Lapeer DDA removes Brownfield language from development (TIF) plan after site demolition

Lapeer City Downtown Development Authority members voted to recognize removal of language referencing a Brownfield area from the authority’s development plan.

The change follows the city commission’s approval of the DDA’s development plan renewal and reflects that the parcel identified as the Brownfield — the former White Junior High property — has been demolished and no longer generates eligible Brownfield expenses, a staff presenter said. The presenter added the Brownfield program included a five‑year limit to begin capture or to use incremental tax capture for eligible expenses.

The Brownfield language appeared in the TIF (tax increment finance) section of the plan and specifically referenced demolition and removal as eligible uses. Because that work is already complete and the statutory or program window for capture elapsed, the DDA moved to remove the Brownfield reference so the plan reflects current conditions.

A motion to remove that designation was made, supported and carried at the meeting. The vote was taken by voice; no roll‑call tally was provided in the transcript.

Why it matters: removing an inapplicable Brownfield reference narrows the plan to projects that can actually be funded through tax increment capture and avoids listing ineligible or already‑completed activities as future uses of TIF revenues. The board’s action is a record‑level recognition of that technical change; the presenter said the city commission had already approved the development plan renewal that omits the Brownfield language.

What remains: no additional action on funding or a substitute project was adopted at the meeting. Board members discussed that the Brownfield language would likely have been missed unless someone reviewed the Brownfield plan specifically, and they noted the removal was largely a housekeeping correction tied to the property’s demolition and the five‑year capture limitation.

Meeting context: the item was presented during the executive committee update and the motion passed by voice vote without a recorded division of ayes and nays.