Planning commission recommends conditional rezoning and site plan for specialty meat market at former bank and historic house

The Planning Commission on May 27 recommended that City Council approve a conditional rezoning (PCZR 26‑0003) and forwarded approval of site plan PSP 26‑0007 to convert the former Huntington Bank at 20,000 West 12 Mile Road into a specialty meat market while preserving the adjacent McDonald historic house as a residence.

Planner Crow explained the proposal would rezone the bank parcel from P and B3 to all B3 while leaving the McDonald house parcel zoned RM to preserve its residential use. The applicant proposed hours of operation (Mon–Sat 8 a.m.–8 p.m., Sun 8 a.m.–7 p.m.) and estimated about 40 total employees, with a single‑shift peak of roughly 15–20 employees. The conditional rezoning includes a long list of excluded uses (car washes, auto repair, adult uses, drive‑thru restaurants, marijuana retailers, shelters and others) and retains a set of permitted uses suited for B3.

Architect Ken Moreland (Dorchen Martin & Associates) described a roughly 3,000‑square‑foot first‑floor addition wrapping the existing building, reconfigured parking with a relocated driveway alignment, a dumpster enclosure detailed to match the historic clapboard character, and a gravel employee parking area behind the historic house where a family member will reside and manage the store. The Historic Commission provided favorable input and asked for plantings consistent with the period; staff asked that final species selection be approved by the city planner.

Commissioners asked about operations, employee counts and parking. Petitioner Evan Yelda described the business as a specialty meat market with roots on Six Mile in Detroit and said the company hires from the local community and expects to staff roughly 50 employees across locations, with 15–20 on a peak shift at the new store. Planner Crow’s motion recommended approval to City Council with conditions: record the conditional rezoning agreement within six months, implement historic district conditions and certificate of appropriateness, comply with ZBA waivers if required, and finalize landscaping and utility relocations.

The commission voted to forward a favorable recommendation on the rezoning and approved the site plan recommendation, noting the City Council is the final decision‑maker for rezoning. Conditions tie final approval to Council action and required technical follow‑up.

Ending: The rezoning and site plan will be part of the Council’s June agenda for study and final action; staff will verify final landscape species, the historic commission certificate and any ZBA waivers before permits are issued.

Quote: Ken Moreland, architect: “We’re proposing to add approximately 3,000 square feet to the lower level…we will keep materials in keeping with what’s there now.”