Board postpones Woodward Avenue appeal; neighbors press city over dumpster placement and nuisance

The Zoning Board agreed to postpone consideration of an appeal for 29350 Woodward Avenue after the petitioners’ attorney said the property owners were out of state for a family medical emergency and planned to present revised plans next month.

Seth Hopkins, attorney for the petitioner, asked the board to continue the item so the owners could appear and so that alternate plans—intended to address neighbor concerns—could be reviewed. Legal counsel and staff told the board a one‑month continuation would be treated as a continuation of the public hearing and would not require additional public notice.

During the meeting’s public‑comment period, several residents and a property‑owner representative criticized the placement of large commercial dumpsters at an adjacent apartment complex, saying the location is unsightly, has created rodent problems and is depressing unit sales. “We got rats … we got pedestrians. We even have a letter from the businesses now saying it’s a nuisance,” a resident said. A neighborhood representative read a letter describing concerns about waivers granted for dumpster placement and urging either corrective action or stricter screening.

The building’s contractor, who said he had sketched potential revisions, told the board he was willing to work with neighbors to produce a plan that would address visibility and nuisance issues.

The board postponed the Woodward Avenue matter to the next regularly scheduled meeting; staff said the item will be listed as a continuation and the petitioner should submit any revised plans in advance so neighbors can review them.