City Planning Commission, Regular Meeting
Detroit City Planning Commission
Development
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Reporting
Edited and summarized by the Detroit - MI Documenters Team
Note-taking by
Marianna Alva-Wies
Commissioners review a proposed market-rate townhome development in Corktown. The CPC has many questions for the mayor’s office about the city's solar initiative. Director Marcell Todd provided updates on redistricting - a sixth map will be presented at a 10 a.m. public hearing.
Live reporting by
Roshaun Harris
Public commenters and commissioners express concern about parking and density for a proposed market-rate townhome development in Corktown. After a presentation on the City of Detroit Solar Initiative, Director Marcell Todd provides updates on the redistricting process.
Roshaun Harris
@roshaun_harris
I'm Live Tweeting for @DetDocumenters from the Detroit City Council City Planning Commission Meeting starting at 5 PM. Stay tuned!
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@DetDocumenters media partners: @BridgeDet313 @chalkbeatDET @freep @media_outlier @metrotimes @michiganradio @PlanetDetroit @wdet @wxyzdetroit
03:43 PM Jan 18, 2024 CST
Here's some background info on the City Planning Commission, which is a non-paid authority selected by the Detroit City Council.
detroitmi.gov/government/com…
Just got word from staff at the Colman A. Young building that the meeting will probably start late due to today's inclimate weather. Look for a start time near 5:30 PM as opposed to the publicly listed start time of 5 PM for the City Planning Comission's meeting.
@CPCDetroit Meeting has been called to order. Roll call is currently underway. They don't have a quorum so they don't have the ability to approve any agenda items. They have adjourned the meeting until the quorum arrives.
Quorum has been reached meeting once again has been called to order at 5:24 PM. Commissioners Gwen Lewis, Ritchie Harrison, David Esparza, Melanie Markowicz, Donovan Smith, and Kenneth Daniels are all present in the meeting room, Director Marcel Todd is present on Zoom.
The development team from Corktown Historic Developments, LLC is presenting to the planning department as we speak. They are the main presenters on tonight's agenda. Which can be found here :
detroitmi.gov/sites/detroitm…
Photo from the Corktown Historic Developments, LLC presentation:
The CHD, LLC presenters are describing the history of the particular to explain why this project is necessary. They're proposing building 5 Townhouse Units near Dalzell street in Corktown.
Community members did express concerns about the proposed fire pit when meeting with developers from CHD, LLC. Development will be tenant drive according Tonja Stapleton, who presented on behalf of CHD, LLC. Stapleton also stated the public meeting was not well attended.
Many of the employees at CHD, LLC, including their architect, live in the Corktown neighborhood according to Stapleton.
Public commenter asked if there will be any affordable housing units in this development. CHD LLC responded by stating that these units will be sold at market rate.
Public commenter expressed disappointment and concern that there won't be more affordable housing due to the current market rate not being affordable to most Detroit families.
Public commenter, who lives across the street from the proposed development, expressed concerns about parking and general traffic.
Another commenter states concerns about parking. Says that he has had issues with developers damaging his property in the past. Also stated that the map that was being used during the presentation by CHD, LLC was a misrepresentation because it did not include his property.
Another public commenter stated that density will allow the developments in the future to be more affordable and was in support of the proposed development.
Melanie Markowicz of the Planning Commission states that density is something future plans need to be careful with. She claims density is not appropriate for some Historic Districts and wants to be careful about what kind of character is being created in this particular area.
Commissioner Gwen Lewis also expressed the concern about the character of this historic district. Also questioned, the need for rezoning in order for this property to be built as proposed.
Commissioner Frederick S. Russell Jr. is currently going over the particulars about the properties features and dimensions. He also asked if any environmentally- sustainable systems would be in place at the proposed property, which CHD, LLC responded no.
Community members also expressed concern over the lack of sustainable systems in the proposal.
Commissioner David Esparza expressed concern over density and also stated that he's a homeowner in the Corktown area. Says the area continues to have challenges with on street parking.
Esparza also expressed his interest with the plan's storm-water drainage proposal.
Stapleton from CHD, LLC says that there needs to be green infrastructure installed in order to make storm water management feasible for this proposal.
Commissioner Donovan Smith ask if the Commission has the authority to have the residential concerns enforced in the proposal. The City of Detroit Staff responded by stating that this is the correct venue and the appropriate time to address those concerns and make adjustments.
Commission has given final instructions to the developers and has moved to the information presentation on the City's solar initiatives.
There are 9 Neighborhood Solar Finalist for the City of Detroit
Finalist for the Detroit Neighborhood Solar Project:
Gratiot/Findlay (District
Greenfield Park/I-75 (D3)
Grixdale (D2)
Houston Whittier/ Hayes (D4)
i-96 Plymouth - O'Shea (D2)
Mt. Olivet (D3)
State Fair (D2)
Trinity Pickford (D1)
Van Dyke/Lynch (D3)
Gratiot/Findlay (District
Greenfield Park/I-75 (D3)
Grixdale (D2)
Houston Whittier/ Hayes (D4)
i-96 Plymouth - O'Shea (D2)
Mt. Olivet (D3)
State Fair (D2)
Trinity Pickford (D1)
Van Dyke/Lynch (D3)
Marcell Todd stated that the state of Michigan may preclude some of these developments based on the laws on the books dealing with community solar. Says the city will do more research and will come back to the commission.
The Commission is taking a long to get through some procedural items. Meeting should be adjourning shortly.
Marcell Todd just gave a thorough explanation of the City's redistricting procedure and where the City is in that process. The meeting is now adjourned at 8:27 PM.
Melanie Markowicz Plannimg Commission Vice Chair representative from District 5
This concludes my coverage
of the Detroit City Planning Commission meeting. The next meeting is scheduled for February 1, 2024. For more meeting coverage check out
Documenters.org
of the Detroit City Planning Commission meeting. The next meeting is scheduled for February 1, 2024. For more meeting coverage check out
Agency Information
Detroit City Planning Commission
The City Planning Commission provides recommendations to the City Council on the physical, social and economic development of the City including the Five-Year Capital Agenda, Master Plan, and other proposals and ordinances for the regulation of development and land use, as required by the City Charter.