[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6632218,"mediaKeyId","2675294-0b30e5d59efd52287147bacf3d04dff5","parentId",2675294,"title","Votes at a glance: Westland council approves PILOT renewal, land use and zoning items; one reappointment fails","audioSeconds",459,"startMs",1676000,"endMs",2135000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2675294-0b30e5d59efd52287147bacf3d04dff5&start=1676&end=2135","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2675294-0b30e5d59efd52287147bacf3d04dff5/thumbnail_1676000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6632218/Westland-City/Wayne-County/Michigan/Votes-at-a-glance-Westland-council-approves-PILOT-renewal-land-use-and-zoning-items-one-reappointment-fails","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6632218-7617ee3aee9f5b8eb0b29e5adc23dc6e/orig.mp4?Expires=1771195195&Signature=ck7D8tQarLJHBo01ii0TbJt~JflwvIitS~VGLVjc4APNQEMe~67ciHMaEM5harN1Oe9u4hq9cBR8xhF23BLLXfRq6MhYxMDwo2OsKx-uNPFxY0u6VEtEbNNVd~HsMHJdZ59t4TJyHDL6HYNzbB309mE~vj~HFvhR-fSK4SILKg8V-5UcX9BYGnMinxotpTnQT1AVX7g0DiWw9mr4ukaprorQ-KnPrltQ6H1oFNqqjRS6gkYLBoTaxlJSnuTsFQ-zgm6HLX4rx4eO0B~qWHJNPvKzfFDbzoDGghNFKfGoghulURCWVSkzQ0bZmqCeITxB9i6Y9zbqGymgTOJexdTpCg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Westland","date","2025-03-18T21:27:40.683Z","article","The Westland City Council on March 17 approved a slate of administrative, land-use and personnel items during its regular meeting. Several approvals were brief and passed with no recorded roll-call detail in the public transcript; where a roll call was recorded it is noted below.

Key outcomes

- Payment in lieu of taxes (PILOT) renewal: The council approved a renewal of a PILOT for the property at 31627 Palmer Road tied to the Norris Apartments Limited Dividend Housing Association Limited Partnership. The renewal matches the term of the existing HUD mortgage and runs through Jan. 1, 2051. The agreement sets payments at 4% of annual shelter rents; council members said the measure is intended to preserve lower rents for the 60-unit low- and moderate-income complex. (Motion carried; roll-call details: not specified.)

- Reappointments to the building authority: The council confirmed the reappointment of Steve Smith to a six-year term ending 03/05/2031 (motion passed; vote details not specified). A second reappointment, Roger Shiflett, failed on roll-call: Baumann — yes; Hart — yes; Hornbuckle — no; Rakowski — no; Pro Tem Sampey — no; Wishart — no; President McDermott — yes. The council then confirmed Bob Fritz to the building authority for a six-year term (motion passed; vote details not specified).

- Rezoning at 37433 Beechwood: Council approved a request to rezone two parcels at the southeast corner of Beechwood and Newberg from R-2 (single-family residential) to THR (townhouse residential) to allow a two-building townhouse development totaling seven units; the Planning Commission and city staff recommended approval. Council discussion noted the project would proceed to a later site-plan review if rezoning is adopted. (Motion passed; specific vote tally not recorded in the transcript.)

- Land division at 35857 Joy Road: Approved a land division to create two buildable single-family lots; planning staff and the Planning Commission recommended approval and the petitioner confirmed intent to improve the existing house and build one new house on the resulting lot. (Motion passed; vote details not specified.)

- Site plan and special land use for car wash at 6501 N. Wayne Road: The council approved a plan to convert a vacant 11,000-square-foot building (former CVS) into a car-wash facility with enclosed vacuum bays, existing curb access and proposed landscaping improvements. Planning staff presented a traffic-impact study and recommended approval contingent on departmental requirements; council members supported the reuse of the building and noted the project’s potential to stimulate activity in the shopping center. (Motion passed; vote details not specified.)

- Special land use for serpentarium at 958 N. Newberg: The council approved a special land use to operate a serpentarium — a reptile exhibition — in an approximately 1,200–1,600-square-foot retail space in an existing plaza. Staff said animals would be kept in enclosed spaces and that police, fire and legal staff had been consulted; Planning Commission recommended approval. (Motion passed; vote details not specified.)

