Politics & Government

City Commission Rejects Unpopular Sheldon Rezoning Proposal

Fearful of big-box store coming to Plymouth, residents and commissioners oppose rezoning request.

A proposal to rezone a warehouse property at 909 N. Sheldon Road was unanimously rejected Monday by the Plymouth City Commission.

Fearful of the possibility of a big-box store such as a Walmart or Meijer coming to town and affecting nearby downtown businesses, residents packed to voice their opposition to rezoning the property from light industrial, under which it currently operates as warehouse property, to general business, but with conditions that would offer leeway with building height and signage size.

City Manager Paul Sincock said the rezoning request would run afoul of the city's Master Plan and would negatively impact local traffic and public safety. He said the property's current light industrial use fits the character of adjacent businesses.

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Mike Brzezinski, who lives at Lexington near the property, cited traffic concerns in opposing the rezoning, with the possibility of vehicles cutting through neighboring subdivisions to get to a large-scale retail destination, if one were to be built on the property.

"I'm totally against it," he said.

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Jeremy Porter, who also lives on Lexington, said large-scale retail outlets aren't an ideal fit for Plymouth.

"We can go to Canton or Livonia if we need this stuff," he said.

His wife, Maureen Porter, agreed.

"Plymouth is a gem," she said, warning that facilitating a large-scale retail development could "trash" the city's image.

Ellen Elliott, who runs the in downtown Plymouth, cited concerns about big-box retailers' potential impact on downtown business if the property had been given B3 zoning, a fairly broad type of zoning that the applicant, Grand Sakwa, LLC, had pursued.

"B3 zoning scares me because of the possibilities that are there," she said. "B3 would be disastrous."

Mayor Dan Dwyer asked those in attendance who didn't wish to speak to raise their hand if they were for or against approving the rezoning request. Nobody raised their hand in favor of rezoning.

Commissioners unanimously voted to reject the rezoning application. Representatives from Grand Sakwa, LLC did not attend Monday's public hearing.


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