Royal Oak board denies parking variances for proposed Cafe Fantasy on Woodward

The Royal Oak Zoning Board denied a set of variances requested by a would-be operator of Cafe Fantasy at 30118 Woodward after extensive public comment and questions from commissioners about parking and late-night operations.

Staff told the board the space’s usable floor area would require 24 off-street parking spaces under the city zoning ordinance, but staff applied a 7-space credit for the prior retail use, making the effective requirement 17 spaces. The petitioner’s plans added four rear spaces, leaving a request to waive 13 spaces. The applicant also sought waivers for driveway width and for a required 30-inch masonry screening wall along the south lot line. ‘‘Based on the submitted plans, the space would require 24 off-street spaces; with the prior-use credit it becomes 17, and the applicant is asking us…