Services
PRE-DEVELOPMENT
CODE CONSULTATION
CONSTRUCTION & PERMITTING
LICENSING SERVICES
COMPLIANCE & ENFORCEMENT
Contact our experts to start your development project today!
DETROIT’S COMMUNITY BUILDERS
OUR EXPERIENCE
In addition to working with developers and small business owners, our team of planners, engineers, and attorneys are available to provide plan review, zoning consultation, and ordinance/master plan assistance to local communities.
We are also skilled at evaluating internal governmental operating procedures and making restructuring recommendations to better optimize planning and building department functions
Pre-Development
The earliest stages of development can make or break a project. At Parkstone Development Partners, we specialize in securing the governmental approvals and land use entitlements that allow your vision to move forward.
Our pre-development services include:
Zoning & Site Plan Approvals – Navigating municipal review processes, preparing application materials, facilitating community engagement, and securing the entitlements that allow development to move forward.
Land Assembly – Coordinating all the moving pieces needed to create a buildable site, including vacating streets and alleys, acquiring publicly owned property, legally combining parcels, and working closely with civil engineers.
Feasibility Studies – Analyzing zoning, infrastructure, and market conditions while recommending the most direct path to project approval. We balance time and cost constraints with candid advice on the political feasibility of a proposed development.
Code Consultation
Unique projects do not always fit neatly into existing zoning or building code categories. When municipal reviewers do not fully understand a project, it can be routed down an approval path that is unnecessarily expensive, time-consuming, or misaligned with the project’s intent. Parkstone Development Partners specializes in code interpretation and approval strategy for complex and non-standard projects.
Our work is informed by experience on both sides of the development process. Parkstone’s leadership has worked within municipal government and in private practice, including participation in drafting and amending zoning ordinances.
We bring a strong grounding in land use law, constitutional considerations, and due process to our work. This perspective allows us to help project teams and local units of government align regulatory intent with practical implementation — ensuring codes are clear, defensible, and workable in real-world conditions.
We work at the intersection of zoning, building, and administrative code to clarify how regulations apply and to strategically map the most direct approval pathway. When necessary, we shepherd projects through plan review, permitting, and discretionary approvals to reduce uncertainty and avoid avoidable delays.
Our code consultation services include:
Code Interpretation & Approval Strategy – Analyzing zoning and building codes to determine how regulations apply to unique or non-traditional projects.
Preliminary Plan Reviews – Coordinating early reviews with municipal departments to identify issues and align expectations before formal submissions.
Zoning Variances & Administrative Adjustments – Preparing and managing applications that address dimensional, use, or operational conflicts with existing code.
Boards of Appeals Representation – Supporting and representing clients before the Board of Zoning Appeals, Building Board of Appeals and Fire Board of Appeals when alternative compliance pathways are required.
Sign Waivers & Special Approvals – Navigating sign regulations and other discretionary approvals tied to project visibility and operations.
Zoning & Code Drafting and Text Amendments – Representing clients and local units of government in proposing, drafting, and advancing zoning ordinance text amendments through public review and legislative approval.
Expert Witness & Professional Opinion Services – Providing objective expert testimony and written professional planning opinions in land use, zoning, redevelopment, and regulatory matters. This work includes evaluating zoning ordinances, analyzing development impacts, assessing regulatory compliance, and supporting cases before municipal boards, administrative bodies, and courts.
As AICP-certified planners, we adhere to professional and ethical standards that require objectivity, transparency, and defensible analysis. Our expert work is grounded in established planning practice and designed to clearly explain how regulations comply with — or conflict with — applicable planning principles and law.
Construction & Permitting Support
The construction phase is where approvals meet reality. Even well-planned projects can experience delays when permit close-out, inspections, and agency coordination are not managed strategically — particularly for small developers acting as their own contractors. Parkstone Development Partners supports clients during construction by coordinating permitting, inspections, and regulatory requirements so projects can reach completion and occupancy.
Clients often engage Parkstone when unanticipated requirements arise during construction, such as the need for structural, mechanical, or other specialty engineering review. We help clients understand what is being requested, why it is required, and how to respond efficiently, drawing on a strong referral network of qualified professionals when specialized expertise is needed.
Our role is not to manage construction, but to remove regulatory and process barriers that can stall progress. We work alongside owners, contractors, and design teams to navigate local procedures, inspection sequencing, and inter-agency coordination that are often unfamiliar and time-consuming.
Our construction and permitting support services include:
Building Permits & Plan Review Coordination – Managing building permit applications, plan review responses, and required revisions throughout active construction.
Inspection Scheduling & Issue Resolution – Coordinating required inspections and addressing field conditions or inspector comments as construction progresses.
Utility & Infrastructure Coordination – Assisting with utility coordination, including water and sewer tap permits and agency approvals required for service connections.
Right-of-Way & Encroachment Permits – Securing permits for construction activity within the public right-of-way, including sidewalk, street, and utility-related work.
