Burton · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Burton public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
Proposed used car sales on Atherton Road (ZBA 26-24)
An applicant wants to open a used car dealership on a vacant Atherton Road lot that's zoned for restricted office use. The board will weigh whether a hardship justifies allowing light industrial activity in a zone meant for offices, and nearby residents may weigh in on traffic and appearance.
Gas pumps proposed at Dort Highway convenience store
An applicant wants to add fuel pumps to the existing convenience store at 3271 S. Dort Hwy. Neighbors near that corridor could see new traffic and activity at the site — the commission will dig into the details before any decision.
Road restoration standards and utility cut ordinance
Telecom companies are boring fiber lines through right-of-ways and tearing up front lawns across Burton, and the city says it has little say. DPW is taking complaints and requiring bonds from contractors.
Beautify Burton community garden grant
Council President Fenner announced Beautify Burton won a grant to build a community garden with communal and individual plots on the property of Our Risen Lord Lutheran Church, part of a U of M-Flint vacant land program.
Sidewalk obstructions and traffic safety on Bristol/Fern
A resident raised recurring complaints about vehicles blocking sidewalks and asked whether Burton should follow other municipalities on sidewalk snow removal and parking rules, suggesting signage.
Vacant-lot sales and home rehabilitation
The city sold seven vacant parcels, mostly to a builder with a track record of constructing new homes, and pulled two Allen Street houses off the demolition list so a buyer can renovate them. Officials said rehab beats demolition — tearing down houses costs the city $15,000-$20,000 each and leaves empty lots.
Veterans Honor Run
The November 14 race is officially a City of Burton Parks and Rec event (created by commission vote in 2012), and the chair wants that clear for marketing. Volunteers and sponsors are still needed.
City Council Travel Policy
Burton has never had a formal travel policy for council members, who attend national conferences on taxpayer dollars. The draft covers mileage, parking, meals, lodging, and reimbursement timing — with the biggest fight over how quickly members get paid back for out-of-pocket expenses.
Building department fee overhaul
The first fee schedule update in years was adopted. Some fees remain below neighboring communities' but now cover the city's costs, and the council committed to reviewing fees annually or biannually.
Davison Road water main construction impacts on Starlight restaurant
An 80-year-old waterline has broken seven times in 18 months, repeatedly shutting down Starlight Coney Island and hurting nearby businesses. A fix is coming and won't be cheap; the mayor is pursuing federal grant funding.
2028-2030 CDBG funds
The council set a November 16 public hearing on the call for projects for 2028-2030 Community Development Block Grant funds.
Abandoned garage sale signage as blight
A board member counted feather flags at numerous businesses along Belsay and Center roads, most standing just feet from the right of way, and suggested the council may want to revisit the sign ordinance — either to allow them with strict rules or to push enforcement.
New church at 4075 E. Atherton Road
Liberation Church (Church Without Walls Ministries) bought a building on East Atherton Road and introduced itself to the council, with a fall festival and first service planned.
Residential street parking conflicts
Narrow south-end streets with cars parked on both sides create sight-line hazards for drivers backing out of driveways, and council members report near-misses. The committee learned parking restrictions come via traffic control orders adopted by the full council, addressed street by street.
Greenbrier TAP fee dispute and remaining 77 lots
Tap fees haven't been raised in years and the city is required by its bond covenants to do a rate study every five years. The study is underway and fee changes could come before the council soon — that affects what new homebuilders pay and, indirectly, everyone's rates.
$565,000 Local Street Fund amendment and exhausted 50/50 match money
The council put $565,000 more into road repavement, but Mayor Haskins warned the 50/50 sidewalk/road matching fund is now empty — future matches will need new money.
Rental property registration
The city has no registry of rental units, and members debated whether landlords should face the same accountability as homeowners. Staff noted some cities use rental inspections and registration to protect housing stock, but said it's a question the committee would have to explore — with legal questions for the attorney.
MERS retirement benefits for firefighters
The mayor announced the city's pension system is now 72.5% funded, which he called very good news for the city's long-term finances.
DDA board membership and composition
Member Tim Wagner has moved out of the district, and the board is debating whether state law and its bylaws automatically remove him or require a resignation letter. Members reviewed the statutory composition requirements, including the five property-interest seats and possible resident seat.
Clock corner brick wall damage
Board members reported overflowing trash and new Sharpie graffiti at Clock Corner; the DPW agreed to add the trash cans to its weekly rotation and to look at cleaning the graffiti and banner poles.
Flower pot storage at Hall's Greenhouses
Board members flagged brush dumped near Fenner's flower shop and dead petunias in the street pots. They want DPW to bill property owners who dump brush, and to use drought-tolerant flowers next year.
Hemp Hill and Saginaw Street land survey
A survey of property at Hemp Hill and Saginaw Street is nearly complete, with a topographic drawing showing buildings and a proposed split, but legal descriptions haven't been delivered yet. The board is waiting on those before moving forward.
Boost Mobile property sale interest
The owner of the Boost Mobile store on the corner is still interested in selling the property; the board wants to keep both ends of the district engaged.
Christmas celebration funding
Pizza with Santa stays at Bendel, but south-end residents asked for something at the fire station too. The commission is weighing a smaller traditional tree-lighting there versus consolidating everything in one place — no decisions yet, and finding a big enough tree is a challenge.
Industrial setback variance at 3302 Associates Drive
Cost Less Distributing wanted to expand its warehouse right up to its side and rear lot lines. The board weighed fire-safety concerns about a storage building with no fire suppression against the business's growth, and the fire department will have final say on suppression requirements.
Foundation certification timing in building-permit process
Board discussion revealed the city doesn't require foundation certification before builders keep constructing — only before the certificate of occupancy. One member argued the process should be fixed so mistakes are caught before a full house goes up.
