City of Detroit Files Lawsuit to Halt Proposed Fairgrounds Racetrack.

'Mayor Archer continues efforts to honor citizens' wishes'

DETROIT, June 28 /PRNewswire/ --

Four cities in southeastern Michigan, led by the City of Detroit, today filed suit in the Wayne County Circuit Court to block the proposed construction of an auto racetrack at the Michigan State Fairgrounds. Joining Detroit are the cities of Ferndale, Pleasant Ridge and Huntington Woods, as well as 5 neighborhood associations, 41 individuals, and a cemetery located near the State Fairgrounds.

The complaint alleges that the construction or operation of an auto racetrack (and a large outdoor amphitheater, which is to be part of the racetrack) are not permitted on the State Fairgrounds under Detroit's zoning ordinance. The suit also states that construction or operation of either of these facilities would have a significant adverse impact on surrounding residential neighborhoods in Detroit and the other three cities, by creating unreasonable levels of noise, air pollution, and pedestrian and automobile traffic.

"The fact that four home rule cities, together with many neighborhood organizations and other interested individuals, have joined together to bring this suit, shows convincingly how misguided the racetrack effort is," said Mayor Dennis W. Archer.

"Detroit certainly welcomes appropriate development at the Fairgrounds, but it should take place only after discussions with, and consideration for the interests of, the affected cities and neighborhoods. I am vitally interested in preserving and protecting Detroit's residential communities and I will not stand still and let this kind of destructive effort harm our neighborhoods," Archer added.

The suit is also brought under the Michigan Environmental Protection Act, which allows any person to bring a court action "for the protection of the air, water and other natural resources and the public trust in these resources from pollution, impairment, or destruction." The complaint claims that the proposed use of the fairgrounds for either the auto racetrack or the outdoor amphitheater will pollute the air, impose unreasonable levels of noise in the area and, by paving over a large area of land, overburden existing sewer systems with the runoff from rain storms.

The suit asks the Court to prevent State Fair Development Group LLC, headed by Joseph Z. Nederlander, from constructing or operating the racetrack or amphitheater or otherwise violating Detroit's zoning ordinance and Michigan's environmental law.

Mayor Archer has spoken out strongly against the auto racetrack at the fairgrounds, a project announced without consultation by the Director of the State Fair Authority with any of the affected communities or their elected officials. He has been joined in opposition by the Detroit City Council and the mayors and councils of the other three cities.