Bay City Zoning Board of Appeals approves use variance for 905 South Henry Street, delays dimensional variances

The Bay City Zoning Board of Appeals on Tuesday approved a use variance that allows a parking lot at 905 South Henry Street and postponed decisions on two dimensional variances until the applicant provides engineered site drawings and receives city engineering review.

James Compo, the applicant and owner of a nearby medical office at 901 South Henry, told the board he needs off‑site parking for employees and overflow patients after a neighboring lot used informally for parking is being redeveloped. "I'm trying to do the right thing, get the place cleaned up, and pay the taxes," Compo said as he described plans to remove an unused building and install angled parking that would enter from Henry Street and exit onto John F. Kennedy Drive.

City planning staff, represented at the meeting by Terry Malta, told the board the application raises multiple technical issues that require additional review. Malta explained that a use variance would permit the parking use in the M1 zoning district but does not replace site‑plan review; depending on the scope, the lot may require routing to the city engineer for curb‑cut placement, sidewalk requirements and stormwater evaluation.

Board members pressed Compo for a scaled plot plan showing how many spaces would fit, the location of curb cuts and walkways, and whether sidewalks or a green buffer would be needed between parked vehicles and the public right‑of‑way. Members repeatedly flagged the parcel's narrow 50‑foot width and corner configuration, which creates multiple "front" lot lines and compounds setback constraints.

Several members also noted packet references to unpaid taxes; staff and one member said any delinquent taxes would need to be resolved in the real‑estate closing process but that the tax status alone did not preclude action by the zoning board.

After deliberation the board voted on a motion to approve the use variance for case Z2602. Roll call produced four affirmative votes and one abstention: Christopher Greenleaf — yes; Larry Elliot — yes; Paul Kleinu — abstain; Douglas (Doug) Rise — yes; Jan Rise — yes. The board emphasized that the use approval creates only the authorization to use the lot as a parking facility under the zoning ordinance and that engineering, stormwater and site‑plan items remain to be addressed.

The board then moved to address the dimensional variances (zero side setbacks and elimination of the required 5‑ft perimeter landscaping). Members agreed those requests could not responsibly be granted without a scaled plot plan and engineering review. By voice vote the board postponed the dimensional variances without setting a final hearing date, directing staff to advise the applicant on planning commission deadlines and routing requirements.

Next steps for the applicant are to produce a scaled plot or site plan that shows parking layout, setbacks, access points and stormwater considerations and to submit it for planning commission and city engineering review. The Zoning Board of Appeals noted that a granted use variance would make the site eligible to proceed through those subsequent reviews, but any required dimensional variances must be revisited after staff and engineering comments are received.

The board confirmed housekeeping items (including Paul Kleinu's arrival time) and then adjourned the meeting.