Jacobs, Visconsi & Jacobs Co v. City of Burton

Plaintiffs are land developers seeking to develop a regional shopping mall for major department stores and numerous other retail stores on 96 acres of land in defendant City of Burton (hereinafter referred to as defendant city). The shopping center site is surrounded by high quality, residential homes and a nature preserve. Defendant city granted plaintiffs’ zoning request to change the zoning to a C-4 classification, which is designated as a planned shopping center district.

Shortly after the rezoning, a group of citizens circulated petitions and filed them with the city clerk, demanding a…