Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Land Use Zoning topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Southfield council adopts zoning rules for firearm dealers, sets buffer zones and security review
Summary
The council approved a zoning text amendment defining firearm‑sales establishments and indoor shooting ranges, imposing separation buffers from schools, parks and certain businesses, and requiring a police‑reviewed security plan; the measure is slated for enactment after a public hearing and moratorium lift.
Southfield’s City Council voted Nov. 24 to approve a zoning text amendment that defines and regulates firearm‑sales establishments and indoor shooting ranges in the city.
The ordinance text establishes new definitions, narrows allowable locations to light‑industrial districts and creates separation distances: 500 feet from residential districts, religious institutions and parks; 1,000 feet from schools and child‑care centers; and 1,500 feet from pawn shops, alternative financial services and other firearm dealers. The measure also requires a 21‑point security plan for any special‑land‑use application that must be reviewed by the Southfield Police Department.
Planning staff told the council the update fills a gap in the city code: previously the ordinance lacked a clear definition and separation rules specific to firearm sales and indoor ranges. Council members noted the proposal mirrors separation approaches used for other sensitive uses and allows staff to vet applications on a case‑by‑case basis. A staff map identified about 12–20 potential sites within the specified districts, but planners cautioned that the list will shrink once separation and other site‑specific checks are applied.
Resident Rosemary Allen spoke in favor during the public hearing, saying the change provides clarity and community protection. Councilwoman Yolanda Haynes and others asked staff to coordinate distribution of the ordinance text to local schools and the school superintendent to improve awareness; staff agreed to pursue that outreach. Council members discussed how the city will treat existing firearm‑related businesses: the draft creates legal non‑conforming status for operations that predate the ordinance and prevents them from expanding unless they meet the new standards.
The council moved and approved introduction of the ordinance (to be enacted at the Dec. 15 meeting to coincide with the end of a local moratorium). A city planner noted that federal and state definitions of "schools" do not always include child‑care centers, which the city’s draft specifically included to ensure the 1,000‑foot separation covers childcare uses.
What’s next: The ordinance will be published and return for final enactment at the council’s next meeting. Additional vetting will occur when specific land‑use applications are submitted.
