Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Zoning Enforcement Parking topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Residents ask city to enforce residential zoning and overhaul downtown shared‑parking rules
Summary
Multiple residents raised concerns during public comment about commercial activity in residential zones and how shared‑parking provisions are used by new developments. Council and staff said they will revisit downtown parking rules and coordinate infrastructure planning before future approvals.
Several residents asked the Walled Lake City Council to enforce residential zoning rules and to rewrite downtown shared‑parking standards after raising repeated concerns in public comment.
Christopher Obey, who identified himself as a neighbor at 917 East Walled Lake Drive, told the council that a nearby property at 923 East Walled Lake Drive — residentially zoned — appears to be operating as a continuous used‑car sales operation. “Vehicles are routinely parked at the property with a ‘for sale’ sign… this is a business running continuously out of a home, bypassing commercial zoning and likely other regulation rules,” Obey said, and he gave photos, including an image showing a dealer plate on a vehicle used for test drives.
Residents also addressed downtown parking rules. Dan Martin and others urged the council to limit shared‑parking allowances for new developments so that existing buildings and businesses retain access to curbside and on‑street spaces. Martin said shared parking has historically worked because businesses had different hours, but recent development requests for substantial variances are straining available spaces.
Dennis O’Rourke recommended the council follow a memorandum from the city attorney that encourages coordinating site development with planned city infrastructure improvements. “Let’s get the infrastructure determined… then invite businesses to come in and build something on that property,” O’Rourke said, urging the council to align development reviews with planned street, curb and sidewalk work.
City officials — including the city manager — acknowledged the complaints and said staff will draft ordinance changes and coordinate a comprehensive plan and engineering study for the downtown district. The manager said connecting infrastructure planning to site review will prevent proposals that rely on distant or impractical parking concessions. No formal enforcement action or code amendment was adopted at the meeting; residents were told they may submit evidence to the clerk for staff investigation and code enforcement follow‑up.
Other public comments touched on fencing at a lakefront lot, Memorial Day parade planning, and volunteer efforts to rehabilitate the historic bank’s house; DDA representatives and business owners said they will contribute to property upkeep and continue work on a downtown comprehensive study.
