Southfield council adopts emergency moratorium after outcry over gun store next to two daycares

Southfield City Council on Sept. 29 approved an emergency moratorium on new firearm sales establishments and shooting ranges after hours of public comment from parents, daycare operators and neighborhood residents who said a planned Red Zone Firearms store sits too close to two childcare centers.

The council voted to adopt the moratorium on a motion by Councilman Tim Hicks, supported by Councilwoman Hogue; the motion passed by voice vote. Council members said the pause will give the planning and legal departments time to draft and pursue zoning changes intended to prevent similar sitings in the future.

Why it matters: dozens of parents and childcare workers testified that the store’s proximity normalizes visible firearms near children, creates daily anxiety at drop-off and increases risk in a shared parking area used for preschool pick-up. IXL Learning Center and Baby Genius Learning Center — the two centers named repeatedly by speakers — share a driveway easement with the Red Zone property, a fact speakers said increases the chance children and customers will be in the same spaces.

Residents pressed the council for immediate action. Michael Brewer, who said his daughter attends IXL, said: “I think it’s unacceptable from a proximity standpoint.” Anne Clark Ors, owner of Baby Genius Learning Center, told the council she learned of the store only after a sign went up and said, “This gun shop needs to be relocated. Its opening at this location needs to be stopped.” Other speakers described fear and reputational harm, pointed to recent high‑profile shootings elsewhere, and urged the council to require buffers between weapon retailers and childcare facilities.

City staff response and legal limits

City staff told the council the Red Zone location was a permitted retail use in the site’s B-3 General Business zoning classification. The city planner advised the council that, because the use was permitted in that district, no rezoning, special land‑use approval or site‑plan review was required and therefore no notice to the planning commission or council was legally required. In the words recorded in the meeting, “The retail sales of firearms and accessories by the Red Zone Firearms Gun Store is a permitted use in the B3 General Business District zoning classification.” (City Planner)

City legal staff and the city’s risk manager told council members the city has limited options to stop a lawfully permitted business after issuance of approvals and a certificate of occupancy. The city attorney said arbitrarily revoking an already issued approval would expose the city to substantial litigation and that officials must preserve due process for property and business owners. The city’s insurance/risk authority likewise advised that there is no clear legal pathway to force the shop to close immediately, though staff said they will pursue inducement or voluntary relocation discussions with the landlord and tenant where possible.

Policy response and next steps

Council members and staff described a two‑track response: immediate temporary regulation and longer‑term zoning changes. The council approved an emergency moratorium (120 days) on new firearms sales establishments and shooting ranges to give the planning and legal departments time to draft changes. Planning staff said they will present draft zoning amendments that would restrict locations for firearm retailers (including explicit separation from childcare uses) to the Planning Commission on Oct. 8, schedule a public hearing later in October, and return amendments to council for consideration in November. Councilmembers said the moratorium can be extended if more time is needed.

Speakers also raised state law and criminal‑law issues. One commenter referenced Michigan’s 2023 Secure Storage law (Public Act 17 of 2023), which requires secure storage when minors are present; a city attorney clarified that the law applies to firearm owners and that existing state rules include an exception for transporting a newly purchased gun from the point of sale to a lawful storage location. City staff also noted that daycare centers are not classified as “schools” under state statute, meaning some distance‑based school prohibitions do not automatically apply to daycares.

Community reaction and possible remedies

Speakers repeatedly asked the city to (a) pause the store’s opening, (b) work with the property owner and tenant to relocate the business, (c) remove or cover the gun store sign while the city considers changes, and (d) adopt zoning buffers to keep such businesses away from childcare facilities in future. IXL representatives said they are prepared to expand safety protocols if the store opens but asked for help preventing the opening at the current site. Multiple speakers offered to assist with relocation costs or negotiations; several asked council members to use any leverage with the landlord.

What the council voted on

- Motion to approve an emergency moratorium on new firearm sales establishments and shooting ranges: moved by Councilman Tim Hicks, supported by Councilwoman Hogue; outcome: approved (voice vote).

Context: The council’s action came after a communications period that drew more than 60 speakers on the topic. Council members emphasized the limits of immediate action once a legally permitted use has been approved and instructed staff to pursue zoning amendments and community‑level strategies that reduce the likelihood of a similar conflict recurring.

Ending: City planning staff said they will present draft zoning amendments at the Planning Commission’s Oct. 8 meeting and return to council in November; the moratorium will last 120 days unless the council votes to extend it. The council also encouraged residents to continue dialogue with the landlord and tenant while staff pursue regulatory changes.