Commission approves conditional rezoning for 10-unit building at 13 Mile and Prairie over one dissent

The Royal Oak City Commission on Jan. 27 approved a conditional rezoning request for Parcel 2507103041 at the southeast corner of 13 Mile Road and Prairie Avenue, allowing the site to be rezoned from neighborhood business to multifamily residential for construction of a three-story building with 10 residential units.

City staff summarized changes the petitioner made since first reading: the developer removed a proposed wind turbine and replaced it with solar panels, offered to install an electric-vehicle charging station and indicated a good-faith effort to prioritize unit availability for employees of the nearby Beaumont campus. "The petitioner is proposing to construct a 3 story multifamily residential building that will contain 10 units," City staff said during the second-reading presentation.

Planning previously recommended the rezoning (planning commission vote at first reading was 5–1). On second reading at the commission table, Commissioner Hunt reiterated her opposition, calling the structure too large for the site and expressing concern about setbacks and adjacency to neighboring businesses. Commissioner Herzog moved approval; Commissioner Douglas seconded. The chair called a voice vote; the motion passed with one 'no' (Commissioner Hunt).

The rezoning includes the voluntary design conditions offered by the petitioner and will proceed through any remaining administrative steps for building permits and site plan review. No specific vote tally with names for each 'yes' vote was recorded on the transcript beyond the one dissenting 'no.'