The city of Pontiac has filed a lawsuit over the illegal storage of hundreds of Volkswagen vehicles. The vehicles have mothballed at the Pontiac Silverdome as a result of the buy-back program necessitated by the 2016 emissions cheating scandal.
"The city of Pontiac has filed litigation against Triple Investment Group, owners of the Silverdome, for violations of the building and safety code, zoning ordinances and municipal code including the storage of used cars on the property," reports Natalie Broda.
The Silverdome land use lawsuit is a strange outcome of the Volkswagen emissions cheating scandal. David Tracy broke the news in January that the Silverdome (the former home of the NFL's Detroit Lions) was housing hundreds of cars bought back by Volkswagen. The buy-back program also resulted in mothball fleets of Volkswagen vehicles at a decommissioned Air Force base in California and at a port in Baltimore.
Back to the land use controversy at hand: "The motions filed include violations to the city’s zoning ordinance, including one ordinance which states that a site plan review is needed for larger and intensive projects including new developments, major expansions and redevelopment." Another alleged violation of the zoning ordinance was for a lack of the special exemption permit for parking and exterior storage of vehicles.
FULL STORY: Pontiac files against Silverdome owners for building, zoning and municipal violations
Pontiac, Comeback City
Employment in Pontiac has risen 14.2 percent since 2010, the city is fiscally sound, and development investments continue.
Amazon Moving in at Former Pontiac Silverdome Site
Amazon's move to the Detroit area will bring 1,500 jobs to the region at the location of a demolished NFL stadium.
The VW Bus is Back — Now as an Electric Minivan
Volkswagen’s ID. Buzz reimagines its iconic Bus as a fully electric minivan, blending retro design with modern technology, a 231-mile range, and practical versatility to offer a stylish yet functional EV for the future.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
Canada vs. Kamala: Whose Liberal Housing Platform Comes Out on Top?
As Canada votes for a new Prime Minister, what can America learn from the leading liberal candidate of its neighbor to the north?
The Five Most-Changed American Cities
A ranking of population change, home values, and jobs highlights the nation’s most dynamic and most stagnant regions.
San Diego Adopts First Mobility Master Plan
The plan provides a comprehensive framework for making San Diego’s transportation network more multimodal, accessible, and sustainable.
Housing, Supportive Service Providers Brace for Federal Cuts
Organizations that provide housing assistance are tightening their purse strings and making plans for maintaining operations if federal funding dries up.
Op-Ed: Why an Effective Passenger Rail Network Needs Government Involvement
An outdated rail network that privileges freight won’t be fixed by privatizing Amtrak.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
New York City School Construction Authority
Village of Glen Ellyn
Central Transportation Planning Staff/Boston Region MPO
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions