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Board grants parking and driveway relief for small Pilates studio on Woodward Ave
Summary
The zoning board approved a variance allowing a Pilates studio on Woodward Ave to proceed with two fewer off‑street spaces than the ordinance requires and a narrowed driveway, after the applicant’s attorney described an appointment‑only, low‑occupancy operation and the owner added three rear parking spaces.
The Royal Oak Zoning Board approved parking and driveway variances for a proposed Pilates studio on Woodward Avenue after hearing that the studio will be appointment‑only, small‑scale, and mainly serve off‑peak clients.
Staff report and relief requested: Planning staff said the building’s maximum occupancy (as determined by the building inspector) is 50 people, which would require 13 off‑street parking spaces under the zoning ordinance. The site is credited with 8 spaces based on prior retail use; the applicant proposed adding three parking spaces at the rear of the property and asked the board to waive two of the required off‑street spaces and to allow a driveway width in excess of the 30‑foot maximum by 10 feet to accommodate the rear access.
Petitioner’s case: Attorney Kieran Sadev told the board the studio is appointment only, will have six reformers and a single trainer, and at full booking will host seven occupants (including the instructor). “It’s appointment only,” Sadev said, explaining the studio’s class size and scheduling would limit simultaneous demand. The applicant argued that if the prior retail tenant used the entire gross floor area, the site might have been entitled to a larger credit than staff initially recorded, which would further reduce any parking deficiency.
Board rationale and decision: Board members noted the site’s unusual circumstances — on‑street spaces adjacent to the site are in MDOT or city right‑of‑way and cannot be counted as off‑street spaces, but the presence of a rear driveway and the applicant’s plan to add three marked spaces downtown informed the board’s judgment. After brief discussion a motion to grant both requested variances (parking and driveway width) as presented carried.
Next steps: The applicant must supply final parking/driveway plans consistent with the approval; if the driveway configuration or marked rear spaces change materially from the approved plan, the applicant may need to return to planning staff or the board for further review.
