Deanna Calloway

The Zoning Board of Appeals conducted business covering two public hearings requiring variances. The first public hearing addressed variance request AB-2026-04 for Andrew Zuker concerning a house addition requiring a 6-ft. side yard setback variance due to the long and narrow nature of the property and existing structural limitations. The Board granted the variance with the condition that the petitioner makes every effort to save existing trees. The second public hearing concerned variance request AB-2026-06 for Ryan Skalnek/Skalnek Ford, requesting approval for two additional wall signs (totaling three) for their facility, citing property size and safety concerns regarding motorist direction to the service area. This variance was also granted, noting that the total signage square footage was below the allowed limit for the property size.

The meeting addressed the approval of the agenda and the consent agenda. Key new business involved a Site Plan Amendment application (PC-26-14) for the property at 1115 S. Lapeer Rd., which included a modification from numerical requirements for off-street parking and subsequent conditional approval of the site plan amendment. A future public hearing was scheduled for March 4, 2026, concerning a Conditional Rezone Request (PC-26-12) for several parcels on S. Baldwin Rd., proposing a change from Single Family Residential and Restricted Business zoning to Multiple Family Residential zoning to accommodate 55 townhomes.

The meeting included standard procedures such as reviewing and approving the agenda and consent agenda. The session involved multiple public hearings concerning zoning text amendments (PC-24-39) related to compatible renewable energy regulations, and special land use requests for a Raising Cane's drive-thru restaurant with extended hours (PC-24-36). Another public hearing addressed special land use requests for PTV Boat & RV Storage (PC-24-58). New business primarily focused on the approval of the Raising Cane's proposal, which involved granting several waivers related to site plan, land area, setbacks, landscape, and traffic study requirements. Additionally, the Commission forwarded a recommendation to the Township Board of Trustees regarding the approval and adoption of the text amendment for renewable energy regulations. Unfinished business included the conditional approval of the Ground Effects site plan after approving a design waiver.

The meeting involved the review and approval of the agenda. Key business involved two applications, AB-2026-04 for Andrew Zuker at 3711 Waldon Rd. and AB-2026-06 for Ryan Skalnek/Skalnek Ford at 1900 S. Lapeer Rd., both of which were approved as presented. There were no public comments, communications, or committee reports presented.

The Zoning Board of Appeals meeting included organizational nominations, with Dan Durham confirmed as Chairperson, Tony Cook as Vice-Chairman, and Diane Dunaskiss as Secretary for 2026. Key business involved multiple public hearings. The first public hearing, regarding variances for petitioner Gaspare Vitale concerning a property on Dollar Bay Dr., resulted in a motion to postpone the hearing to the March 9, 2026 meeting to allow the applicant to provide additional data, particularly regarding water management. The second public hearing concerned variances for Elinor Smith regarding a fence installation on Walmsley Circle; after extensive discussion regarding ordinance compliance and established neighborhood appearance, the three requested variances were granted on a 3-2 vote. The third public hearing involved variances sought by Jeffrey Jones for a new detached accessory building on a parcel without a primary residence; the request for two variances was unanimously denied as the petitioner did not demonstrate practical difficulty or unique circumstances, and granting them was deemed potentially detrimental due to neighboring water flow concerns. The final public hearing addressed eight variances requested by The Kroger Co. for a fuel station sign plan at South Baldwin Road; all eight variances were unanimously granted based on demonstrated practical difficulty related to advertising visibility angles and site layout. The Board also presented the 2025 Annual Report.