Farmington's Planning Commission will take up an architectural plan review for the Zap Zone property at 31506 Grand River Ave. on Monday, Aug. 10, the latest action on a commercial corridor that has seen two major projects advance this year.
The meeting begins at 7 p.m. in City Council Chambers at 23600 Liberty St.
The Zap Zone review is the sole new business item on the agenda. Details are sparse. The agenda does not identify who submitted the architectural plan or what changes are proposed for the indoor entertainment center, which offers laser tag, go-karts, mini golf and arcade games. Commissioners will also hear a staff update on current development projects along Grand River.
Two Grand River projects already moving
The meeting comes after a busy May 28 session in which the commission unanimously approved a special land use and site plan for Vibe Credit Union at 31806 Grand River Ave. and reviewed "The Farmington," a four-story mixed-use building proposed for 33224 Grand River Ave., according to the commission's meeting packet.
Vibe Credit Union will remodel the former Comerica Bank building, a roughly 1,200-square-foot structure on a half-acre C2-zoned lot. Anthony Taormina, Vibe's vice president of building operations, told commissioners May 28 that the credit union plans to reactivate two lanes of the legacy five-lane drive-through, add a 24-hour ATM and employ three full-time staff plus one rotating wealth-management position.
The commission approved the project with conditions: the applicant must work with city departments to prevent drive-through traffic from exiting onto northbound Lake Way Street, and an unused dumpster enclosure must be removed. Lake Way resident Michael Smith spoke in support of the credit union at the May 28 hearing but urged the same traffic restriction. "I was there when it used to be a Comerica Bank, and I believe Vibe Credit Union would be a great asset to the community," Smith said. "The only thing I ask is that the drive-through exit to Grand River instead of onto Lake Way Street."
"The Farmington" would demolish the Village Shoe Inn, a footwear retailer at 33224 Grand River Ave. since 1970, and replace it with an approximately 60,000-square-foot building featuring ground-floor retail and 33 condominiums across three upper floors. Developer Ben Tiseo and project architect Kimberly Lapinski presented the plans May 28, describing 11 units per floor and up to six retail spaces at street level.
The project, originally called "Farmington Village Place," was renamed after residents objected to the word "Village." It still needs a front yard setback waiver from the Planning Commission, a one-foot height variance from the Zoning Board of Appeals and a follow-up review by the DDA Design Committee. Commissioner Westendorf noted at the May 28 meeting that the 150-foot-long building is significantly wider than the 20-to-30-foot storefronts around it, though he said the project aligns with the Farmington Forward Master Plan's call for mixed-use development.
No vote on "The Farmington" site plan was recorded in the available May 28 meeting minutes.
What's next
Residents can attend the Aug. 10 meeting and speak during the public comment period. Those needing disability accommodations should contact the City Clerk at (248) 474-5500, ext. 2218, at least two working days before the meeting.
