[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6360355,"mediaKeyId","2174927-d8ed4abb1388a3c98c1552d44ea19718","parentId",2174927,"title","Staff briefs ZBA on draft master plan; planning commission to send plan to city council","audioSeconds",325,"startMs",2345000,"endMs",2670000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2174927-d8ed4abb1388a3c98c1552d44ea19718&start=2345&end=2670","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2174927-d8ed4abb1388a3c98c1552d44ea19718/thumbnail_2345000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6360355/Pontiac/Oakland-County/Michigan/Staff-briefs-ZBA-on-draft-master-plan-planning-commission-to-send-plan-to-city-council","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6360355-fc569357d260d9bb71b57eef10c5f880/orig.mp4?Expires=1777221690&Signature=YHJ0dBeL9AobA~2CZZIwVR49N823bjWlv9XaJAD3Bb4kgAMEw3uJuynyvyoh6fuTEytpov8lj8zhF9bTD0dC9a2zSLOY8bAWb6dEUeQBvjkrOOQezPXmS8rHWOjO6Xo5DhfoZQGjFvrC4IK609VJim3lv0S3yPuguus6138wgS1nzG~vCrjiWbYtqg5yZ9SFEalgu~5Mx~JuWHYRmc~RM8f20X6EXEYqI6iVg3PP0j6S1gr0XFwgQmQwPSL-XWmg8zfwYP3vTlWVlC5S6MEbc8e-8Nj0JaHxM6O1qm3C9Q2dIil96-S2JZNmL~NXW6Jultb6nWMG~u0wv-n8LNRpEQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Pontiac","date","2025-01-27T00:00:00Z","article","City planning staff briefed the Zoning Board of Appeals on the draft Pontiac master plan and the next steps in the adoption process.

The presenter said the Planning Commission reviewed the draft master plan at its most recent meeting, made a motion of support, and will forward it to the City Council for consideration. Staff said a city-council resolution is expected and, if adopted, the draft plan will be published on the city’s master-plan website for public review. A webinar is scheduled to explain how to view the plan and provide feedback.

Staff described the public engagement process and several outreach sessions, noting one session at Welcome Baptist Church that gathered feedback directly from attendees. Staff said the review period will open when the council posts the resolution — anticipated at the next council meeting — and that a public comment and hearing window is expected to run from the council meeting on February 4 through at least mid-April.

The presenter also said one recommendation in the draft master plan is to update the city’s zoning code; staff said the city may issue a request for proposals to hire a consultant for the zoning-code rewrite, possibly in May, and that the budget for that work may fall in the next fiscal year. Staff suggested that the zoning-code update process could include representatives from the ZBA and the Planning Commission.

Why it matters: The master plan sets the future land‑use assumptions that will guide zoning updates and long-term planning decisions in Pontiac. Staff told the ZBA the future land-use map will be a foundational tool when the city develops a new zoning map and that alignment along commercial corridors and neighborhood transitions is a priority.

What’s next: Planning staff said the draft plan will be in the City Council packet next week; if the council adopts the resolution, staff will publish the draft on visionpontiac.com and begin the public-hearing process.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Pontiac Planning Commission 1-27-25","oneSentenceSummary","Planning staff updated the Zoning Board of Appeals on the draft master plan, noting planning commission support and upcoming city council consideration and public hearing period; staff also described potential future zoning-code updates tied to the plan.","taxTitle","Pontiac, Oakland County, Michigan","taxId",4028,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6360360,"ZBA approves 900-square-foot accessory structure at 256 Cottage Street with no-living-space condition",582,1753000,2335000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2174927-d8ed4abb1388a3c98c1552d44ea19718&start=1753&end=2335","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2174927-d8ed4abb1388a3c98c1552d44ea19718/thumbnail_1753000.jpg","/articles/6360360/Pontiac/Oakland-County/Michigan/ZBA-approves-900-square-foot-accessory-structure-at-256-Cottage-Street-with-no-living-space-condition","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6360360-8be9de4ce1a17b458bbfb9bdd36036c3/orig.mp4?Expires=1777221690&Signature=VNo0WXWhr5gcLwF-8KfsqPkZBgeYoMtT9dSGcZlJP~53tmsO61laUSp9ph~o2-lsp-OM9A5gZ9CiasDyVEGEDWvXs036Tnb1kkcJFLTmHnpmZ8Tyn8rcDJw2ULOIHVdVdaFNa39OysXhdUHl3LfwK6MpnXVn8zRBloGzlA-8rOcNskrshRYG0ui10eVUBBbuuQARR5d8RwYnCKpBK9GrMK-1M8VNNOezqqDSGfzPyfA33t1Z9Z4nVEeodYeLu1mf8y0F9jh77M5eEql~~FVN0pWiQiCS-EKezn-pOfrCr5RoH-vctr9CjL7wqnm6iG5TGK4rc4yB5oVi7h1mQnnvBg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Pontiac Zoning Board of Appeals approved a request to build a 900-square-foot detached accessory structure at 256 Cottage Street, granting a 100-square-foot variance from the 800-square-foot limit in section 2.304 of the city’s zoning ordinance.

Staff told the board the applicant previously requested a significantly larger accessory structure in September 2023 and returned with a reduced plan. The current application requests a 30-by-30-foot detached garage; staff recommended that any approval include a condition prohibiting residential occupancy in the accessory structure because application plans had noted a “living area” label.

The applicant, Jessica Espinosa of 256 Carter Street, told the board she intended the building to be a garage aligned with the driveway and said “it shouldn't have said living space” on the plans. Espinosa said the extra space would allow vehicles to be stored and provide room to move items in and out of the property.

