Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Economic Development topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Commission advances site plan for new restaurant at 31130 Orchard Lake Road subject to variances and public art rules
Summary
The commission approved a site plan to convert a vacant building at 31130 Orchard Lake Road into 'Zarzour Prime,' a full‑service restaurant with an addition and outdoor seating, subject to multiple ZBA variances and staff conditions including public‑art requirements if construction costs exceed $2 million.
The Farmington Hills Planning Commission voted March 19 to approve a site plan for a proposed full‑service restaurant at 31130 Orchard Lake Road, advancing the project contingent on required zoning variances and staff conditions.
Applicant Nick Hanawa described plans to convert the former pet‑supply building into 'Zarzour Prime,' a modern Middle Eastern restaurant with a roughly 1,400‑square‑foot addition, two outdoor seating areas, a relocated dumpster and expanded parking. Hanawa emphasized the local demand for sit‑down restaurants and said the concept would include a private room for banquets and capacity to serve larger groups.
Staff noted multiple ordinance items that the commission must decide or allow deviations for: the project requires setbacks variances for the addition, a variance for the dumpster because it is within 20 feet of a residential lot line, a parking reduction from the ordinance‑required count (the plan proposes 73 spaces versus 113 required under code based on floor area and outdoor seating), and a waiver or variance to allow outdoor seating adjacent to residentially zoned property. Staff also flagged fenestration (window transparency) and primary material percentage requirements for street‑facing facades; the applicant’s elevations list materials but do not provide the percentage calculations the code requires.
Commissioners discussed pedestrian access and long‑term sidewalk plans along Mulford and Orchard Lake Road, and asked the applicant to adjust a narrow 2.09‑ft gap between the proposed addition and an existing screening wall to avoid an unusable space that could collect debris. The commission’s motion approved the site plan subject to: (1) applicant revision of the two‑foot gap and other review‑letter items; (2) submittal of loading and loading‑area location; (3) ZBA variances for setbacks, dumpster location and outdoor‑seating proximity to residential; (4) compliance with the city’s exterior lighting and material standards or commission‑granted waivers; and (5) resolution of the public‑art requirement if the project cost exceeds the $2 million threshold.
The applicant said he expects construction cost estimates to exceed the $2 million threshold for public art; the commission advised the applicant to be prepared to either provide on‑site art or make an in‑lieu contribution if required.
Next steps: applicant to finalize corrections and coordinate ZBA applications for required variances; staff to verify building‑code and site‑engineering compliance before permitting.
