Planning commission approves storage building for Express Car Wash after ADA, wetlands and rooftop concerns

The Warren City Planning Commission voted Aug. 25 to approve a site plan for a new storage building serving an existing automated car wash at 28740 Mound Road, with standard planning conditions and specific revisions requested by staff.

The petitioner described the building as primarily for car-wash parts storage (about 99% storage and small cleaning-supply storage kept in a fire‑rated cabinet). The commission’s approval followed staff recommendations that required resubmitted floor plans, elevation drawings, updated lighting notes, accessible parking meeting ADA van‑accessible dimensions (16 feet wide), and documentation regarding potential wetlands and any required variances.

Why it matters: The storage building sits on a lot previously approved for a car wash. Planning staff flagged potential wetland areas and a rooftop decorative structure that could exceed 30 feet in height and therefore might require a zoning variance if not removed or justified as mechanical screening.

Petitioners and staff - Representative for Cleaning Express Auto Wash (identified in the agenda as Greg Van Bridal / Cleaning Express Auto Wash LLC) answered commissioners’ questions and agreed to revise plans. The petitioner corrected a dimension during the hearing, saying the building is 60 by 80 feet (speaker said earlier 60 by 60 was a mistake). - Planning Director Ron Wirth presented staff conditions including: updated site zoning labels, a 23.5‑foot mean building height calculation with an element rising to 31 feet (which may require a variance unless it is mechanical screening per section 19o3 of the zoning ordinance), relocation of the pedestrian door and certain interior fixtures for ADA access, masonry wainscot details, and EGLE correspondence regarding wetlands.

Key points from discussion - ADA access and parking: Planning staff asked that the accessible parking space be van‑accessible (16 feet width) and that the person door be relocated to the west elevation to improve access; the petitioner agreed to revise the floor plan accordingly. - Building height and rooftop element: The rooftop structure measured up to 31 feet. The petitioner agreed it is decorative and would remove it in revised drawings to avoid needing a variance. - Wetlands and permits: Staff noted Macomb County GIS identifies potential wetlands on the parcel and asked the petitioner to contact EGLE and provide a new permit determination letter for the updated work; the petitioner said a wetland delineation had been submitted to EGLE and that a joint permit application would follow if required. - Landscaping and trees: Commissioners and a resident asked about trees on the site. The petitioner said a landscape plan had been submitted and that additional trees would be planted to replace removed vegetation.

Vote and implementation A motion by Commissioner Hollawadi, supported by Commissioner Choudhury, to approve the site plan with the planning department’s standard conditions passed on roll call (commissioners present voted to approve). The approval is contingent on submittal of the required revised plans, EGLE correspondence, and any variance documentation before the plan is released to the building division.