. Commissioners also reviewed a recap of 2025 planning and building activities and discussed future items including data centers and downtown drive-throughs.

Consent Calendar

• Approval of Agenda: Unanimously approved.
• Approval of Minutes (February 18, 2026): Unanimously approved with a correction to the date (changed from February 17 to February 18).
• Approval of Bylaws: Unanimously adopted as amended (see Discussion Items).
• Election of Officers: All three positions (Chair, Vice Chair, BZA liaison) filled unanimously by acclamation.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Jenny Beaker (resident, DDA Executive Director): Spoke as a resident, not in official capacity. She highlighted a downtown wayfinding initiative (partnership with Merge, public info session on March 11) and urged the commission to consider a moratorium on drive-through facilities in the downtown district, citing pedestrian safety, crash risk, and reduced dwell time. She cited the recent closure of Caribou Coffee (a drive-through-only location) as an example of lost social interaction.
• Paul Collins (Brackenridge Street resident): Voiced strong support for a moratorium on immigration detention facilities. He suggested using zoning tools (e.g., community impact studies, height and lighting restrictions, lot size caps, classifying detention as transitional housing) to make development prohibitive.
• Jonathan (Ferndale resident, library board member): Expressed support for a permanent ban on ICE detention facilities, stating it does not align with community values.
• Dan Masolia (Ferndale resident): Also expressed opposition to any ICE activity in Ferndale and appreciation for the commission's stance.

Discussion Items

• Adoption of Planning Commission Bylaws (Item 7A):

  • Staff explained the bylaws were vetted by legal counsel and are needed to maintain the city's Redevelopment Ready Communities (RRC) certification from MEDC.
  • Commissioners discussed adding a mandatory education/training requirement. After debate, they agreed to amend Section 5(G) to state that training sessions align with RRC program requirements rather than specifying fixed hours. This avoids overburdening volunteers while ensuring compliance.
  • A numbering error (sections out of order, cross-reference to Section 7) was corrected.
  • The bylaws were adopted unanimously with the two amendments.

• Election of Officers (Item 7B):

  • The commission voted to eliminate the secretary position (no formal role since meetings are recorded).
  • Officers elected by acclamation: Chair – Foster (retained); Vice Chair – Showalter (retained); BZA Liaison – Azar (retained). All votes were unanimous.

• Moratorium on Immigration Detention Facilities (Item 8A):

  • Staff reported that City Council approved a 6-month temporary moratorium on immigration detention facilities and directed the Planning Commission to explore permanent zoning regulations.
  • Currently, such facilities would fall under “government facilities,” which are permitted in every zoning district.
  • Commissioners raised numerous considerations for potential zoning amendments:
    • Define “detention facility” carefully (e.g., 24-hour occupancy, size triggers) to avoid unintended consequences (e.g., jails, police stations).
    • Make it a special land use requiring Planning Commission and City Council approval.
    • Consider requiring traffic, noise, and public safety impact studies.
    • Explore use-specific standards (lighting, cameras, materials, proximity to schools/parks, occupancy-based plumbing requirements).
    • Ensure the regulation cannot be circumvented via mixed-use buildings (“detention component” clause).
    • Request city attorney review on legal limitations (spot zoning, supremacy clause).
    • Research how other communities (Romulus, Neblton, GA) have handled similar proposals.
  • No action taken; discussion will continue at future meetings.
  • A resident’s document on “ICE design standards” was shared with the commission.

Key Outcomes

• Bylaws adopted (unanimous, with amendments).
• Officers elected: Chair – Foster, Vice Chair – Showalter, BZA Liaison – Azar.
• Detention facility moratorium: Planning Commission will continue discussions and gather research (definitions, impact studies, legal opinions) to propose zoning ordinance amendments within the 6-month moratorium period.
• Joint meeting concept: Suggested for combined Planning Commission–DDA session and/or Planning Commission–City Council session to address drive-through moratorium and data center regulations.
• Data centers: City Council is expected to bring a moratorium proposal before the end of April; staff confirmed it is coming.
• Planning & Building Activities Recap (Item 9A):
  • Since the new zoning ordinance: 14 new builds (mostly R1 single-family), 1 multifamily PUD, 1 ADU, 7 administrative approvals (minor/major changes), 1 administrative site plan for multifamily.
  • Staff noted they are interviewing consultants for planning support and working on a public GIS map of ongoing projects with sunset dates.
  • Commissioners requested more detail in future reports (e.g., larger projects with addresses, unit counts, map visualization) to assess ordinance effectiveness.
• Communication strategy: Commissioners discussed improving public outreach (e.g., posting the February 18 training video on social media, updating website resources). Staff noted they are working with the communications department on transparency initiatives and the upcoming “Ferndale Learn” program.
• BZA report: One dimensional variance approved (10-foot to 3-foot setback for accessory garage in MXD district abutting R1, for materials storage).

The meeting adjourned at 8:18 PM.