Planning commission recommends rezoning of 822 West Street to allow drive‑thru coffee shop

The Lapeer City Planning Commission on Jan. 11 recommended that the City Commission rezone 822 West Street from OS1 (office services) to B2 (general business) to allow redevelopment of the existing hair salon into a drive‑thru only coffee shop.

Planning staff said the city’s master plan future‑land‑use map classifies the parcel as commercial general business and that the application meets the zoning ordinance review standards under section 7.23.06. "The city master plan future land use map classifies this property as commercial general business and therefore staff's comment is the requested rezoning as consistent with the city's master plan," staff told commissioners.

The applicant is Dorch Enterprises; planning staff said the applicant must still submit a full site plan and any required special‑use approvals. An on‑site concept plan accompanied the application and staff identified issues to be addressed at site plan review including parking counts, stacking, curb cuts and landscaping.

An applicant representative who identified himself only as "Mike" introduced the project and noted that Bob is the company CFO and that Mike is the franchisee. "My name is Mike. Bob is our CFO. I'm the franchisee," he said.

Commissioners raised concerns about traffic flow and customer access at the proposed drive‑thru. Commissioner Audrey Brady asked whether planning should consider facilitating future development on the west side of the long, narrow parcel now, and members cautioned that the preliminary access pattern showed customers turning in and out in potentially conflicting movements. Staff said those access and circulation issues are standard site plan review items and will be addressed in the formal site plan submittal.

A motion to recommend rezoning the property to B2 was made, seconded and carried. The transcript does not record a roll‑call tally. If the City Commission grants the rezoning, the applicant will still be required to return with a detailed site plan and any special‑use permitting required for the proposed drive‑thru.

Next steps: the recommendation will be forwarded to the Lapeer City Commission for final action; staff emphasized that a full site plan review will be required before any change in use or construction.