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Board denies request to retain 22-foot widened driveway after split votes and enforcement debate
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Summary
Resident Chantelle Burton sought to retain a 22-foot widened driveway she said was installed with prior city guidance; neighbors supported retention for safety, but the ZBA denied the request citing ordinance limits and concerns about precedent and enforcement.
Chantelle Burton told the Warren Zoning Board of Appeals her 22-foot driveway extension was poured more than five years ago after she says city staff told her no permit was needed. She said citations in 2023 and 2026 prompted her to apply for a variance; several neighbors spoke in favor of retaining their widened driveways citing safety, proximity to a school bus route and difficulty parking during nearby road construction.
Board members repeatedly returned to enforcement and precedent. Several said the city’s ordinance does not allow front-yard paving beyond the garage line and that the board’s role is to apply the ordinance as written. Multiple members urged the petitioner to pursue city council action if a grandfathering approach is desired; one board member suggested Sterling Heights’ earlier grandfathering approach as an example.
A motion to deny the driveway variance was made and supported; the roll call produced a split outcome and confusion over vote thresholds. The chair explained a majority of five votes was required to carry the action; because the motion did not attain the required affirmation, the petition was recorded as denied for lack of the requisite approval to permit it.
Public commenters, including neighbors Darren Moore, Jonathan Smith and Tim O’Brien, said driveway extensions improved safety and functionality. The petitioner disputed that city staff had told her such work required no further review and said she had attempted to file required paperwork, which she believes was misplaced.
The board closed the public hearing after the vote. Several board members urged clearer city guidance and suggested petitioners document names of city staff they consult in future conversations.
