Planning commission backs rezoning for Burke Road condo proposal after hours of public comment

The City of Warren Planning Commission voted July 27 to forward a recommendation to City Council to rezone 26523 Burke Road from single-family R-1C to multifamily R-3, despite strong neighborhood opposition and a packed public hearing.

Developer Jamal Khan of Graviton Ventures told the commission the team had responded to concerns raised at an earlier hearing and completed required studies. "We carefully documented those discussions and submitted the detailed meeting notes to the planning department," Khan said, adding that a traffic impact study conducted June 17 showed the proposed 36-unit condominium would have a minimal effect on intersections and levels of service. Planning staff reiterated that the city’s master plan supports increased housing diversity and described the site as largely asphalt parking that would become landscaped residential units.

Neighborhood speakers pressed the commission on safety, traffic, parking and property values. "The traffic is horrible as it is," Rebecca Jones told commissioners, saying study counts were taken in summer when schools were not in session. Philip Brumley, who said he authored the petition circulated around the development, told the commission he had collected dozens of signatures within the required radius and warned the plan would split a longtime neighborhood.

Residents also raised questions about the landowner’s intentions and tax status. Matt Beaudry asked whether the Michigan Institute of Sacred Knowledge, which owns the parcel, could later claim nonprofit housing exemptions that would limit city tax revenue. Planning staff and the developer said the institute confirmed a Consumers Energy lease on an adjacent parcel expires July 31, 2026, and that institute leaders had agreed to discontinue an annual carnival and to allow limited access from the north into their parking area to mitigate event traffic.

Commission discussion focused on the narrow legal question before the body: whether to rezone the parcel from R-1C to R-3. Several commissioners emphasized that infrastructure, site plan details and building design would be reviewed separately if the zoning change advances. After debate, Commissioner Morey moved to send the planning department’s recommendation to the City Council; the motion carried in roll call.

Next steps: the zoning recommendation will be considered by City Council, which holds the final decision on rezoning.