Commission backs four‑story Ford Road mixed‑use concept but requires design, parking and open‑space fixes

The Garden City Planning Commission on April 9 signaled support for the concept of a four‑story mixed‑use building at 30759 Ford Road but stopped short of a formal recommendation pending more detailed design, parking and open‑space information.

City planner Mario Ortega described the project as a plan development rezoning for two parcels formerly occupied by the Knights of Columbus building and a rear parking lot. The conceptual proposal calls for a 9,950‑square‑foot ground‑floor footprint with five retail units and 20 residential units across three stories above (a fourth setback story), and requested modifications to the city's base standards: an increase to a proposed 48‑foot building height (13 feet over the 35‑foot/2.5‑story limit), a density request to 20 units (staff noted 8.8 units under one calculation but up to 19 under another method that accounts for combined lots), and a reduction in required parking (the plan shows 64 spaces versus an interpreted requirement of 76 under one counting method).

Ortega said shared parking calculations and the mix of commercial uses can reduce the strict space total but asked the applicant to provide a clearer parking allocation and open‑space math. "If they can't reach 10,000 [square feet of open space], then yes, they'd be asking for a waiver," Ortega said; he also urged the commission to require specific design standards if it were to support the zoning modification.

Applicant Simon Bridal told the commission the design is conceptual and that the team had performed feasibility and soil testing; he said the developer is prepared to explore underground stormwater detention if Wayne County requires on‑site retention. "We did a feasibility study on this lot...the reason we're asking for the four stories and 20 units...is to make it economically feasible for us to do this kind of an investment," Bridal said, and added the team would provide color elevations and plant palettes on request.

Public comments included support from Betul Joseph, a neighboring business owner who said more residents and businesses would benefit downtown, and questions from a nearby homeowner, Dwayne Knoll, concerned about the visual impact of a four‑story building from Pardo Street.

Commissioners debated parking and open space calculations and agreed the commission could recommend a shared‑parking approach and a reduced residential parking factor. Commissioner Frank moved to table the plan development and forward a set of guidance to city council: support the four‑story concept, adopt a minimum parking metric of 1.75 spaces per dwelling unit, expect open space at or above approximately 6,500 square feet pending final calculation, require a more Midwestern/matching design aesthetic, and clarify sidewalk and pedestrian circulation; the motion passed 4‑0. Staff asked the applicant to return with revised plot plans and the requested details for the May 14 meeting.

The rezoning request will next go to city council for the statutory public‑hearing step; if council rezones the site to plan development, the applicant will return to planning commission for final site plan review and any conditions of approval.