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Planning commission recommends narrowing rear setbacks downtown and allowing limited front‑yard parking in parts of CMD district
Summary
After a noticed public hearing, the commission voted to recommend an ordinance amending Chapter 34 (Article X) to reduce certain rear setbacks from 30 to 5 feet where adjacent zoning is also CC/CMD, and to permit front‑yard parking in specified CMD areas with deep front setbacks; the commission requested clearer tables for City Council packet.
The Clawson Planning Commission on Nov. 25 voted to recommend the City Council adopt an ordinance amending Chapter 34, Article X of the Clawson Code of Ordinances to reduce specified rear setbacks downtown and to allow limited front‑yard parking in parts of the Central Mixed Use (CMD) district.
Staff explained the amendment reduces rear setbacks from 30 feet to 5 feet when the adjacent zoning is also city center (CC) or CMD, while maintaining a 30‑foot setback where a residential district adjoins. The change is intended to address redevelopment constraints in the city center where small lots and existing building footprints make current setbacks impractical and require repeated variance requests to the Zoning Board of Appeals.
The amendment also addresses a portion of the CMD district with large front setbacks (45–65 feet) by allowing front‑yard parking in those limited locations so property owners can use otherwise underutilized space.
Commissioners asked staff to provide more readable packet materials for City Council — for example, side‑by‑side old and new tables highlighting the specific lines that change — and discussed the limited scope of the amendment, which staff said applies to only a small number of parcels in the downtown core.
A commissioner moved to recommend adoption of the amending ordinance to City Council; the motion carried by roll call.
