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Planning commission opens public hearing on zoning changes; debate centers on definitions and a proposed 2,000-square-foot cap
Summary
The commission opened a public hearing on proposed zoning ordinance amendments for the city center. Debate focused on consolidating definitions, adding a 'health and wellness' use, and whether to cap small studios at 2,000 square feet; business owners urged flexibility.
The Bloomfield Hills Planning Commission on July 14 opened a public hearing on a package of draft zoning-ordinance amendments aimed at clarifying definitions and allowing modest new uses in the city-center and office districts.
Planning consultant Jill Bame (Giffels Webster) said the amendments aim to move several use definitions (retail, limited retail, personal services) into the ordinance’s master definitions section, add a new category called “health and wellness facility” (examples include yoga, pilates, small fitness and some semi-medical services), and clarify office and medical-office uses. As a preliminary measure, the consultant proposed a 2,000-square-foot cap on health-and-wellness studios to prevent large gym chains from locating in the city center; Bame said the number reflects professional market research for small studios.
Commissioners questioned the 2,000-square-foot threshold, with some arguing the cap could be too small for legitimate local businesses and others noting parking and traffic implications if larger fitness uses are allowed. Property owner Corbin Elder told the commission his downtown building is roughly 2,700 square feet and urged flexibility, saying arbitrary size caps make finding tenants difficult. Commissioners asked staff to circulate a Word draft for markup, accept written comments, and suggested subcommittee or targeted follow-up work; they also asked staff to distribute the legal basis for the moratorium that led to these proposed amendments.
No final ordinance change was adopted; the public hearing closed and commissioners agreed to collect written input, circulate revised drafts and meet again in August to continue the process.
Commissioners emphasized they are not changing zoning categories for specific parcels at this hearing but are discussing targeted language updates to aid reuse of existing buildings while preserving the city center’s character.
