Gary Mullin

Hometown Life

Oil and gas well-related activities will only be permitted in Southfield under a Special Land Use in the industrial (I-1) zoning district, according to a zoning ordinance adopted and enacted by the Southfield City Council at its regularly scheduled meeting Monday.

“Oil and gas wells have no place in our neighborhoods,” Mayor Ken Siver said. “I applaud the Southfield City Council for adopting and enacting this ordinance, which keeps these activities out of residential areas. The city’s utmost concern remains the public’s health, safety and welfare and this ordinance will serve the best interest of our residents.”

On March 9, the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality granted a permit to Jordan Development Co. for rights to drill on a 1.5-acre parcel of the 40-acre piece of land leased from Word of Faith International Christian Center Inc., at Evergreen and Nine Mile roads in Southfield. The land is zoned as residential property.

Michigan DEQ approves oil drilling permit for Southfield church

Two days later, Judge Michael Warren of the Oakland County Circuit Court signed the city’s motion for a temporary restraining order enjoining Jordan Development from commencing any activities or operations in connection with the MDEQ permit allowing drilling on the Word of Faith site.

The temporary restraining order will remain in effect until a further order of the court, the city said Tuesday.

Late last year, the city of Southfield enacted a moratorium that lasted through April 28 and expressly prohibited oil drilling or mining in the city.

Southfield officials believe MDEQ’s decision to grant the request for a permit does not supersede the city’s moratorium.

DEQ stance

Residents have voiced opposition to oil drilling at informational meetings and at a public hearing Feb. 17 at Southfield High School, which filled the school’s 500-seat auditorium.

Hal Fitch, chief of the DEQ’s Office of Oil, Gas and Minerals, said in March that proper consideration was given due to the close proximity of surrounding houses.

“We extended our review period and reached out to the community because we wanted to look closely at this permit request,” Fitch said. “We were able to share information and offer additional time for the public to provide comment and for the DEQ to evaluate those comments as they pertained to the statutory permitting requirements. Once we reviewed all the public comments, it was determined the application met all statutory and legal requirements and, as such, the DEQ was obligated to issue the permit with conditions.”

Fitch has said the MDEQ has to make its decision based only on “a system of laws” and that denying a permit that meets all the requirements would open up the MDEQ to possible litigation.

Contact Hometown Life reporter Greg Mullin at gmullin@hometownlife.com.