Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2000 | 9:32 a.m.
In the proposed referendum, voters would have been asked to block Mayor Dennis Archer's plan for three permanent casinos along the Detroit River. The Riverfront East Alliance has been gathering signatures for a referendum since May.
The city filed suit against the group, arguing that it was challenging a zoning decision, and that cannot be done through a ballot referendum. The City Council approved a zoning change to allow casinos on the riverfront more than a year ago.
Chief Wayne County Circuit Judge Michael Sapala agreed with the city Tuesday, granting summary disposition without a trial.
"The law is crystal-clear," Sapala said. "You cannot amend a zoning ordinance by way of an initiative."
The alliance did not collect the required 4,900 signatures by June 20, the deadline to put the measure on the Nov. 7 ballot. It now has about 6,300 signatures and planned to submit them for the 2001 ballot.
Bob Jackman, president of Riverfront East Alliance, said Tuesday that his group hasn't decided whether to appeal, but it doesn't intend to give up.
"We don't think that's the place casinos should go," he told the Detroit Free Press.
Archer said in a statement that the issue had been settled in an extensive public process during the casino zoning debate.
The city plans permanent casinos to occupy a 100-acre section of riverfront east of the Renaissance Center by 2004. The casinos would cost $500 million to $800 million each and include large hotels.
The MGM Grand and MotorCity casinos, which opened last year, now operate at temporary sites. The Greektown Casino plans to open Nov. 10 at a temporary site in downtown Detroit.
The city has yet to reach agreements with all landowners to purchase their land for the permanent casinos. The land must be turned over to the casino owners by Dec. 31.
Dave Berry, an attorney for one property owner, said the city and landowners are "very, very close" to signing agreements.
archive
