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Overview:
-A concrete mixing plant in Cadillac Heights is legally allowed to operate due to its industrial zoning.
-"My child cannot play in his own yard," says resident Matthew Tomasz.
-The plant's owners say their ready-mix facility is eco-friendly, reduces airborne dust compared to manual mixing sites.
Detroiters are organizing to shut down an east side concrete mixing plant owned by the powerful Moroun family.
Several Cadillac Heights residents complained of harmful dust, noise and truck traffic emanating from the Kronos site, which opened illegally before receiving proper permits from the city. They’re anticipating a request from Kronos to close streets and expand the facility.
Rev. Sharon Buttry lives a mile from the mixing plant, where she’s subjected to “unbearable living conditions.” Buttry said one woman in the neighborhood has had three sinus infections in the last year, likely connected to dust inhalation.
Matthew Tomasz said dust blows into his house, preventing him from opening his windows in the summer.
“My child cannot play in his own yard,” Tomasz said.
David Bird, who described himself as an environmental chemist, said near-invisible silicon dust can cause lung damage similar to asbestos exposure.
Council Member Scott Benson said the unfortunate reality is Kronos has a legal right to mix concrete at the site because it is zoned M4, the most intense industrial land use category.
Benson said his office has been working to get rid of all M4 zones near residential areas but there’s not much the city can do about Kronos.
Benson said it was the mayor, not the City Council, that “cut a deal” giving Kronos the Cadillac Heights property in exchange for land the city coordinated to build an east side auto plant. The Stellantis facility has also faced numerous complaints of environmental impacts on the adjacent neighborhood.
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Moroun-owned firm built east side concrete plant without permit
Morouns kept activity ‘hush-hush’. Residents were left to wonder what was happening to their neighborhood.
“This was a city of Detroit deal cut on the 11th floor,” Benson said. “When Kronos opened illegally, my office worked with the Buildings, Safety Engineering and Environmental Department to shut them down.”
The plant reopened a few months later with proper permits from the city. Crystal Rogers, general manager of BSEED environmental affairs, said Kronos is in compliance with a fugitive dust ordinance passed last year.
“I have not been able to substantiate any emissions when we have gone for inspections,” Rogers said.
Duggan spokesman John Roach said Wednesday that to his knowledge, the city hasn’t received a request to vacate streets and alleys needed to expand the plant.
He also noted that “the city did enter into a land swap agreement with the Morouns (Crown Enterprises) in 2019, which allowed the city to land the Mack Avenue Jeep Assembly plant and bring 5,000 good-paying jobs to Detroiters.”
“That agreement was approved 6-3 by City Council and required that any development of the property be in full compliance with all zoning and other regulatory laws,” Roach said. Benson was among the council members who voted in favor of the swap.
Officials representing Kronos have previously said that the ready-mix facility is an eco-friendly construction material that reduces the amount of dust in the air compared to manual mixing facilities. Company officials did not respond to a request for comment.
Council Member Gabriela Santiago-Romero championed the ordinance to protect residents from air pollution. She said it provides a “very easy way to shut them down” if a violation occurs. Santiago-Romero said her office is working to secure air monitors that can better identify air pollution.
Anyone can report dust pollution to the city at dust@detroitmi.gov or by calling 313-628-9994.
Andrew Bashi, a lawyer at the Great Lakes Environmental Law Center, said the council should deny any requests that would expand the impact of the facility. He called for creating a development plan “worthy of residents” and condemned the city for enabling the situation through the previous land swap.
Pat Bosch told the council that it’s well-known that the Morouns are a major donor for political campaigns, “but the residents have a voice and we are watching the city council.”