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Commission sends 479 S. Old Woodward special land‑use request back to planning board after public objections on parking

5931069 · August 12, 2025
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Summary

After public opposition from residents of Birmingham Place, the commission agreed to adjourn the public hearing and ask the applicant to return to the planning board with revised parking and use proposals rather than decide a parking waiver at the meeting.

Birmingham commissioners on Aug. 11 agreed to adjourn the public hearing on the special land use permit and final site plan for 479 South Old Woodward and directed the applicant to present revised materials and a public hearing at the Planning Board first.

Background: The project is a previously approved five‑story development in the D‑4 district; the applicant sought a change of interior uses that altered the parking requirement and requested a discretionary waiver (special land use) to reduce required parking. The Planning Board had denied the waiver after finding the parking proposal would not meet ordinance standards and listing several findings in support of denial.

Public opposition: Multiple Birmingham Place residents and building representatives testified that the building’s shortfall in on‑site parking would put pressure on nearby private and public parking and that the large structure had already reduced property values and circulation near their entrance. Several speakers urged the commission not to grant further reductions or allow shared parking arrangements that would draw on Birmingham Place parking.

Commission action: After hearing from the applicant (who said market changes and a potential tenant motivated the use change) and planning staff, commissioners voted to adjourn the public hearing and ask the applicant to return to the Planning Board with its revised parking plan for review. The commission verbally directed the applicant to work with the Planning Board and allowed the planning staff flexibility to schedule the next planning‑board public hearing (staff indicated the earliest likely Planning Board date would be early September). A roll call showed unanimous support to adjourn the hearing.

Ending: The adjournment means the applicant will present revised parking and use materials to the Planning Board for a public hearing before coming back to the commission. Residents said they would continue to monitor the process.