Southfield council approves zoning changes, gas-station projects and Northland financing; tables towing contract

Southfield City Council on May 19 approved several land-use and redevelopment measures, adopted a zoning text amendment to allow limited retail and restaurant uses in some office districts, and authorized the city's Brownfield authority to sign an estoppel and subordination agreement to advance Northland redevelopment financing.

The council also approved routine consent-agenda items including award authorizations and accepted grants, and it voted to postpone final action on a two-year towing-and-storage services contract until staff and council can review code-compliance issues raised during the proposal review.

Why it matters: The zoning change and the special land-use approvals are intended to encourage reinvestment in small, underused commercial properties and allow neighborhood-scale retail and quick-service food in specific locations. The Northland action will allow the developer to move into a next phase of financing and construction, including leasing of retail and residential space expected to open later this summer.

Key votes and outcomes - PTZA25-0001 (zoning text amendment to Office Service district): Approved. The amendment allows limited retail and carryout/restaurant uses in defined OS locations, capped at smaller floor areas and with conditions to limit exterior impacts. - PSLU25-0001 (27050 Lasser Road — rebuild gas station, convenience store with beer/wine sales and carryout): Approved with planning conditions including required easements, waivers to be granted by the ZBA, EV-charging and limits on vehicles awaiting service. - PSLU25-0003 (25826 Southfield Road — add carryout restaurant to existing station): Approved with planning conditions. - Northland estoppel/subordination (Southfield Brownfield Authority authorization): Approved to allow takeout financing for Phase 1A, subject to final documentation review. - Consent agenda (items A'G, including Mount Vernon reconstruction receipt of bids and Fire Station 5 kitchen project bid receipt): Approved. - Towing and storage services RFP (receipt and recommendation to award to Quality Towing): Staff recommended award but council directed additional review and postponed final award to a later meeting after code and scoring concerns were addressed; Quality Towing remains performing services on a good-faith basis pending resolution.

What the council directed staff to do - Reinspect and require remediation of code/zoning issues for towing vendors identified after bid opening; schedule a follow-up review at the next Committee of the Whole meeting and consider a short extension of existing arrangements to avoid disruption of towing services. - Finalize the estoppel and second-amendment documents for Northland subject to legal review.

Quotes from the meeting - "We will be lighting the front of our building in orange for our participation in this," Mayor (name not specified in public remarks) said during council's proclamation for Wear Orange Day, which the council approved earlier in the meeting. - "If they do not fix these violations, this contractor will not be issued," Purchasing Director (name not specified) said about noncompliant tow-yard conditions.

What's next - The council expects follow-up on towing RFP compliance and return of a revised award recommendation at the next Committee of the Whole meeting. The Northland developer indicated leasing and marketing activity is underway with a planned leasing launch and some residential pre-applications in early June.

Votes at a glance (short list) - PTZA25-0001: Approved - PSLU25-0001 (27050 Lasser Rd): Approved - PSLU25-0003 (25826 Southfield Rd): Approved - Northland estoppel/subordination: Approved - Consent agenda (A'G): Approved - Towing contract award: Postponed/tabled pending further review