By ZEINAB NAJM
Sunday Times Newspapers
RIVERVIEW — The City Council approved July 19 the first reading of a new ordinance that would rezone land near the Detroit River from industrial to a public/semi-public zoning district.
The proposed ordinance and zoning change would allow for recreation uses on specific vacant property between West Jefferson Avenue and the river.
The portion of those properties are currently zoned for industrial use and once supported industrial buildings, which are now vacant.
With the general industrial zoning, park and recreation uses would not be allowed. The rezoning would allow for the desired recreation land use along the river, the meeting agenda said.
Next, the ordinance will be provided to the planning commission for a final review. Its next meeting is scheduled for Aug. 5. The City Council would then have a second reading and potentially adopt the ordinance next month.
During a study session prior to the meeting, a brief discussion was held mainly between Councilman James Trombley and City Manager Douglas Drysdale.
“This is really the first draft, there are a few things the city attorney will need to enter into the second draft for the second reading in addition the planning commission has to have a final review of this,” Drysdale said. “So, we wanted to get this first reading done, so that in August we can have the second reading. There may be a few revisions based on information the attorney wants to add for parcel numbers, things like that.”
Trombley said he attended a meeting regarding the former McLouth Steel Plant site where Wyandotte Mayor Robert DeSana spoke about using the property for recreation use.
“They have already done that,” he said. “I would like to know who has been meeting with Mayor DeSena or their staff — because they have already done it so it would’ve been a little easier to find out how they did it. I believe you and I don’t know who else has been meeting with Wyandotte.”
Drysdale responded, “Well, various meetings — myself, Mayor Andy Swift, Community Development Director Dave Scurto and I think that has been the bulk of it. The three of us — different combinations as people were available.”
MSC Land acquired the former McLouth Steel Corp site in 2018 and the last two towers were demolished last month after beginning the process in 2019.
(Zeinab Najm can be reached at zeinabnajm92@gmail.com.)