The clean-up at the old McLouth Steel site in Trenton and Riverview is welcome and long overdue. ​But, unless the clean-up and redevelopment of this property is performed correctly, Trenton, Riverview, Grosse Ile and all of Downriver will be negatively impacted for generations to come.

Concerned citizens of Downriver communities are signing this petition urging the Mayor, City Council, and Planning Commissions in Trenton and Riverview to protect the safety and quality of life in the entire region by working diligently through zoning, negotiations or any means possible to convey to the current owners of the property, Matty Moroun's companies that an intermodal shipping port or other polluting heavy industrial development is NOT welcome on the McLouth Steel site or other nearby waterfront areas on the Trenton Channel of the Detroit River.

As the leaders of citizens in your communities and representatives of the best interests for all of Downriver, we request that you make our voices heard. An intermodal shipping port or other heavy industrial redevelopment on the McLouth Steel site would bring:

- A massive increase in semi-trucks on local roads and across Downriver that would increase traffic congestion and air pollution.

- Pollute the Trenton Channel of the Detroit River and its shorelines when the toxic chemicals currently embedded in the river bottom and shorelines are stirred up and released by the passing of large commercial ships.

- The closing of Grosse Ile Toll Bridge to vehicle traffic multiple times a day for commercial ships to travel to the port. Opening the bridge for large commercial vessels typically causes it to be closed for vehicle traffic at least 25 minutes. The Wayne County Bridge on Parkway is scheduled for repairs that may require its complete closure for long periods of time. This leaves only one bridge for citizens and businesses traveling to and from Grosse Ile. The situation will threaten the public safety if the only bridge is opened multiple times a day for passing ships.

- The lowering of home values in area communities when the air and water becomes more polluted.

- Increased freight train traffic crossing roads in Trenton, Riverview, Woodhaven and Gibraltar which can block vehicle traffic for hours without local communities having any control over the actions of railroads.

- Many other negative impacts as stated to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) officials and contained in citizen comments during community interviews:
https://semspub.epa.gov/work/05/949432.pdf?fbclid=IwAR3FQWAUQz58962RK4TNM4Az1SArWF0aAg8z58Ubr_SNZe2Q7_2cFpb_tCk

- As reflected in the above EPA Community Action Report "Virtually everyone interviewed expressed concerns about the future use of the site. Most of the people said they did not want the site to be developed for industrial use."

-Potential damage to the local ecosystems including but not limited to the Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge in the area.

The elected leadership of Grosse Ile Township and the City of Riverview have passed resolutions requesting that Trenton City officials deny any operation on the site that will "adversely impact" the air and water quality of residents in this area. In addition, the Grosse Ile Nature and Land Conservancy and numerous other local groups have expressed strong statements opposing the reindustrialization of the Downriver waterfront.

We are asking you to represent the interests of the vast majority of area residents who want the McLouth Steel site to be fully cleaned up for mixed-use redevelopment with some level of feasible public access to the Detroit River. This is the kind of sustainable economic development that will maximize the increase in property tax revenue, create good paying jobs of the future and create a healthier environment.