- Consent calendar and other administrative items: The council approved several consent items including a three-year mulch supply and installation contract (3 Oaks Ground Cover) not to exceed $46,836; a one-year Microsoft Exchange/Office 365 license renewal for the Department of Community Media not to exceed $20,011.20; a one-year aerial imagery subscription renewal with Nearmap US Inc. not to exceed $18,530; introduction (first reading) of an ordinance (101-g-93) to amend Westland City Code sections to prohibit certain uses of inhalants; a fee waiver for P.D. Graham Elementary School pavilion rental ($645); and adoption of a proclamation declaring March 2025 Disabilities Awareness Month in Westland. The council also approved minutes from March 3 and payment of vouchers. (Motions carried; roll-call details not specified unless noted above.)

What failed

- Reappointment of Roger Shiflett to the building authority failed on roll-call as noted above.

How the council voted (recorded roll calls available in transcript)

- Roger Shiflett reappointment — Yes: Baumann, Hart, McDermott; No: Hornbuckle, Rakowski, Pro Tem Sampey, Wishart.

Next steps and notes

Projects requiring further administrative or planning review (rezoning at Beechwood and the car-wash site) will return for subsequent site-plan or ordinance-drafting work as required by city procedures. The ordinance amending inhalant prohibitions was introduced and will return for a second reading and possible adoption at a future council meeting.

The council’s actions reflect approvals recommended by the Planning Commission and city staff in most land-use matters and generally aim to reuse existing buildings and sustain affordable housing through the PILOT renewal.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Westland City Council Meeting - March 17, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","At its March 17 meeting the Westland City Council approved a mix of consent items, a payment-in-lieu-of-taxes renewal for Norris Apartments, a townhouse rezoning, a land division, site plan approval for a car wash, a serpentarium special land use, and several reappointments; the council rejected one reappointment to the building authority.","taxTitle","Westland City, Wayne County, Michigan","taxId",4547,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6632223,"State Senator Pol Henke briefs Westland council on recent Michigan laws and pending bills",631,313000,944000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2675294-0b30e5d59efd52287147bacf3d04dff5&start=313&end=944","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2675294-0b30e5d59efd52287147bacf3d04dff5/thumbnail_313000.jpg","/articles/6632223/Westland-City/Wayne-County/Michigan/State-Senator-Pol-Henke-briefs-Westland-council-on-recent-Michigan-laws-and-pending-bills","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6632223-0bc99ca54ec392c87a117bffa9255b76/orig.mp4?Expires=1771195195&Signature=c3iNvFhpOG-1MrY41lViNWCHZBF4uU56hq17c3KdhRtPfGAvrb3W6glD3EOM2Dtgy~uy5H-jTbEPPc1~mDoLzUKrISw68H6iVHK2~gNTyobYtHLP6qC19VLDFCJOhV4D5E21PW49C1M5dUlP5IUD-ZLnUTxOP0GT3lI1Og9VNHoh9V4mNpOkVUD~ds0yLTZE8yjdk~Av8CqNhwBeOCBquKS3GSEvkw6wnjxcL6Rb-OADoJjP-XRoKE~JheT7~EQ-Cdsqf2TMwuSQgHy2-a3ubcw9poc5QBLHv0ikw2xRitp3--b3zFAZFGN~abW4SWupTM6l6s8apx9WLG0NdK6PMA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","State Senator Pol Henke gave a legislative update to the Westland City Council at its March 17 meeting, summarizing several laws enacted by the Michigan Legislature and describing outstanding bills her caucus is trying to deliver to the governor.

Pol Henke told the council that new state law requires larger employers (10 or more employees) to provide 72 hours of earned sick time to full-time employees; smaller employers (fewer than 10 employees) must provide a minimum of 40 hours to full-time employees. She said the state minimum wage will rise to $15 per hour by 2027, phased in over time.

Pol Henke also described changes to unemployment benefits. She said the maximum weekly benefit will increase over time from $362 toward $614 and that the eligible claim period was increased to 26 weeks.

