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Zoning board renews dimensional variances for 791 Baldwin Ave.; applicant says financing now committed
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Summary
The Zoning Board of Appeals on Jan. 26 approved a renewal of dimensional variances for 791 Baldwin Ave., allowing a 0-foot side-yard setback and a 4-foot-7-inch rear-yard setback so Big Daddy's Party Store can add food service and an office; applicant John Grama said financing is now in place and construction documents will begin after approvals.
Pontiac Zoning Board of Appeals Chair Bevacqua and a unanimous board present approved a renewal of two dimensional variances for the property at 791 Baldwin Avenue at their Jan. 26 meeting.
The variances allow a 0-foot side-yard setback and a 4-foot-7-inch rear-yard setback to permit a rear prep-area addition for hot food service and a side addition to accommodate an office tenant, staff told the board. The property is in the C1 commercial zoning district and was described by staff as having three street frontages: Baldwin Avenue, Merrimack (side), and South Merrimack (rear).
Staff summarized the board’s standards for dimensional variances, citing compliance with the criteria in section 6.401(b) and discretionary decision standards in section 6.303 of the zoning code. Staff noted that the variances and related site plans were previously approved (variance in March 2024, preliminary site plan July 2024, final site plan February 2025) but had expired because of a moratorium enacted after approval. Staff also stated it does not provide a recommendation to the ZBA on the renewal decision.
John Grama, who said he prepared the submitted drawings for the applicant, asked the board to renew the variances and to allow the project to proceed. “We’re looking for approval again so we can proceed with this, please,” Grama said, and told the board that the financing institution is now fully committed.
When asked about timing, Grama said the project team would begin construction documents immediately upon a favorable decision and would proceed with construction provided the approvals were in place. A board member asked staff to confirm that the final site plan and landscaping had been reviewed by the planning commission; staff replied that the final site plan had been approved in 2024.
Board member McClellan made a motion to approve the dimensional variance renewal for 791 Baldwin Ave. based on the findings of fact in the staff report; Board member Anderson supported the motion. A roll call vote recorded "yes" responses from Chair Bevacqua, Vice Chair Kirkeindolf, Board member Bueno, Board member Anderson and Board member McClellan, and the motion passed.
Votes at a glance: - Approval of 2026 ZBA meeting schedule: motion passed (mover: McClellan; support: Kirkeindolf). - Agenda approval: motion passed (mover: Bueno; support: Kirkeindolf). - Approval of minutes with corrections as needed: motion passed (mover: Bueno; support: Kirkeindolf). - Dimensional variance renewal, 791 Baldwin Ave. (ZBA 20 4-2): approved (mover: McClellan; second: Anderson); roll call vote recorded unanimous affirmative votes from members present. - Adjournment: motion passed (mover: Bueno; support: Kirkeindolf).
What happens next: With the ZBA’s approval, the applicant said construction documents will start immediately. Staff did not provide a formal recommendation; any building permits or other subsequent approvals would proceed through the appropriate planning and building review processes.
Details and context: The applicant described the project as an expansion of an existing retail site (Big Daddy's Party Store) to include hot food service and office space for a tax-preparation tenant. Staff noted the property’s unusual lot configuration and prior approvals, and explained the variance renewal process in light of the moratorium that caused the prior approvals to lapse.
