Council approves Brownfield plan for BP site redevelopment at 30835 Greenfield

The Southfield City Council on Sept. 15 approved a Brownfield Redevelopment Plan, a local tax increment financing (TIF) plan and a development reimbursement agreement for MAB Real Estate’s planned redevelopment at 30835 Greenfield Road.

Developer Sam Bacall and environmental consultant Kirsty Ducarubel described the site as the former BP station and an adjacent, combined parcel that includes a now‑vacant office building. The property qualified for brownfield assistance because a 2010 release of about 500 gallons of gasoline required soil excavation and left residual volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that exceed residential but are below non‑residential criteria. A closure report and a restrictive covenant were filed with the state in December 2011; the state‑filed covenant limits future residential uses.

Bacall’s plan would demolish the old office building and a small retail structure beneath the pump canopy, remove the canopy, and construct a new roughly 4,600‑square‑foot retail building and a canopy serving six pumps. The redevelopment package includes public improvements along West 13 Mile and Greenfield Road and on‑site electric vehicle chargers. Bacall told the council his expected total project investment is about $3.2 million.

The city’s brownfield table presented eligible activities that the plan would reimburse: site assessment, disposal of contaminated soil (which must be transported off‑site), demolition, vapor mitigation system construction for the new building, public right‑of‑way and infrastructure improvements and a 15% contingency. The plan sets a maximum brownfield reimbursement cap of $972,000; city staff projected tax capture will reimburse roughly $660,000 over the plan’s life based on estimated increases in taxable value and the local‑only capture proposed.

Under the TIF structure presented, captured annual tax increment is expected to be roughly $17,000 for brownfield administrative and revolving funds and the rest to the developer as reimbursement; actual reimbursements will require submission of receipts and are limited to actual allowable costs.

A resident spoke in favor of the cleanup and redevelopment at the meeting’s public hearing. Councilwoman Banks moved to approve the Brownfield plan and development reimbursement agreement; Councilman Brightwell supported the motion. The council approved the plan by voice vote and the clerk recorded the motion as carried.

As part of the site plan review, staff and the developer agreed the project will permit a “Welcome to Southfield” sign on the property’s corner knee wall. The administration said the Brownfield Authority has used revolving funds on earlier local demolition projects and that the plan does not seek school tax capture at the state level — this plan captures local taxes only.

The developer and consultants said the work will proceed after site plan and permitting steps; demolition and contaminated soil disposal will follow environmental and permitting protocols.