Council Member Scott Benson requested a legal opinion outlining how Detroit could pursue closure of the Kronos concrete mixing facility in District 3.
Detroiters, elected officials and organizers held a rally last week demanding closure of the plant, which was allowed to stay open despite being initially built without proper permits. The facility was built in the Cadillac Heights neighborhood in 2022 by a real estate company owned by the Moroun family, prominent political donors and owners of the Ambassador Bridge.
“The facility has been the subject of ongoing community complaints regarding environmental, operational, and quality-of-life concerns,” Benson wrote in the memo. “As such, I am seeking guidance on the legal avenues the City may utilize, including enforcement actions, zoning or permitting considerations, and any relevant state or federal environmental procedures that could facilitate its closure.”
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Neighbors have complained of noise and dust pollution emanating from the site, harming their health and comfort in their homes. Benson wasn’t present at the rally, but has faced scrutiny from residents who say he facilitated the plant’s presence in their neighborhood.
Benson said he worked with the city to temporarily shut the plant down when it lacked proper permits, though it reopened later. Benson said earlier this year that he’s actively working to change zoning rules that allow industrial uses near residential areas and blamed Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan for cutting a deal with the Morouns to secure the site.