Burton Zoning Board extends temporary vehicle storage permit through Dec. 31, 2026

The Zoning Board of Appeals in Burton voted unanimously to extend a temporary permit allowing finished vehicles to be stored at 52005 East Court Street through Dec. 31, 2026.

The board approved ZBA case 25-13 after hearing from the applicant, a neighbor and city staff. The applicant said the temporary use supports General Motors production and that a permanent shipping yard remains under construction; staff advised against reinstating fabric screening on the lot's perimeter fence because prior screening “added [an] eyesore” for drivers, the staff speaker said.

Why it matters: the lot stores vehicles produced for an automaker and the extension affects nearby neighborhoods and traffic along Court Street between Genesee and Balsi Road. The applicant said leaving the lot in place eases logistical pressures while a permanent 60-acre shipping-yard project is completed, and that removing the lot before the permanent site is ready would create additional costs and operational difficulties.

Chad McCarty, the applicant, told the board he and his team have secured approvals and are preparing to break ground on the permanent lot in a different township and that they have asked the board for an extended temporary authorization. McCarty said the company provides around-the-clock security at the Court Street site and that the operator's lease requires the property be restored when the temporary use ends: “that's in the lease agreement,” McCarty said.

A member of the public, Patrick Dargle, asked whether a visual screen or a fence was in place and how many vehicles the lot holds. McCarty replied that the operator replaced earlier green screening because it repeatedly blew down and became an eyesore; he said the lot now has a new fence and that capacity is roughly 2,500 to 3,000 vehicles depending on parking patterns.

City staff described the site as the former Showcase Cinema area on Court Street and told the board administration would not recommend reinstalling the fabric screening because it had previously become an eyesore; staff otherwise offered no specific recommendation on the extension length.

Board members asked whether the company would vacate earlier if the permanent yard finished ahead of schedule; McCarty said they would, but that continuing to store vehicles on the Court Street lot reduces costs and operational disruption until the permanent yard's critical systems are complete.

The motion to approve ZBA 25-13 with a finish date of Dec. 31, 2026, was made by Zoning Board of Appeals member Kevin Burge and seconded by Zoning Board of Appeals member Von Smith. Roll call votes were recorded as yes from Burge, Craig, Rich Volsky, Fuse, Welch, Raff and Smith; the motion carried.

Less critical details: the applicant said delays in related permitting (drain commission, permits) extended the timeline for the permanent yard and that tariffs affecting shipments have increased demand for off-site storage. The applicant also said the operator's lease requires removal of fencing and other improvements when the temporary use ends and that the tenant has previously returned the site to a restored condition after earlier departures.

The board did not place a different or earlier deadline on the authorization; if the permanent facility becomes available sooner the applicant said they would remove equipment and restore the site before Dec. 31, 2026.