Committee advances downtown business improvement zone petition; public hearing set for Nov. 13

The Economic Development Standing Committee voted on Oct. 23 to send line items 7.4 and 7.5 — related to a downtown business improvement zone petition — to formal with a recommendation to approve and to hold a public hearing on Nov. 13.

Gina Cavalier, chief community impact officer at the Downtown Detroit Partnership, told the committee petitioners have continued community outreach and had revised the petition after feedback. "The signatures that were presented to the city clerk represent, more than 45% of the property owners. Since the date of that's middle, we currently sit at about, close to 55% of the property owners represented have executed the petition," Cavalier said. The presenters noted the statute requires only 30% to initiate the process.

Cavalier acknowledged there is not unanimous support: "We have a handful of... vocal property owners who have been opposed from the beginning," she said, and described outreach efforts where some initial opponents became supporters after engagement. The committee voted to advance the items; the motion was made by a committee member and carried with no recorded objections.

What happens next

With the items advanced to formal, staff and petitioners will prepare for the public hearing scheduled for Nov. 13 and continue outreach to property owners and neighborhood stakeholders. The committee indicated it expects to receive further testimony at that hearing before taking a final action.