Council OKs 1-year extension for 24101 Jefferson special land use after heated public comment

St. Clair Shores City Council voted 4-2 on Aug. 4 to grant a one-year extension of the special land use approval for a proposed condominium project at 24101 Jefferson, extending the time for construction to be completed to the summer of 2026.

The decision came after more than an hour of public comment in which residents across the street and nearby argued the project has shown “no progress” since the council approved special land use and site plan in August 2023. Several speakers urged council to deny the extension so the city could consider alternative uses "that fit with the neighborhood," while the developer and his representative said utility relocation and remediation work have been done and that delays stem from third parties, primarily DTE Energy.

Neighbors said they have seen only dirt piles, overgrown grass and an abandoned house on the site and told council the developer has failed to follow through on commitments. "Please vote no on the extension so the city can begin to discuss building alternatives," said resident Steve Tafflinger during the public-comment period. Several other residents said they fear a building that will not match the existing two‑story character of the neighborhood and that repeated extensions enable an oversized project to linger without producing housing or tax revenue.

The developer, represented by Mark Marion of Rave's Construction, told the council that remediation and underground work began after approval and that the project is delayed by utility relocation work that the developer said he has paid for. Marion said the developer has paid…