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Commission approves adaptive-reuse rehabilitation and residential facility at 19900 W. 9 Mile amid neighborhood concerns
Summary
The Planning Commission approved PSP25-0004 to convert the former Specs Howard School into a rehabilitation center with a 12-bed licensed adult foster care unit and 24 transitional residential units, adding conditions including repairing and raising a screening wall, following public concern about concentration of group homes and security.
The Southfield Planning Commission voted May 28 to approve PSP25-0004, a site plan to convert the vacant building at 19900 West 9 Mile Road into an outpatient rehabilitation center and a residential component consisting of a 12‑bed adult foster care (AFC) unit plus 24 transitional independent units.
Planning staff said the proposed uses are permitted in the OS office-service district and recommended approval subject to multiple conditions, including development consistent with a revised plan set (BMK Design/Keifton Engineering/J Epic Partners dated 05/16/2025), implementation of security recommendations from the Southfield Police Department, compliance with applicable ordinances and codes, repair and modification of screening walls to achieve approximately six feet of separation, and adherence to lighting photometrics and EV-charging policies if applicable.
Nate Garden, who presented for Life Skills Village, read a letter addressing community concerns and emphasized the facility’s clinical focus and licensing. “This is not a psychiatric hospital, a crisis center, or a substance use facility. We are a licensed and fully accredited medically integrated program,” Garden said, outlining 24/7 staffing, clinical oversight and accreditation by The Joint Commission.
Residents at the hearing voiced privacy, safety and concentration worries. Tanya Allen, who identified herself as a neighborhood association executive board member, said neighbors wanted stronger physical screening and clearer limits on operations: “Although you all see that it’s different, how can anybody guarantee that it won’t operate in some of the same fashion?” she asked. Nearby resident Byron Webb said lights, loitering and proximity to bedroom windows were practical concerns for his family and asked what would stop residents from gathering outside the wall. Vincent Maxwell urged stronger enforcement and said neighbors felt ignored.
Planning staff and the petitioner responded with several commitments: the applicant agreed to repair and extend the existing screening wall and to work with planning staff on wall height and landscape screening; construction hours are regulated by city rules (generally 7 a.m.–7 p.m.) and interior work is expected to shorten noisy exterior construction; and the petitioner said AFC residents are clinically supervised with controlled access and staff stations between rooms and exits to monitor comings and goings.
Commissioner Martin moved for favorable approval with the department’s modifications; the motion was supported by Commissioner Goodwin Dye and the commission approved the site plan. The commission instructed staff to coordinate the screening solution with the north-neighbor and to ensure required permits and inspections are completed before occupancy.
Staff also noted that the state licensing agency (LARA) oversees AFC licenses and that neighbors may file complaints to the state for any alleged unlicensed operations in the area.
Next steps include permit review and enforcement of the conditions set out in the approval.
