Planning commission recommends zoning ordinance amendments to city council, restores garage rules and clarifies event‑hall definitions

The Eastpointe City Planning Commission voted Nov. 6 to recommend that City Council adopt a set of proposed amendments to the zoning ordinance intended to improve clarity and enforceability.

Planning Director Mister Myers summarized the proposed changes, which include: clarifying the definition and permitted locations of event halls (and reclassifying certain “experiential retail” uses as retail when appropriate), adjusting when special land uses are required, restoring regulations for accessory structures (including private garages), revising sign regulations (with a cross-reference to the City Code for commercial-vehicle parking enforcement), adding a definition for contractors’ offices, and correcting map errors for split‑zone parcels created by prior developments.

Myers said the accessory‑garage language restores rules that existed before the 2‑year ordinance rewrite and that the city’s intent is to provide clear, enforceable standards for new construction and for when nonconforming structures may be rebuilt. Commissioners raised repeated concerns about the proposed three‑foot side setback for rebuilt detached garages; residents said many local garages are two feet from fences and argued a stricter setback could reduce homeowners’ garage size and property values. The commission discussed language to allow rebuilding of an existing garage damaged by fire or disaster on its original footprint; Mr. Myers noted existing ordinance language (section 11.07.d.1) already permits reconstruction of a nonconforming building damaged by fire or other disaster under certain conditions.

The commission discussed the experiential-retail language and whether businesses like “painting with a twist” would still be permitted. Mr. Myers said those uses would be classified based on their primary activity: if the principal use is retail (sales of goods or primary retail services), it would be permitted where retail is allowed; if the use functions as an event hall serving food and beverages as its principal business, it would be treated under the event‑hall rules and any location restrictions for that use.

Commissioner Sasek moved to send the proposed amendments (sections referenced in the meeting packet) to City Council with a recommendation for approval; the motion carried on a unanimous roll call vote (5-0). The motion listed the affected ordinance sections as included in the staff packet.

What the commission did not decide at this meeting: specific numeric adjustments to setback distances for every individual property, and replacement-language detail beyond the general restoration of accessory‑structure regulations. The commission asked staff to ensure the reconstruction and disaster-rebuild language remains clear and to provide examples of how the accessory regulations would apply to existing, nonconforming garages before Council consideration.