Survey error leaves Whisper Ridge house 4 feet into setback
A surveyor's rotation-point mistake meant a finished house sits 4 feet into a 10-foot side setback. The board let it stand rather than force the builder to move the foundation, since the homes are still 22.3 feet apart. Members also questioned why the city doesn't require foundation certification before construction continues.
Bylaws and new event ideas
Planning is underway for the Trick-or-Treat Trail, Pizza with Santa, and tree lighting, but the tree lighting may move from the fire department to the police station or city hall because the fire department may lack volunteers after Jeremy's resignation. Pumpkin sourcing from Walker Farms or Gordon's is also being worked out.
Loitering and security near Dort Hwy corridor hotel
Commissioners flagged loitering trouble around the hotel next to the store. The owner says he watches five cameras, disperses lingering visitors, and calls Burton Police when needed — and promised more lights and cameras if the pumps are built.
Parking lot expansion at 6009 Lapeer Rd.
A resident asked whether the small parking-lot addition at 6009 Lapeer Road (Smokers Palace area) could send drainage onto neighboring lots. Staff explained it's a small rear addition improving customer access.
Fire hydrant maintenance
A resident asked about the condition of hydrants citywide, noting two red-tagged hydrants on Court Street including one by the Bentley entrance.
Potential AI data center development
A resident flagged Racer Trust marketing a 56-acre site at Davison and Center for possible data center use and asked whether Burton has rules, a committee, or a moratorium. The mayor said the city hasn't been approached and signed no NDA, and promised education and possibly a town hall before any decision.
Mini-bike speeding on Fern Avenue
Constituents keep calling about ATVs on Morris Road around 3 p.m. The mayor's answer: call 911, not a council member — that's the only way police get dispatched.
Dort Highway reconstruction gap
Covert Road is finished, Belsay Road should reopen at the railroad crossing by Monday, and Genesee Road work remains on schedule despite traffic headaches.
Southmoor Golf Course clubhouse security
A resident again asked the city to fence and sign the abandoned Southmoor clubhouse before cold weather brings break-ins. City leaders said the property is private, so fencing is not the city's call — but demolition is coming if it ever becomes city responsibility.
Kelly Lake to For-Mar community walk and trail connectivity
The council hired Elexco Land Services to negotiate the four easements MDOT requires for the Iron Belle Trail — a resident asked whether landowners were contacted earlier in the design process.
Sewer Fund SRF loan interest budget amendment
A $26,812.89 budget amendment covers interest on the city's state revolving fund sewer loan — routine accounting that keeps loan payments funded.
Closed-session confidentiality
Council Member Heffner warned colleagues after details of a closed-session discussion appeared on Facebook, reminding the body that what's said in closed session must stay there.
Tree Trimming
The board discussed working with Aspen and Consumers on trimming and cutting street trees across the district — keeping trees healthy and clear of utilities.
Park Land Acquisition
The legal description for the DDA's land acquisition is still moving in the right direction, per Board Member Martz. No action yet — this one's still in progress.
Accessory structure size limits in residential zones
A homeowner needed board permission to exceed the city's 1,512-square-foot accessory building cap. The board granted a partial variance and tied it to a matching-building design, showing how it balances hardship against neighborhood appearance.
Keeping backyard chickens in R-1A zones
The city's three-dog limit in R-1A neighborhoods led to a heated dispute on Lapeer Road that ended with the applicant putting down one of her dogs. The case collapsed when she told the board she was back to three dogs, but it highlights how neighbor complaints over pet counts land residents in front of the ZBA.
Nonconforming lots and rebuild rights on tiny corner parcels
Mark Spicer's 4,200-square-foot corner lot can't meet today's setbacks, and he raised a real worry: if fire or flood destroys more than half his house, can he rebuild? Staff confirmed he can rebuild the same footprint — but both his variance asks were denied 3-4.
New gas tax distribution and marijuana revenue
The city received $421,000 under the state's new gas tax formula, but the mayor is still clarifying whether it folds in marijuana revenue that previously brought the city close to $600,000 for local roads.
Drug activity at 3509 Fern Avenue
Neighbors of a rental house at 3509 Fern described two years of suspected drug activity, fights, dangerous driving, and fear for children playing nearby. A neighboring resident also raised concerns about a registered offender at 3517 Fern.
Sitka Street paving (SAD 26-009-P)
The gravel stretch of Sitka Street has deteriorated badly — deep potholes, washouts after every rain, and complaints it takes 10 minutes to drive a half mile. The city's 50/50 match program lets residents pay half the paving cost, spread over 10 years, while the city picks up the other half. The council unanimously approved moving forward.
Southmoor/DSB Golf clubhouse demolition
A resident urged the council to move forward with demolishing the vacant clubhouse at 4312 S. Dort Hwy, calling it a collapse and fire hazard. The owner has asked to demolish it with his own contractor within 90 days; the item was tabled at an earlier meeting.
Belsay and Potter Road intersection improvement grant
A 30-year resident said heavy truck traffic from the Paul's Davidson project wrecked Potter Road, leaving it like railroad tracks. DPW says it's on the radar but funds are stretched across a 50-year road backlog.
Genesee and Davidson crosswalk signals
A resident flagged that the new crosswalk signals at Genesee and Davidson are installed but not yet operating. The commission chair noted pedestrians should still follow basic traffic laws in the meantime.
Permanent food truck at S. Saginaw Street
BLT's Diner can now operate permanently at Classics on S. Saginaw Street instead of the usual 10-day limit. The commission required utility power instead of a generator — a win for neighbors bothered by noise — and six-month reviews to keep tabs on the arrangement.