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Planning Board recommends approval for Old World Pizzeria at 600 North Old Woodward
Summary
The Planning Board voted unanimously Jan. 28 to recommend City Commission approval of a special land use permit and final site plan for Old World Pizzeria (Suites 101 & 203). Staff recommended approval; neighbors raised noise, hours and trash concerns; applicant said hours will be 11 a.m.–10 p.m. weekdays and no alcohol will be sold.
On Jan. 28 the Birmingham Planning Board voted unanimously to recommend the City Commission approve a special land use permit and the final site plan and design review for Old World Pizzeria at 600 North Old Woodward.
Planning staff, represented by Ms. Blinsky, told the board the pizza shop will operate in the O2 zoning district and that a special land use permit is required in that district even though the proposal does not include on-premise alcohol sales. Staff said the proposal is primarily a takeout operation with modest indoor seating and no exterior changes; staff recommended approval without qualifications.
Applicant Cyrus Garmo described the concept as a small, make-from-scratch pizzeria with an existing location in the Saginaw area of Michigan and said the operation will be mostly grab-and-go with a small number of indoor seats. "Normal business hours would open from 11AM till about 10PM," Garmo told the board, and he confirmed the business does not plan to serve alcohol.
Neighbor Rob Kamenak, who lives at 612 Brookside, urged caution and asked the board to consider impacts on adjacent residents, citing noise, hours and trash collection. "Noise has become a huge problem for anybody on Brookside," Kamenak said, and he asked whether the proposal would increase late-night activity, outdoor lighting or trash pickups.
Board members pressed the applicant on trash management, signage and seating details. The applicant said the lease provides privileges at a shared on-site dumpster and that no additional exterior lighting is proposed. Staff and board members emphasized that good on-site management and, if necessary, code enforcement would address operational issues if they arise.
Miss Boyce moved to adopt the planning department findings and recommend approval of the special land use permit under Article 7 (section 7.36) and Mr. Curry seconded the motion; the board approved it unanimously. Boyce then moved to recommend approval of the final site plan and design review for the same suites; that motion was seconded by Mr. Williams and passed unanimously.
Next steps: the board's recommendation will be forwarded to the City Commission for final action; no commission hearing date was specified at the meeting.
