Grosse Pointe Woods Council Denies Variance Request

The  City Council unanimously denied a variance appeal Monday by the owners of a Mack Avenue storefront . 

The denial means the thrift shop will continue its search for a permanent home as its current location is set . The decision was formally made by the Zoning Board of Appeals—an important distinction made by some council members, who emphasized state law determines ZBA decisions.

Although several people spoke in favor of the variance request, councilman Joe Sucher explained the positive notes about the longstanding community organization do not meet the legal requirements necessary to grant the variance. The first legal requirement is that the current space cannot be used for its intended zoning classification, Sucher said, noting that cannot be proved considering the storefront is the former Shelby Paint.

As a secondhand retailer, the thrift shop needs the variance because the Woods restricts businesses from having any more than 25 percent of secondhand merchandise.

The denial of the appeal Monday is not the end of the issue, however. 

After reconvening as council, members unanimously voted to send the ordinance containing the restriction to the planning commission for review. Councilman Todd McConaghy motioned for the review and quickly gained support as most of the council members expressed their support for the Neighborhood Club and the goal of the .

Disappointed by the decision but understanding of the legal reasoning behind it, Neighborhood Club Board Member Pat Brinker said the search will continue.

Brinker, building owner Sharon Mannino, a real estate broker, and a Woods resident addressed council in favor of the variance Monday. One Prestwick Street resident spoke against it saying she believes the high amount of traffic the store will draw will have a negative impact on the residents.

Those who spoke in support detailed the lengthy commitment the Neighborhood Club has had in the Grosse Pointes and how it's a secondhand retail shop that is built by and for locals. Mannino even noted that it's not the typical secondhand retailer but one that has served all ages of the community for years and years.

The search has been going on for a while and officials have yet to find an appropriate space, the real estate broker said, noting locations have been too big, too small, too expensive or needed too much work. 

Mannino said she plans to follow up on the planning commission's review of the ordinance. She wants to rent out her vacant storefront and questions why the Woods has an ordinance restricting such businesses. 

The planning commission came in for another vacant storefront but the commission voted to keep the ordinance the same. 

Chairman Thomas Vaughn explained to council Monday that the commission began looking at it and essentially when the other building owner dropped it, they simply voted to keep it as it is. The review was before the Neighborhood Club deal was being discussed and wasn't very detailed, he said. 

The planning commission is likely to research the ordinances of other Grosse Pointes in this area before attempting to redraft any portion of the ordinance. 

The commission meets the fourth Tuesday of every month and any decision they make ultimately must be approved by the city council. 

In the meantime, Brinker said the Thrift Shop has been closed for its routine six-week summer closure and that most of the goods were sold before shutting the doors of its current location—meaning not as much merchandise needs to be packed and moved. 

The Neighborhood Club Thrift Shop is seeking a permanent location, spokeswoman Amy Roy previously told Patch. Ideally they can find roots within the Grosse Pointes as it already has a devoted, loyal customer base, Brinker said, which is an important feature of retail. A space with about 2,800 square feet would be the ideal size, Brinker said.