Commission backs rezoning of 146 Stratford Road to MXD2, conditions to require lot combination and alley resolution

The Ferndale Planning Commission on June 24 voted unanimously to recommend City Council rezone 146 Stratford Road from R1 residential to MXD2 corridor mixed use and to impose conditions that the subject parcel be formally combined with adjacent parcels to the south and that ownership/resolution of a vacated alley be resolved prior to combining lots.

Melissa, the city planner, told the commission the petitioner already owns parcels immediately to the south and intends to combine lots to create a viable commercial corner fronting 8 Mile Road; however, the subject lot alone does not meet MXD2 minimum frontage and dimensional requirements and therefore must be combined before a compliant MXD2 development can proceed.

Commissioners raised multiple technical issues: ownership of an alley that bisects the site (staff reported Oakland County could not identify a clear owner), how vacating or resolving that alley affects the ability to combine parcels, orientation of building frontage to 8 Mile rather than neighborhood streets, and whether utilities or easements might constrain consolidation. Staff advised that a site survey, parcel consolidation and any required alley vacation must be resolved during the ordinance and site‑plan process.

Mark Lewis, who spoke for the applicant, said the goal is to combine parcels to make the corner more usable for commercial redevelopment. Commissioners discussed conditioning approval on explicit parcel numbers to be combined and on resolving the alley ownership; staff added parcel numbers to the record at the meeting.

On a motion by Commissioner Brazen, seconded by Commissioner Mishelow, the commission recommended approval of the rezoning with the listed findings and conditions (including the specific parcel numbers to be combined). The motion passed on a unanimous roll call. Commissioners asked staff to include clear condition language and to coordinate with Oakland County to clarify alley ownership before the City Council public hearing.

The recommendation proceeds to City Council for final action; site plan review and demonstration of compliance with dimensional and access requirements will be required before any development can occur.