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Council approves conditional rezoning for Redico site after heated public hearing over OPLA and community transparency
Summary
After sustained public comment and legal debate, Southfield City Council voted 5–2 to approve a conditional rezoning and special‑use permit allowing Continuum Services (a landscape/contractor yard operator) to occupy a 4.87‑acre portion of 27777 Franklin Road owned by Redico; residents demanded a town hall about Redico’s lease to OPLA (the lawyers for ICE) and raised concerns about compatibility with the Centropolis Smart Zone.
Southfield City Council on April 20 approved a conditional rezoning and a special‑use permit for a 4.87‑acre portion of 27777 Franklin Road, allowing Continuum Services to operate a landscape contractor yard accessory to office space in the American Center complex.
The votes came after more than two hours of public comment and legal argument. The petitioner, Chris Haboyan, vice president at Redico, described the project as a limited, screened outdoor storage area and office consolidation that would bring about 100 employees to the site and a long‑term lease. Haboyan told the council the use would include screening, limits on operations, and no retail sales.
Opponents, including neighborhood residents, condo and business representatives, and land‑use counsel, urged the council to withhold approval. Attorney Ron Reynolds and multiple speakers argued the proposed contractor yard was inconsistent with the Centropolis Smart Zone and the…
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