Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Rezoning topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Planning panel recommends conditional rezoning for 241 Pearson Street to convert vacant church into cafe and event space
Summary
The Ferndale Planning Commission unanimously recommended that City Council conditionally rezone 241 Pearson Street from R2 to MXD2, allowing a cafe/takeaway and small event space in a repurposed church with phased construction, parking additions and recorded conditions that run with the land.
The Ferndale Planning Commission voted unanimously June 24 to recommend that City Council approve a conditional rezoning for parcels commonly known as 241 Pearson Street, allowing the owners to convert a vacant church and adjacent parking lot into a cafe/takeaway, small event space and related commercial uses under a set of recorded conditions.
Melissa, a city staff planner, told the commission the applicant has offered conditions that would limit the site’s uses to a half‑story commercial building with a restaurant/cafe/takeaway, a small event space, a commissary kitchen and storage. The developer would preserve the main church structure and phase work: opening the retail/cafe portion within 12 months, demolishing the rectory and adding parking within 18 months, and adding the event/commissary components thereafter. If construction or development does not commence within two years, the parcels would revert to the existing R2 residential zoning, staff said.
Applicant Anthony Sevy, who said he and his wife Lauren Romaya operate Detroit Cookie Company and purchased the building from the Archdiocese, described the intention as a community‑oriented reuse. “We absolutely love Ferndale…when this opportunity came about it was something we couldn’t pass up,” Sevy said.
Commissioners focused on parking arrangements, stormwater/permeability standards and enforceability of the volunteered conditions. Staff confirmed shared parking agreements can be deed‑restricted and that the conditional rezoning agreement would be recorded with the county and run with the land (heirs, successors and assigns), making the use restrictions enforceable regardless of ownership changes.
The commission pressed the applicants on construction phasing and outdoor seating; the owners said phasing is construction sequencing rather than contingent financing milestones, and that any outdoor seating would be placed on the Woodward (front) side of the building. Staff noted site‑plan review would verify details such as permeable surface requirements and exact property lines.
On a motion by Commissioner Showalter, seconded by Commissioner Mishelow, the commission recommended approval of the conditional rezoning and the eight enumerated findings and conditions in the staff packet. Roll call votes were recorded as unanimous in favor. The commission asked staff to prepare a memo for City Council clarifying that the condition runs with the land and to include the condition language in the council packet.
The rezoning is a recommendation only; City Council will consider the final rezoning and recorded agreement at a future meeting.