Sign Permitting & Installation Coordination – Pulling sign permits on behalf of business owners and sign manufacturers as a licensed sign erector, and coordinating approvals for permanent and temporary signage.
Permit Close-Out & Certificate of Occupancy Support – Managing final inspections, documentation, and agency approvals required to close permits and secure Certificates of Occupancy.
Clients most often hire Parkstone to assist with permit close-out and obtaining Certificates of Occupancy — particularly when contractors or owner-developers are unfamiliar with local processes. This support allows project teams to stay focused on construction while ensuring projects can legally open and operate without unnecessary delay.
Compliance & Enforcement
For property owners and operators, ongoing compliance is rarely a one-time task. Inspection cycles, registrations, and enforcement actions can create ongoing risk — especially for legacy properties and multi-property portfolios. Parkstone Development Partners specializes in managing compliance proactively, helping clients avoid escalation while keeping projects and operations on track.
We work with owners, developers, and property managers to create structure around compliance. Our role is to coordinate inspections, address violations efficiently, and serve as a trusted point of contact with enforcement officials — so issues are resolved before they become costly distractions.
Our compliance and enforcement services include:
Proactive Compliance Oversight – Developing and managing annual compliance schedules for property maintenance inspections, fire inspections, rental registrations, vacant property registrations, and required Certificates of Compliance.
Inspection Coordination & Tracking – Scheduling inspections, tracking outcomes, and managing correction timelines to prevent enforcement escalation and unnecessary penalties.
Blight Ticket & Violation Resolution – Responding to blight tickets and correction orders, communicating directly with enforcement staff, and coordinating corrective actions with owners and property managers.
Blight Court Representation – Representing property owners in blight court proceedings, saving time and expense by eliminating the need to hire outside counsel or navigate the process independently.
Portfolio-Wide Compliance Management – Supporting owners with multiple properties by implementing consistent systems that keep assets in good standing while allowing internal teams to focus on development and operations.
We maintain strong working relationships with enforcement officials and inspectors, who trust that when Parkstone is involved, compliance issues will be addressed thoroughly, professionally, and on time.
Licensing Services
Not all businesses require licenses — but for those that do, the process can be complex, time-consuming, and unforgiving of mistakes. Parkstone Development Partners specializes in state and local licensing for regulated businesses, guiding clients through approvals that allow them to open and operate legally.
We handle both business licensing and health-related licensing, coordinating requirements across agencies and jurisdictions. Our role is to clarify what is required, prepare complete applications, and manage the review process so licensing does not become a barrier to opening or continued operation.
Our licensing services include:
State & Local Business Licensing – Identifying applicable licensing requirements, preparing applications, and coordinating reviews with state and municipal agencies.
Health & Restaurant Licensing – Managing food service and public health approvals, including coordination with health departments and required inspections for restaurants and food-based businesses.
Liquor Licensing – Guiding clients through local and state liquor licensing processes, including change-of-ownership, transfer, and renewal applications.
Auto-Related Business Licensing – Supporting licensing for auto repair, auto sales, and related uses with complex zoning and regulatory requirements.
Cannabis Licensing Support – Assisting cannabis businesses with local and state licensing coordination as part of broader regulatory and development strategies.
Parkstone has been a trusted partner across every phase of our portfolio — from early feasibility through construction and long-term compliance. Their ability to navigate complex city processes and anticipate issues has saved us time, money, and countless headaches.
– FIRM Real Estate
Tonja is fair, honest and worth her price in gold! Keep up the great work!
– Jeremy Sasson – Heirloom Hospitality
Tonja was fantastic. She could answer all my questions and provided the direction I needed.
– Anthony Whitbeck – Ceres Land Development
Tonja was instrumental in guiding us through thorny BZA, Health Department, Fire Department, and general permitting issues. The job would have been significantly delayed without her.
– Tony Barnes – Founders Brewing Company
Your team was great and accessible in terms of walking me through the re-zoning process. Thanks!
– Megan Heeres – Making Paper LLC
I hope Parkstone continues to offer this level of service and maintains an affordable price so that we can utilize it as frequently as needed.
– Jamahl Makled – Clearwater Properties & Development
Parkstone Development Partners has been an indispensable partner as we have moved projects through the city’s land entitlements process.
– Galaan Dafa – Develop Detroit
Express our gratitude to the incredible team responsible for facilitating such effective business connections; their efforts are a testament to the exceptional value of mutual growth. As part of the service, we were able to transform a deteriorating dead-end street into a commercially viable area. The quality of service we experienced surpassed all our expectations—so remarkable that we anticipated a much higher cost, yet it would have still been a worthy investment. Few companies distinguish themselves as Parkstone does, with their unmatched approach to partnerships through SWDBA. Big thanks to Danel, high five!
– Motor City Pallets – Small Business Customer
Honesty working with Tonja made the process amazing. She got it done and the right way.
– Murillo’s Auto Services
