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Council amends zoning to allow charitable uses in light‑industrial areas and approves two Kennedy Lane nonprofits
Summary
Saginaw City Council voted to amend the permitted‑use table to allow philanthropic/charitable organizations in Light Industrial zones by Specific Use Permit and approved SUPs for Chat and Chew (Suite 107) and Donation House (Suite 108) at 1000 Kennedy Lane. Supporters said the operations are volunteer‑run, low‑impact services for families.
The Saginaw City Council on May 20 amended the city’s permitted‑use table to allow philanthropic and charitable organizations in Light Industrial zoning through a specific‑use permit and then approved two related SUP applications for 1000 Kennedy Lane.
Luisa, staff liaison for Keep Saginaw Beautiful and planning staff, told the council that Planning & Zoning recommended allowing philanthropic uses in the Light Industrial district by SUP so individual proposals can be reviewed for conditions and impacts. That vote cleared an initial zoning hurdle that allowed council to consider two specific organizations that had applied for space at the Kennedy Lane property.
At the public hearing, board member Brian McClendon urged approval of Chat and Chew, saying the operation is entirely volunteer run and serves families in Saginaw. “Granting this specific use permit cost the city nothing, and it means everything,” he said. Applicant Marvie McClendon described the pantry’s client‑choice model and said the organization has operated in Saginaw for over a year, serving walk‑ins and appointments and working with volunteers.
Property owner Gary Himes told council he had discussed the arrangement with his tenants and that parking availability on the site would accommodate the group. Staff confirmed the property has roughly 50 front and 50 rear spaces and that the applicants intend limited hours and appointment‑based service for most operations.
After questions about traffic and parking, council voted to approve the text amendment to permit philanthropic uses in LI by SUP and then approved the specific use permits for Chat and Chew (Suite 107) and for Donation House (Suite 108) at the site. Donation House representatives described their services (clothing, hygiene items and appointment pickups) and said they coordinate with partner groups.
Planning staff said petitions of support were received and no formal opposition was filed. Council indicated that SUP approvals will include the usual conditions and that civil‑stage review will ensure site circulation and parking are addressed before any certificate of occupancy.
Next steps: staff will record conditions on each SUP, the applicants will complete any civil and code reviews, and the SUPs will be enforced under the city’s standard permit conditions.
