A disputed car wash permit on Ten Mile Road and a plan to open an outdoor used car lot on Halsted Road top the Farmington Hills Zoning Board of Appeals agenda for Tuesday, Sept. 8, alongside two residential variance requests.
The board meets at 7:30 p.m. in the City Council Chamber at City Hall, 31555 W. Eleven Mile Road. A site visit may be held Sunday, Sept. 6, at 9 a.m.
Car wash permit returns as 'Old Business'
Dr. Delair Gardi's appeal over his car wash building permit at 38400 Ten Mile Road is back before the ZBA after the board did not act on the case at its Aug. 11 meeting.
Gardi, doing business as 38400 W. 10 Mile Road LLC, is fighting the city's decision to declare Building Permit PB231881 issued in error and to retract site plan approval for a vehicle car wash in the B-3 General Business District. The Planning Commission originally approved that site plan on Feb. 17, 2022.
His appeal argues the city must apply the zoning ordinance that was in effect when the site plan was approved, and that a savings clause in Ordinance C-9-2024 preserves his rights. Among the relief he seeks: a stay of the permit inactivation, reversal of the building official's error determination and reactivation of the permit. If relief is denied, Gardi is asking for specific findings to build a record for circuit court review.
As we reported July 29, the city declared the permit invalid and Gardi filed his appeal.
Used car dealership seeks two variances
Hayder Alkhafaji's bid to open Cars Experts Auto Sales and Auto Care at 24435 Halsted Road has moved from the Planning Commission to the ZBA. The project received conditional site plan approval from the Planning Commission on July 16, according to the Sept. 8 ZBA agenda.
Alkhafaji now needs two variances: one to place a vehicular access drive 50 feet from the intersection of Halsted Road and Hallwood Court, where 60 feet is required, and another to waive the off-street loading and unloading space requirement for the LI-1 Light Industrial property.
The building has sat empty since 2018. A city consultant previously flagged setback violations, a parking shortfall and access drive issues, as we reported July 22.
Residential cases
Keri and Darin Knochel of 23485 Tuck Road want to replace an existing 6-foot fence on their corner lot. They need two variances because the fence would sit 6 feet from the Lamar right-of-way, where 30 feet is required for fences over 3 feet tall and a 10-foot minimum setback applies.
Ryan Haefner of 33631 Kirby St. is seeking a 5-foot variance to build a detached accessory building with a 3-foot side yard setback where 8 feet is required. The ZBA granted Haefner the same variance at the same address in February, according to board minutes; the new filing may reflect a lapsed approval or a modified plan.
How to participate
The meeting is open to the public and includes a public comment period. Residents needing ADA accommodations should contact the City Clerk's Office at 248-871-2410 at least two business days before the hearing.
The staff contact for ZBA cases is Charmaine Kettler-Schmult, director of planning and community development, at 248-871-2543. Decisions are expected the evening of Sept. 8.
