Planning commission approves senior accessory dwelling at 1423 Greenleaf

The Royal Oak Planning Commission on May 2025 approved a special land use permit allowing a senior accessory dwelling unit at 1423 Greenleaf.

Joseph Murphy, the city’s director of planning, told commissioners the property is in the one-family residential large-lot zoning district and that the proposed accessory unit meets the ordinance’s senior accessory housing requirements if the commission finds the attachment configuration acceptable. Architect Keith Logsdon, representing the applicants, said the unit would be attached to the principal dwelling, would not exceed 600 square feet of living space, and would include a 247-square-foot garage and an owner-occupancy deed restriction to be recorded with Oakland County. The petitioner, owner George Blower, said the unit is intended to accommodate his aging mother.

Commissioners focused their review on whether the shared archway and wall constitute the required physical attachment and on whether additional variances are needed. Murphy and other staff clarified that site-plan review is not applicable for a single-family dwelling and that the petitioner will need to seek variances from the zoning board of appeals for any dimensional limits not handled by the Planning Commission. Multiple commissioners cited the city’s aging-in-place policy in supporting the application.

Commissioner [moved the motion] and the commission voted to approve the special land use. The approval is limited to the special land use determination; the applicant remains responsible for recording the deed restriction and for pursuing any required variances with the ZBA before final permits are issued.

The commission noted this special land use will be reviewed in two years to ensure continued compliance with ordinance provisions.