Planning commission recommends mosque dining addition despite neighbor parking concerns

The Westland City Planning Commission voted unanimously to forward a site‑plan request for a 750‑square‑foot addition to a mosque at 27758 Warren Road (southeast corner of Warren and Deering) to city council with a recommendation for approval, conditioned on the Zoning Board of Appeals granting front yard setback and height variances and on compliance with other departmental requirements.

Planning staff described the site as split‑zoned (CB‑3 with a small R‑5 parcel) and developed by an existing roughly 34,100‑square‑foot mosque. “The applicant is requesting site plan approval to construct a 750 square foot addition,” staff told the commission, noting the addition is intended primarily for dining during Ramadan. Staff also said the site presently contains 57 off‑street parking spaces and that the building’s occupancy load had been determined by the building official to be 405.

Why it matters: while the addition itself does not change the prayer area and therefore does not trigger additional parking requirements under the zoning code’s religious‑institution exception, neighbors described recurring Friday‑service congestion that they say blocks driveways, hydrants and, at times, prevents service vehicles from passing.

Multiple neighbors described persistent parking problems. Resident William McMain said, “The parking is really tight... I can't even get into my driveway at times.” The owner of a nearby strip plaza, identified in the record as William (last name varied in the transcript), said he must stand outside every Friday “from 12:30 till 2 o'clock approximately” to ask worshipers not to park in his tenants’ spaces and that repeat problems have led tenants to threaten to leave.

Mosque leaders and congregants acknowledged the issue and said they are taking steps. Imam Imad (identified in the record as the imam at the mosque) said the center “has spent more than $700,000 on the building” and described volunteer efforts and outreach to police to reduce illegal or obstructive parking. Imad also said the mosque’s regular membership is about 40 to 50 people and that many of the cars that show on Fridays are non‑members who attend services sporadically. Engineer Munir Allahwal, who said he prepared the drawings, told the commission the addition will not affect existing parking spaces.

Several commissioners urged the mosque to continue community outreach and recommended practical measures such as on‑site parking attendants or an off‑site shuttle to reduce congestion during the 20–30 minute Friday service. Commissioner David Swokas moved to forward case number 1646B to city council with a recommendation for approval subject to the front yard setback and height variances granted by the Zoning Board of Appeals and other departmental requirements; the motion was supported by Commissioner Hopkins and passed on a unanimous roll call.

Next steps: the matter will be reviewed by the Zoning Board of Appeals for the variances; if the variances are granted, the city council will take final action. Planning staff and mosque leaders were urged to continue neighborhood coordination on parking.