Volkswagen Emissions Cheating Scandal Produces Land Use Lawsuit in Michigan

"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.