Commission backs drive‑through restaurant at 7 Mile and Chippewa with conditions on access, masonry and operations

The Livonia City Planning Commission recommended city council approve a 2,515‑square‑foot full‑service restaurant with drive‑through facilities at 39207 7 Mile Road (the northwest corner of 7 Mile and Haggerty/Chippewa), subject to multiple conditions and clarifying language about access and exterior materials.

Planning staff said the site is zoned C2 general business and described a site plan that locates the building near the middle of the lot, provides 36 parking spaces (two accessible), 8 drive‑through pull‑ahead spaces, and an outdoor seating area with five tables and 18 seats. The plan showed the building at 19.5 feet tall, compliant with the 35‑foot maximum in the C2 district; staff also noted the applicant had revised elevations to show stone veneer along the lower 2 feet 8 inches instead of EIFS at grade following prior study‑session comments. Engineering and other departments reviewed the petition and provided standard comments about sanitary sewer, stormwater calculations, easements, and right‑of‑way permits. (Jacob Uhasi, Planning Department)

The petitioner, Frank Jarbo of Symmetry Management representing Cava, said the restaurant’s ordering system will be primarily app‑based — there is no menu board for ordering — and that the team was actively negotiating cross‑access with the adjacent Shake Shack site on Chippewa Drive. Jarbo said corporate retail design drove the materials palette but that the team would work with the planning department on additional masonry at the base if requested. The applicant acknowledged the potential loss of up to three parking spaces if cross‑access to Chippewa is implemented. (Frank Jarbo, Symmetry Management)

Commissioners asked staff and the petitioner to resolve several specifics before council review. Among the conditions added to the approving resolution were requirements for a recordable cross‑parking/access agreement, additional masonry coverage on the façade “to the satisfaction of the Planning Department,” resolution of inspection and public works comments, a trash receptacle and green buffer around the outdoor patio, trash/dumpster gate materials, and limits on hours of operation for the internal restaurant and drive‑through (no later than midnight Sunday–Thursday and 2 a.m. Friday–Saturday). The maker and supporters also directed planning staff to determine whether the 7 Mile driveway is restricted to right‑in/right‑out only as part of the final petition packet to city council; if so, the petitioner was to post signage and increase the physical separation in the median to discourage left‑turn maneuvers. (Motion amendments recorded by Planning Commission)

Engineering asked for detailed sanitary‑sewer and stormwater design during permitting because the existing utilities and wetlands in proximity may constrain connections; the department encouraged alternative frontage tree species and noted any disturbance within the 7 Mile right of way will require Wayne County permits. The fire marshal required plan review for cooking equipment and fire access clearances; inspection advised a more durable product be used at grade rather than EIFS and required steel dumpster gates. (Engineering, Fire Marshal, Inspection correspondence summarized by Jacob Uhasi)

The commission approved the waiver use with the listed conditions. The motion was made by Commissioner Droz and supported by Commissioner Ventura; the roll call showed unanimous approval to forward the recommendation to city council. The approving resolution also included language that any future change in use would require city council consent and that the waiver use was granted to the present petitioner only. The applicant and staff will return to the council packet with finalized cross‑access documentation, revised masonry details and any required county/MDOT driveway permits.