Lakewood Board of Building Standards, Architectural Board of Review, Sign Review Board Meeting – May 14, 2026

The meeting covered old and new business for architectural and sign review, including several approvals with conditions, one tabling, and two deferrals. All votes were unanimous unless noted.

Consent Calendar

• Approval of minutes from the April 9, 2026 meeting.
• Summary approvals for sign cases: 16203 Hilliard (FIKI Cafe), 17615 Detroit (Cons pizza), 16806 Madison (Chini), and 1615604 Detroit (hair shop) – each approved without conditions or additional discussion.

Public Comments

• Councilman Ryan Evans (Ward 2) submitted a letter in support of the accessible home proposed at 14909 Arden Avenue.

Discussion Items

• 1654 Waterbury (Old Business, Docket 021726): The applicant presented a revised single-family home design with the garage moved to the rear, a third column added to the front porch, and white siding without black trim. The board commended the changes, noting the house now looks more like a Lakewood home. The rear retaining wall (approximately 30 inches) was discussed and allowed as a landscape wall at the board’s discretion. Motion to approve passed unanimously.
• 11730 Detroit – North Coast Departments (Old Business, Docket 097725): Eric Loomis presented the project, which restores an existing brick building and adds a rear volume with metal siding. Key concerns included the seam location of the metal panels. The board suggested aligning seams with window sills and headers to avoid a ten-foot panel limitation. Public comment: none. Approved with a condition that seams on the back volume match the sill of lower windows, the bottom of Juliet doors, and the header of second-floor windows.
• 16620 Madison – First Energy Substation (Docket 021926): Wes Davis presented a proposal to remove two existing pillars at the northeast corner of Madison and Lauderdale to widen access gates for utility trucks. The existing chain-link fence will be replaced with a decorative metal fence. The board noted a discrepancy in the drawing scale and asked for scaled elevations. Public comment: none. Approved with condition to submit scaled elevations for both gates.
• 15314 Madison – Mars Bar Sign (Docket 054326): George from Mars Bar proposed a new illuminated sign (a rocket-shaped art piece) to be mounted above an existing neon sign. The board found the concept visually appealing and noted no other signs on the building. The existing neon sign will remain. The applicant agreed to submit the new light fixture design for administrative approval. Approved with condition.
• 14532 Detroit – Spiritual Journey (Docket 0443426): Anthony King represented the business, which had non-compliant window and door graphics. To bring the signage within allowable square footage, the board approved a motion that either the door graphics or one window graphic be removed, with a 30-day compliance period. Motion passed unanimously.
• 16500 Detroit – Health Markets (Docket 054626): Carl Lishing presented a revised sign proposal with reduced wall signage and no blade sign. The window signs remained but were within window allowance; the overall square footage was slightly over due to the sign band. The board found the sign consistent with other storefronts on the building and approved unanimously.
• 14909 Arden Avenue – New Single-Family Home (Docket 054826): David Minet presented a one-floor-living accessible home with a ramp and low profile. The board praised the design and noted it fits the neighborhood. The home includes a first-floor bedroom and bathroom, with additional bedrooms upstairs. The board approved unanimously.
• 1020 Park Beside Drive – Second Floor Addition & Front Porch (Docket 054926): Heather Davies presented a project that adds a second story to the rear, a front covered porch, and a detached garage. The design matches existing materials. The board approved unanimously, noting the addition feels original to the house.
• 1464 Oversight Drive (Docket 055026): The applicant did not respond to pre-review requests, so the board tabled the item due to lack of communication.
• 17456 Lake Avenue – Garage Replacement (Docket 055126): Robert Donnelly presented plans to replace an existing 20x20 garage with a 20x24 garage and matching driveway/steps. The board noted the need for scaled elevations and details (especially the roof dormers and stair design). The item was deferred to allow the applicant to submit proper drawings.
• 17212 Riverside Drive – Garage/Mudroom/Artist Studio (Docket 055261): Jill Brant presented a project to demolish an existing garage and build a new one with a mudroom and second-floor artist studio. The board discussed the roof form (hip roof with ridge running front-to-back) and the asymmetry of the front elevation (off-center garage door and window). No consensus was reached; the board deferred the item so the applicant could explore design solutions.

Key Outcomes

• Approved: Minutes, 1654 Waterbury, 11730 Detroit (with conditions), 16620 Madison (with conditions), 15314 Madison sign (with condition), 14532 Detroit sign (with condition), 16500 Detroit sign, 14909 Arden Avenue, 1020 Park Beside Drive, and summary-approved sign cases.
• Tabled: 1464 Oversight Drive (due to lack of applicant communication).
• Deferred: 17456 Lake Avenue (need for scaled drawings) and 17212 Riverside Drive (need for design revisions on roof and front elevation).
• Communication Item: The board received and filed a discussion on proposed code changes (Docket 055326) being reviewed by the Zback group.

All votes were by voice vote with no dissenting votes recorded.