On criminal statutes, Pol Henke said the legislature eliminated the statute of limitations for certain sexual and physical criminal conduct in second and third degree offenses; she framed the change as allowing indictments \"at any time regardless of the age of the alleged victim.\"

Pol Henke said she chaired a committee that heard testimony on some of these measures and that several items originated as ballot initiatives but were enacted by the legislature instead. She also described a separate set of roughly nine bills the new speaker of the Michigan House has withheld from enrollment and delivery to the governor; her caucus has filed suit to compel delivery and she said the matter may reach the Michigan Supreme Court.

Pol Henke concluded her remarks by noting upcoming local events where she would be available for constituents, including a town hall with Congresswoman Dingell and a coffee hour in Inkster. The council did not take action on the senator’s report; members of the public later continued to the council’s regular agenda.","Senator Pol Henke told the Westland City Council about recent state legislation on earned sick time, minimum wage increases, changes to unemployment benefits, and elimination of certain statutes of limitations. She also described a set of bills being held by the state House speaker and potential litigation.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6632227,"Westland pauses for WLND director Terry Packer after sudden death",1028,250000,1278000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2675294-0b30e5d59efd52287147bacf3d04dff5&start=250&end=1278","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2675294-0b30e5d59efd52287147bacf3d04dff5/thumbnail_250000.jpg","/articles/6632227/Westland-City/Wayne-County/Michigan/Westland-pauses-for-WLND-director-Terry-Packer-after-sudden-death","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6632227-8d06b271c5d746b07169d193c20c361b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771195195&Signature=IECl0-y776Tc~cUoIxdQZ3BhiLT7lE-~gFVvvnOxmFOduPwY5QUqj3JkXw1KvYXEIU6yAz5YTFjO~XIRLvqwzToxyv5ctip6MgPuH9N3BvfClydtfK76FSZFll~V2QdYj7lXphRvJ-GWON2dDEqEucK2dQ-aye7pqM06k-IEd4AWacAmkY8MZH18R6w3YTgFZnvHUx-D-4GH11~akW4o~9INYhDCvczuxo-3VwXjhm2Up-aXDjcDJl775q6U7q1q4cOBq6iuFj9NM9hafOaHjVFx3Ope4C1Pylol28fEtwt-KMi2RCxOdIzjUJGG1p4Yp2oNMvyEYJTeac0H5jlQBw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Westland City Council opened its March 17 meeting with a moment of silence and public remarks following the unexpected death of WLND Communications Director Terry Packer.

The council held the silence before the regular agenda; Council President Mike McDermott asked Packer’s family and WLND colleagues to join the meeting to share brief remembrances.

\"We've suffered a terrible loss,\" said Dan Packer, identified at the meeting as a family member. \"I just wanted to thank Westland for the tremendous, incredible outpouring of love. It will never be forgotten.\"

WLND colleagues described Packer’s leadership and daily work with the station. A WLND producer said Packer stepped into his director role and ‘‘embraced it’’—holding one-on-one meetings with staff, pushing morale and programming, and supporting fundraising and community events. WLND staff noted he had helped sustain the station through staffing and morale challenges and had worked at the station in other capacities before becoming director.

City officials also recognized Packer’s contributions to city events. Deputy Mayor Kyle Mulligan told the council that Packer was instrumental in organizing Westland’s annual dog vaccination day; the city reported a record number of dogs vaccinated at the most recent event.

No policy or administrative actions were taken related to WLND during the meeting. Council members and members of the public offered condolences to Packer’s family and to WLND staff; council members said the city would continue to work with the family and station leadership on any follow-ups.

The council proceeded to its regular agenda after the remarks. Several speakers at public comment and city staff later cited Packer’s event work and community outreach as lasting parts of his legacy.","Westland City Council opened its March 17 meeting with a moment of silence for WLND Communications Director Terry Packer. Family members and WLND colleagues spoke at the meeting about his role with the station and community events, and Mayor and council offered condolences.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Votes at a glance: Westland council approves PILOT renewal, land use and zoning items; one reappointment fails

State Senator Pol Henke briefs Westland council on recent Michigan laws and pending bills

Westland pauses for WLND director Terry Packer after sudden death