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Garden Bug rezoning recommended for denial; council asks staff to find ways to keep business afloat
Summary
The City Planning Commission recommended denying a rezoning request for two West Davidson lots used by the Garden Bug; council members pressed planning and building staff for a chronology of how the business began operations without the proper permits and asked staff to convene and return the item in one week with options to keep the business viable.
The committee reviewed a rezoning application for 4213 and 4225 West Davidson, the site of a seasonal garden center known as the Garden Bug, and asked planning and building staff to convene with the owner and other departments to produce a plan that either enables legal operation or an alternative location.
Planning staff told the committee the City Planning Commission voted 8‑0 to recommend denial of the requested rezoning from R3 (low‑density residential) to B2 (local business/residential). The CPC cited limited lot depth (about 53 feet), lack of on‑site parking typical for B2 uses, traffic and safety concerns along West Davison (a six‑lane MDOT roadway), and a broader statutory test that requires analysis of all uses allowed by a B2 zoning classification.
"On July 17 ... the planning commission voted 8 to nothing to recommend denial of the requested rezoning," planning staff said, noting the commission also asked staff to work with DPW traffic engineering and MDOT on measures to improve pedestrian and vehicle safety in the corridor.
Tina Castleberry, the Garden Bug owner, told the committee she has invested roughly $195,000 in the site, received Motor City Match support and private contributions, said she operates seasonally and added seven on‑site parking spots this spring. "We put so far $195,000 into this property," she said, and asked the council to consider remedial steps instead of shutting the business down.
Directors from Planning and the Building Department described three immediate options: (1) complete required steps to use the property only for R3‑permitted residential uses; (2) pursue rezoning (which would be required for a mercado/open‑air retail use to be permitted); or (3) explore short‑term leased spaces already zoned for commercial pop‑ups in nearby corridors (Dexter/Livernois) to minimize downtime.
Director Dave Bell said preliminary review indicates the owner began operating without completing formal permitting and that staff will convene an interdepartmental meeting to determine the procedural breakdown and to identify interim remedies. Planning Director Alexa Bush said staff has begun looking at adjacent city‑owned sites and pop‑up opportunities and will follow up with the owner.
After the discussion the committee voted to bring line item 7.4 back in one week to allow departments and the ombudsman to produce a chronology, proposed fixes and options that could keep the business’s cash flow running while addressing resident safety and zoning compliance.
The committee emphasized the goal of finding a palatable solution for both the business owner and nearby residents rather than a binary shut‑down. The rezoning item will return to the committee next week.
