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ZBA postpones 121 Chamberlain shelter variance after parish raises parking and safety concerns
Summary
The Pontiac Zoning Board of Appeals postponed a use-variance hearing for 121 Chamberlain after the applicant requested more time and St. Damien Catholic Church warned the board of potential parking conflicts and risks to children and women using parish facilities.
The Pontiac Zoning Board of Appeals on Dec. 16 postponed a requested use variance for 121 Chamberlain Street after the applicant asked for more time and lawyers for the neighboring parish flagged parking and safety concerns.
City staff had described ZBA 24-017 as a request to repurpose an existing rectory-style building in an R1 single-family district into a shelter and halfway house. Staff noted the R1 district does not permit shelters, pointed to parking and street-classification constraints, and observed the proposal does not align with the city's master plan. Staff also listed the services the applicant proposed to provide, including case management and mental-health counseling.
The applicant, who identified herself as Shanti Turner, asked to postpone to gather additional information. "I would like to postpone this until the next meeting to gather some more information," Turner said during her remarks.
Erica Sarver, an attorney representing Saint Damien Catholic Church — the neighboring property owner identified in the staff presentation — urged the board to make addressing parking and safety a priority. "The parish does anticipate that the proposed use would significantly interfere with the use of the remaining parking spaces by parishioners," Sarver said, and she asked the board to note protections that could be put in place to keep children and women who use parish services safe.
With those points on the record, Commissioner Burke moved to postpone the matter to the next hearing in January; the motion was seconded on the record and carried. The board's public record shows the motion to postpone was approved by voice/roll call and the item will return to a future ZBA agenda. Staff told the applicant they would reach out the following morning to discuss next steps.
The postponement preserves the city's ability to take additional written input and for staff and the applicant to provide supplemental materials on parking arrangements, occupancy plans and safety measures before the ZBA votes on any variance.