Commissioner Burke moved to approve the variance from section 2.304 to allow a 900-square-foot accessory structure at 256 Cottage Street “based on the findings of fact outlined in the staff report with the restriction that this space is not used as living quarters.” Commissioner May seconded. On roll call the board recorded these votes: Commissioner May — yes; Commissioner McClellan — yes; Commissioner Bueno — yes; Commissioner Anderson — yes; Commissioner Burke — yes; Commissioner Babakwa — yes. The motion passed.

Why it matters: The approval permits the property owner to construct a detached garage larger than the ordinance normally allows, subject to the board’s condition preventing conversion to an accessory dwelling. Staff previously directed the applicant to reduce a larger request; the board’s action implements that compromise.

What’s next: Staff told the applicant they will follow up the next day and that the applicant may proceed with building permit applications and required inspections once zoning and building approvals are obtained.

","The board granted a 100-square-foot variance to allow a 900-square-foot detached garage at 256 Cottage Street, conditioned that the structure not be used for living quarters; the applicant reduced an earlier, larger request following staff guidance.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6360365,"ZBA denies use variance for proposed Turner Housing transitional program at 121 Chamberlain Street",1548,168000,1716000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2174927-d8ed4abb1388a3c98c1552d44ea19718&start=168&end=1716","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2174927-d8ed4abb1388a3c98c1552d44ea19718/thumbnail_168000.jpg","/articles/6360365/Pontiac/Oakland-County/Michigan/ZBA-denies-use-variance-for-proposed-Turner-Housing-transitional-program-at-121-Chamberlain-Street","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6360365-794a180d59b1809f0aff957dbf384826/orig.mp4?Expires=1777221690&Signature=YZUMo6D8q6tTlJnLagZZArjeAlBMEK7f5UByC4T0ILjkGh00jfK5GOWKfk079tGlz64ZLvX4Py4JXr4ZtBdk84LKHaS0DIzcwTDNZA9RvBSx9yfSAvL6ebRPKH~kbFdkgkAl8mraJ7ftvIMFtkZl43A4eRAq7Ix5N0qQHTPDlMtQYGUCvqjJezNYq1JHyokQQn9ezwwVhpLkD2axAxMC3Me5pPcJj59emiCnDhkxZayzUNnueNyIzIG5mqujlFAVd7yafBsavmiM-LvgDsX5F72JwSt~6VSTNgxdexznhuKpZwsc7UDZ20bfyozYqXH101tAPoGBdAvpsDmeH9uazw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Pontiac Zoning Board of Appeals voted to deny a use variance that would have allowed Turner Housing to repurpose a former rectory at 121 Chamberlain Street into a transitional housing program with wraparound services.

City planning staff told the board the building, formerly associated with the adjacent Catholic church, has been in place since at least 1951 and contains roughly 31 rooms. Staff said the applicant’s packet describes services including case management, job-readiness training, mental health counseling, health and wellness services, nutritional support and connections to public benefits.

Staff emphasized the board’s review must be limited to the seven legal standards for a use variance. A staff presenter said, “the ZBA should solely base their decision on the 7 standards of approval,” and reminded members that granting a use variance requires five affirmative votes.

The applicant, Shanti Turner of Turner Housing, described the proposed program as transitional housing with wraparound services and said stays would range “for 6 months to up to 2 years.” Turner told the board residents would be referred from local agencies with which the applicant has existing agreements, and named partnerships cited in the application, including CNS, Goodwill, Lighthouse and the Oakland County Health Division. Turner said staff and 24-hour security would be on-site and that volunteers and local residents had offered tutoring and other supports.

City staff and the presenter explained that the parcel is zoned R-1 (single-family) and that community service facilities such as homeless shelters and halfway houses are not permitted in R-1 districts. The staff presentation noted such facilities are allowed only by special exception in other districts (R-2, R-3, C-0, C-1 and C-3) and that the ordinance requires community service facilities to front on an “A” or “B” street—major thoroughfares or corridor streets—to ensure access for service vehicles and public transit. The presenter also warned that approval “could increase the congestion on neighborhood streets” and said the proposed use does not appear to align with the city’s 2014 future land-use plan.

Board discussion touched on a social-media post and an open house held at the property. Staff cautioned the board not to treat any ongoing enforcement or ticketing as proof of guilt, saying that due process and any related hearings are separate from the variance review. Staff also noted the property had previously operated as a group home or foster-care facility for many years and that code enforcement closed the prior operation in March 2023 because of living-condition concerns.

Commissioner May moved to approve the use variance, with Commissioner McClellan seconding. On roll call the board recorded these votes: Commissioner Anderson — yes; Commissioner Burke — no; Commissioner Bueno — no; Commissioner May — yes; Commissioner Pfebach — yes; Commissioner McCloud — yes. The motion did not reach the five affirmative votes required for a use variance and failed. Staff told the applicant they would follow up the next day about next steps.

Why it matters: The decision prevents an immediate reuse of the Chamberlain Street building as the applicant described but leaves procedural options open — for example, relocation to a properly zoned parcel, a rezoning effort, or a revised application to the ZBA. The board’s denial also underscores the city’s zoning separation between low-density single-family neighborhoods and higher-occupancy community service facilities.

What’s next: Staff said they will contact the applicant with guidance on next steps. Turner told the board she had no alternate site identified at the hearing.

","The Zoning Board of Appeals voted to deny a use variance request that would have allowed Turner Housing to operate a transitional housing/community service facility at a former rectory on Chamberlain Street; staff stressed the decision must rest on seven statutory standards and neighborhood zoning rules.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Staff briefs ZBA on draft master plan; planning commission to send plan to city council

ZBA approves 900-square-foot accessory structure at 256 Cottage Street with no-living-space condition

ZBA denies use variance for proposed Turner Housing transitional program at 121 Chamberlain Street