Westland council approves drive-through coffee at 35966 Ford Road after MDOT denies Ford Road access

The Westland City Council approved a site plan and special land use permit for a 664-square-foot, drive-through coffee shop proposed at 35966 Ford Road after planners and the developer revised access and design to address neighborhood and state transportation concerns.

Planning Director Ayuk told the council the parcel is about 14,000 square feet, sits in the Ford Road overlay district and requires additional design standards. The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) and its engineering consultant refused new curb cuts on Ford Road and declined to allow reuse of existing Ford Road access, so the petitioner kept two curb cuts on North Berry Street and proposed multiple mitigations: a left-turn-only exit from Berry, a masonry wall and additional perimeter landscaping adjacent to residences, posted left-turn and do-not-block signs, 10 stacking spaces (the overlay calls for 8), sidewalks, and on-site stormwater management. Ayuk said the planning commission unanimously recommended approval subject to four conditions including granting the dimensional front-yard variance and enforcing the left-turn-only geometry and signage.

The developer said construction would begin as soon as approvals were in place and estimated a six-to-nine month build time. In response to council questions, the petitioner said average service time per customer is approximately 26 seconds and described a “line-busting” protocol—sending employees to take orders if vehicle queues threaten to extend into public streets.

Council members pressed planning staff and the petitioner about traffic impacts on North Berry Street and Ford Road, whether the city had exhausted options with MDOT, and whether sidewalks and additional screening would be provided. Councilman Hart cited the MDOT/engineering finding that new driveways within 100 feet of an intersection on a 45-mph corridor are prohibited and warned that similar parcels along Ford Road could be constrained by the same rule. Planning staff said the city had engaged MDOT for months and exhausted reasonable efforts; MDOT declined.

Council members stressed sensitivity to neighbors but also emphasized the benefit of redeveloping a long-blighted parcel and the economic value of a new small business on the corridor.

The council approved the proposal by voice vote with the planning-commission conditions to address pedestrian and neighborhood impacts. The city will require the masonry screening, posted signage, pedestrian sidewalks and the stacking/operational measures described by the petitioner.

The administration said final engineering details and any required variances will be handled through the zoning board of appeals and building permitting. The developer indicated readiness to partner with the city for on-going traffic mitigation and compliance with permit conditions.