DEARBORN – After months of deliberation the Dearborn Planning Commission approved a special land use request for a Goodwill Industries store on the city’s west side. 

The commission reached the decision in a 5-4 vote Monday  during a public forum at city hall. Initially, a decision on the vote was delayed after members of the commission didn’t attend previous forums.

Now the issue will move toward the Zoning Board of Appeals for a special variance on April 18 at 5:30 p.m. at City Hall. If it is granted the store will open in six months.

Bringing the thrift store to Dearborn has sparked conversations. Members of the commission have reportedly stated that it would attract “undesirables” to the area.

The site, a building that has been vacant for 15 years is located in West Dearborn, south of Michigan Avenue and west of Military.

Goodwill Industries is a non-profit that provides job training, employment placement services and other community-based programs for people who have disability, lack education, job experience, or face employment challenges.    

Those who oppose the project say the store will attract too much traffic or lower property values. Additional opposition surfaced around its donation drop box. Some say chances are people will leave donations behind, resulting in liter after operating hours. Another concern raised by  residents was that because Goodwill Industries is a non-profit organization it wouldn’t be required to pay property taxes, essentially leaving the city with less to benefit from. Jeffrey J. Ukrainec, Director, Donated Goods, Goodwill Industries of Greater Detroit says because the organization doesn’t own the property, it will be required to pay taxes to the landowner, but if it owned the site the charity would be exempt from paying taxes.

 Ukrainec said the project would bring foot traffic to neighboring businesses. “We’re going to stimulate the economy,” he said noting that another location attracted 75,000 people.

Ukrainec said that through the petition process 77 percent of people supported the project, and that more than 80 percent of letters sent to the Commission were in favor of the store.

“Yes there is a need because the residents want it,” Ukrainec said. As for property taxes declining he said vacant buildings would cause home values to drop. 

Speaking on behalf of Goodwill Industries, Attorney Joseph Galvin said the charity has met all the criteria under the ordinance. “It’s going to be providing services in a building that has not been used in 15 years,” he said.  

Dearborn Resident Rose Tobin, has been a homeowner for 30 years, and watched the area near the site die.

“I’m praying that you let Goodwill Industries be built  there…And I don’t know as a city when we started picking and choosing what we think we’re better than whether it’s Kohl’s or anything else,” she said. 

Resident Leslie Herrick said it’s disheartening to see how many businesses are currently vacant in West Dearborn. She says the store would provide jobs, and has a long history of doing so.

Goodwill Industries was also recognized by Crain’s Detroit Business as one of the best non-profits in Southeast Michigan.  

“I shop at places that are not in Dearborn, so I can buy quality used clothing for my son, and myself,” Herrick said.

Standing before the commission she said that an item she was wearing was once owned by someone else. An overwhelming majority of residents who addressed the board support the project.