DEARBORN — Last month The Arab American News published a story regarding living room garages, which have become a common feature among homes in Dearborn and Dearborn Heights. Many of these garages have sliding doors, furniture and electronics, which the city began issuing tickets for in 2012, citing safety hazards that were against city living ordinances. 

The topic will once again re-surface at the upcoming City Planning Commission Meeting taking place on Monday, April 8, where the commission plans on discussing the new changes being made to the city ordinance, under section 2.03-A, “Accessory buildings and structures.” The city plans to outlaw any garages not suitable for vehicles to be parked in. 

However there seems to be confusion about the current ordinance and what the commission plans to amend. One resident, who lives on Orchard St. in east Dearborn, was ticketed for her sliding glass garage door in 2012 and says she is trying to gather community support regarding the issue. Her ticket, cited as a misdemeanor, is still pending at the 19th District Court until the city ordinance is amended and made more clear. She says when a city inspector had evaluated her property, she was not informed that her sliding glass door was breaking city ordinance.

The local woman says she’s addressed these inconsistencies in front of the commission before, but she did not have enough community support to back her up, and her attempts have not made an impact. She asks residents who are in a similar predicament to show up to the upcoming city commission meeting and express their concerns as well. 

The City of Dearborn Planning Commission is a nine member body appointed by the Mayor and confirmed by the city council. Their duties are to determine final action for all special land use and site plan proposals. It also hears proposals for zoning changes, zoning ordinance language amendments, subdivision plats, and alley/street vacations, and then makes recommendations to City Council who then determine whether it will be passed. 

No dates have been set for when the new ordinance is expected to move forward to City Council for a vote, but residents still have an opportunity to address the commission. The City Planning Commission meeting will take place on Monday, April 8 at 7:00 p.m. at City Hall, in the council’s chamber.