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Commission conditionally approves small rear addition for Renshaw Lounge, requires ZBA variance and rooftop screening
Summary
The Planning Commission granted conditional approval for a rear 84 sq ft enclosure and a 124 sq ft canopy extension at Renshaw Lounge (210 E. 14 Mile) subject to the applicant obtaining a rear‑setback variance from the Zoning Board of Appeals and adding rooftop screening.
The Clawson Planning Commission on Oct. 14 granted conditional approval to a site plan for Renshaw Lounge, 210 East 14 Mile Road, allowing an 84‑square‑foot enclosed storage notch at the rear of the restaurant and a 124‑square‑foot extension of an existing canopy over the patio.
Staff said both the enclosed addition and the canopy extension occur within the CMD districtrequired 30‑foot rear setback and that approval therefore must be conditioned on the applicant obtaining a rear‑setback variance from the Zoning Board of Appeals. The file shows the existing rear wall is about 31 feet from the property line and portions of the proposed work would extend into the required 30‑foot setback.
Planner Joel (staff) noted that, because the proposed work occurs within an existing nonconforming area, the commission could provide conditional approval subject to the ZBA grant of a variance or could deny and require the applicant to obtain the variance first; the commission opted for the conditional approach.
Design professional Matt Badrack, who presented for the applicant, said the project does not add occupiable floor area and is intended to improve kitchen function and to extend roof cover over an existing concrete patio slab. “This isn’t increasing any occupancy,” Badrack said, and the expanded canopy is “not an occupiable space, and it’s not ever enclosed.”
Commissioners also discussed an existing rooftop HVAC unit that is visible where a parapet has a notch. The commission added a condition requiring rooftop equipment to be screened to meet the ordinance standard. The commission included the rooftop‑screening requirement and the ZBA variance as conditions in a single motion.
The conditional site‑plan approval passed on roll call with all commissioners voting yes. The commission explicitly noted that the applicant cannot proceed with construction unless the ZBA approves the needed rear‑setback variance; the commission also requested confirmation about any future side‑enclosure plans for the patio and whether new lighting will be installed.
