Planning board recommends approval for Old World Pizzeria at 600 N. Old Woodward

The Birmingham Planning Board on Wednesday voted unanimously to recommend that the City Commission approve a special land use permit and to approve a final site plan and design review application for Old World Pizzeria at 600 North Old Woodward.

Planning staff told the board the application meets the approval criteria in Article 7, Section 7.36 of the zoning ordinance and recommended approval with no qualifications. Staff noted the restaurant is primarily a takeout operation with modest indoor seating, no proposed exterior alterations and no on‑ or off‑premise alcohol sales. "They meet the standards," planning staff said during the presentation.

Applicant Cyrus Carmel described the concept as a "make‑from‑scratch" pizzeria with one existing Michigan location, local suppliers and 20‑inch New York‑style pies. Carmel said the restaurant will have limited seating — a few four‑top tables and bench seating — and that the 3‑D renderings in the packet do not represent the final furniture. "The table will be metal. I think the chair will be metal and wood combo," Carmel said.

A nearby resident, Rob Kamenak of 612 Brookside, told the board he and his neighbors are concerned about noise, hours, lighting and trash pickup. "Any additional noise is a problem for us," Kamenak said, asking whether outdoor lighting or late hours were planned. Carmel responded that normal business hours would be 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. on weekdays, with the possibility of staying open until midnight on Friday and Saturday evenings; he said the business will not serve alcohol and does not propose new exterior lighting.

Staff also told the board the tenant’s lease provides privileges to use a shared dumpster on site. Board members and staff urged the applicant to coordinate with the landlord and with the city's code enforcement division if trash or noise become problems. "If the operation is too noisy or too messy ... I'd encourage you to speak both to the owner and to the code enforcement department," a board member said.

Board member [Miss Boyce] moved to adopt the planning department findings and to recommend the City Commission approve the special land use permit; the motion was seconded and carried unanimously. The board then moved to adopt the department findings and approve the final site plan and design review; that motion also passed unanimously.

Next steps: the Planning Board’s recommendation will be forwarded to the City Commission for final action.

(Reporting note: quotes and details above are taken from the Jan. 28, 2026 Planning Board hearing.)