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 for DTE work and that utility providers have been slow to finalize relocations; when asked for documentation, he pointed council members to a copy of the check and asserted that DTE had not completed pole removals despite payment. Marion also described difficulty coordinating construction access with recent road work on Jefferson.

City planning staff and the city attorney advised council on how the zoning ordinance applies. Under the city’s zoning code, a special land use approval requires construction to commence within one year and be completed within two years unless a longer period was requested at the time of approval. Because construction will not be complete by the two‑year deadline of Aug. 21, 2025, the applicant requested a one‑year extension to complete work by Aug. 21, 2026.

Councilmember Rebello moved to grant the one‑year extension; Councilmember Burgess supported the motion. After debate among council members about the ordinance’s language and the fairness of further extensions, the extension passed on a 4‑2 vote. Councilmember Roussy said she voted against the extension, citing her prior vote and continued concerns about plan compatibility with the west side of Jefferson.

The council discussion included questions from other council members about the presentation materials and whether the packet version matched the presentation on screen. Council members also pressed the developer about communication with DTE and the telecom companies and asked city staff to track and file communications with utilities. Attorney commentary noted there is room for differing legal interpretations of the ordinance’s phrase allowing "a" one‑year extension.

The council’s action preserves the developer’s special land use approval through August 2026; councilmembers and residents warned that future extensions would again be discretionary. Several residents said they hoped a denial would prompt a re‑scope to a project lower in height and scale that better matches adjacent single‑story homes.

Votes at a glance

- Special land use extension at 24101 Jefferson — Motion to approve one‑year extension passed, 4 yes, 2 no (moved by Councilmember Rebello; seconded by Councilmember Burgess). - Ordinance amendment prohibiting right turns from a parking lot onto a side street (site plan for Beyond Juicery & Eatery, 28801 Harper) — approved unanimously. - Resolution authorizing 2025 capital improvement bonds (up to $5,000,000 for new police HQ and fire station; expected borrowings lower) — approved 5‑1. - Library shelving relocation contract (Library Design Associates) — approved, 6‑0. - Library renovation contract (Saatchi Construction, base and alternates authorized with alternate 3 to be evaluated) — approved, 6‑0. - Purchase of two Ford Explorer police vehicles (state bid) — approved (vote recorded as unanimous in minutes). - Pavement marking three‑year contract (PK Contracting) — approved. - Blossom East pump station and boat ramp repair (Vesta Companies) — awarded; budget amendment approved. - Veterans Memorial Park pathway and parking lot project (award to Luigi Ferretti & Sons) — approved.

What it means

The council’s approval keeps the developer’s special land use in effect for another year while leaving open the prospect that a future council could deny further extensions or require a new application. Residents critical of the project said the extension prolongs blight and uncertainty in their neighborhood; the developer and some council members said denying the extension risks losing a project that would add housing and commercial customers for the Nautical Mile.

Council directed staff to maintain a clear record of communications with utility companies and to provide the council with copies of any DTE or telecom correspondence the developer provides to the city. Several council members also suggested clarifying the zoning ordinance’s language about extensions to remove ambiguity for future applications.

Next steps and context

The developer may continue coordination with DTE and telecom providers, pursue required permits and seek to begin visible site work before the new 2026 deadline. Council members signaled interest in revising the ordinance text in a future session to clarify whether multiple sequential extensions are permissible. Residents who oppose the project said they will continue to press the city and seek alternatives if construction does not advance.

Ending

The council’s vote allows the 24101 Jefferson project more time to proceed but did not resolve residents’ objections about scale, timing and neighborhood compatibility. The extension preserves the development’s special land use through summer 2026 while prompting calls from some council members to tighten ordinance language and for staff to track utility coordination closely.