Highland Park officials say local building and planning teams rebuilding permit system, outline pipeline of projects

Highland Park’s community and economic development director and the city building official told a local public‑affairs program on June 25 that the city has rebuilt an in‑house building department and is working with a planning consultant to clear a pipeline of projects while enforcing health and safety codes.

The discussion on the Highland Park Spotlight program laid out how the building department — returned to the city in February 2018 after state oversight — now handles inspections and permits, and how the city engaged McKenna (planning consultant) to provide planning and related services. The officials said the combined staffing and consultant arrangement is intended to speed review and maintain safety standards as new development moves forward.

“This department plays a major, major role … for the health, safety of the community,” Clyburn Jr., who identified himself as the city’s community and economic development director, said on the program. He described the current effort as “laying a new foundation” before large construction activity appears on the skyline.

Gerald Rice, who represents the building department on the show, described the building‑department intake process and day‑to‑day operations. Rice said trade permits — plumbing, electrical and mechanical — are typically issued immediately, and that many renovation applications are reviewed the same day by the city’s building official, Don Jones. For changes of use or larger projects, Rice said planning approval is required first and then the building review typically needs five to 10 business days for a first review.

“If you’re tearing down beams, you probably need a report from an engineer to make sure the house doesn’t fall down,” Don Jones, the city’s building official, said, explaining structural requirements for substantial renovations.

Officials also described several projects they said are at various stages in the pipeline: conversion of an existing facility to cold storage; a medical clinic that has secured permits; a Foot Locker relocating from a strip mall into a standalone building; a mixed‑use development at Hamilton and Davidson (about 100 units, residential with ground‑floor commercial); an eight‑unit apartment at West Grand and Woodward; and a multiuse project at Hamilton and Midland described as similar in concept to the Detroit Shipping Company. City staff said those projects have executed options or closed on city‑owned parcels and must still go through planning approval and site‑plan review before permitting begins.

The officials emphasized coordination across departments. Clyburn Jr. said engineering and water departments (MCA) are involved early so street and utility work is done once rather than repeatedly. “If we’re going to open up the ground, let’s open it up one time,” he said.

For business owners and residents, the officials advised starting at the planning office (McKenna) or the building department for an intake review. Rice said the building window is the first point of contact for permits, and the office will forward vacant‑property purchase applications or items that require other city offices to the appropriate staff. Rice also said inspectors follow up on observed unpermitted work and will ask contractors or property owners to stop work and obtain permits so inspections can verify compliance.

The city said it is updating fee schedules and ordinances and meeting monthly across planning, building and code enforcement to identify ordinance changes and operational improvements.

Residents seeking project status or public records were told the building department will provide public information such as owner name and permit status on request. Officials also said the city has held outreach events and will continue community engagement as planning proceeds.

Ending: Officials encouraged prospective developers and residents with questions about projects to contact the planning consultant (McKenna) or the Highland Park building department for application and permit guidance.