Southfield Zoning Board dismisses case 2602, postpones signage variance 2603 to April 21

The Southfield Zoning Board of Appeals voted Tuesday to dismiss case No. 2602 with prejudice after the chair said the planning department determined the matter was a use case outside the board’s authority, and postponed a signage variance appeal, case No. 2603, to the board’s April 21 meeting because the appellant did not appear.

Chair Miss Dafoe told the board she had been informed that "the planning department ... [heard] about this case and that this case is actually a use case, which means the zoning board of appeals does not have the authority to hear this case," and asked for a motion to dismiss case No. 2602 with prejudice. The motion was moved and seconded and the board voted in favor.

City staff presented case No. 2603, saying the owner is requesting waivers to install wall signs not facing a major thoroughfare (two proposed where none are permitted) and an additional wall sign per tenant (two proposed, one permitted). Staff recommended "favorable consideration for their above variances with the following condition: the appellant secures all required permits from Southfield Building Department, and all inspections receive final approval." Staff told the board the combined square footage of the two proposed non-thoroughfare signs is approximately 90 square feet and described adjacent properties' existing signage patterns.

A committee member noted that the appellant was not present. "Madam chairperson, it doesn't look like the appellant's here," the member said, and the chair moved to postpone the case to the next meeting on April 21. The motion was seconded and approved.

Separately, the board approved the minutes from its Feb. 3 meeting; Chair Miss Dafoe abstained because she was not present at that meeting. The board also voted to cancel the April 14 meeting because there were no cases on that agenda and confirmed the next meeting for April 21, when the postponed case is expected to return along with additional matters.

The board’s actions were procedural: dismissal for lack of jurisdiction on No. 2602, postponement of No. 2603 for lack of appellant presence, approval of minutes, and cancellation of a meeting date. Staff’s recommendation for case No. 2603 remained favorable but conditioned on permitting and final inspections by the Southfield Building Department. The board did not take a final substantive vote on the signage variance at this session.