May 2025

An informative e-newsletter for the Real Property Law Section of the State Bar of Michigan.

“Don’t Believe Everything You Hear!” – Wise Words for Zoning Applicants

Zoning Ordinance

By John Weiss & Mike Vogt, Dickinson Wright

A successful zoning applicant works closely with the community’s zoning administrator, officials, and other key stakeholders. Guidance from these individuals can be invaluable at the outset of a project to identify the community’s current land use patterns and future development goals. Communities have broad authority in administering local zoning and zoning administrators are charged with administering the community’s zoning ordinance. Even where there is ambiguity in a zoning ordinance’s text, courts defer to the community’s reasonable and consistent application of its own zoning ordinance. For these reasons, relying on a zoning official’s statements about a community’s zoning ordinance seems reasonable. Of course, the experienced zoning attorney knows better.

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2025 Summer Conference
Crystal Mountain
August 6-9, 2025
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The Construction Law Committee, a Special Committee of the Real Property Law Section of the State Bar of Michigan has scheduled the next Construction Law Committee meeting for Thursday, May 8, 2025, from 4:30 pm to 6:30 pm. This will be an in person only meeting and networking event. The event will include Round 6 of an "Ask the Expert" program featuring comments from Jacob Kahn (Deneweth, Vittiglio & Sassak) and Ryan Jezdimir (BSJZ) on addressing the risks of tariffs and price escalation.

The event will be held at Granger Construction's new Detroit office located at 1441 Brooklyn Street, Suite 400, Detroit, MI 48226 (the google map street photo was obviously taken before the recent renovations). We can accommodate approximately 30 people so please RSVP soon to secure your spot.

The event will include complimentary adult beverages and appetizers and we will reserve plenty of time for exchanging ideas on improving the committee, networking and catching up with our fellow construction lawyers.

You can register for the event by emailing Karen Schwartz at: rplsks@gmail.com

Legislative Report

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Take the opportunity to get involved by writing for one of our publications, presenting at a conference or seminar, or joining one of the committees that cover virtually every area in real estate law. See our committees and how you can join or see the committees you're already subscribed to.

Note to Committee Members:
Communication settings for RPLS Special Committee members have been changed to "Daily Digest." This means when a message is posted on your Committee page, you will receive the message the day after it is posted.

Write an Article

Interested in writing an article for the e-Newsletter? Contact co-editors Samuel Kilberg at SKilberg@dykema.com or Glen Zatz at gzatz@bodmanlaw.com.

Can't remember where you saw that e-Newsletter article? Check the e-Newsletter article index.

We are also looking for suggested authors and topics for the Michigan Real Property Review. Please contact Chair-Elect, Jason Long at Jlong@wwrplaw.com for suggested topics and ideas.

The views and opinions expressed in these articles are those of the authors, and they do not reflect in any way the positions of the State Bar of Michigan or the Real Property Law Section. These columns are meant for informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice. IRS Circular 230 Disclosure: To ensure compliance with requirements imposed by the Internal Revenue Service, we inform you that any U.S. federal tax advice contained in this communication (including any attachments) was not intended or written to be used, and cannot be used, by any person for the purpose of (i) avoiding tax-related penalties or (ii) promoting, marketing, or recommending to another person any transaction or matter addressed in this communication.