The City of Southfield Planning Commission on April 30 recommended approval of a special land use and a revised site plan to demolish and rebuild the gas station at 27050 Lasser Road, adding auto repair, alcohol sales and a carryout restaurant while keeping the same number of fuel pumps.

Planning staff told commissioners the property is zoned B-3 and consistent with the city’s future land use for local mixed use. Planner Crowe said the applicant decreased the number of curb cuts at the intersection, widened the green belt along Lasser and 11 Mile and will add a decorative brick-pier-and-panel fence and additional landscaping that will extend in front of the adjoining bank property.

Why it matters: the project replaces an aging, angled station with modern architecture, adds an on-site repair facility that commissioners noted is one of only two in Southfield that provide vehicle service, and is expected to change pedestrian and vehicular access at a busy corner.

Key details and conditions
- The commission gave a favorable recommendation for the special land use (PSLU25-0001) and a favorable recommendation on the site plan (PSP25-0002) with an added condition requiring bumper blocks adjacent to the new fence on the neighboring bank property.
- Planning staff said approval is conditioned on execution of a parking easement on the adjacent former bank property (owned by the same owner), approval of required variances/waivers by the zoning board of appeals, and compliance with the Police Department’s crime-prevention recommendations and all applicable codes and permits.
- Hours and uses as presented in the recommendation: gas station and convenience store — 24 hours daily; carryout restaurant — 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily; auto service/repair — Monday–Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., closed Saturday and Sunday.
- Planner Crowe told the commission the applicant initially requested six waivers; the applicant eliminated two waivers and reduced three others through site reconfiguration, while one rear setback waiver changed in dimension to allow functional maintenance access.

Applicant comments and timeline
Applicant Heath Manawa, who gave an address in Farmington Hills, thanked the commission and said the project will tie the corner together with the landscape extension and frontage improvements. When Commissioner Dr. Stevens Gunn asked about construction duration, Manawa said, “It's gonna be about a 6 to 8 month project. 6 to 8 months,” citing demolition of canopies and dispensers as part of the work.

Commission response and next steps
Commissioners repeatedly praised the fence, landscaping and the cross-access easement to the north for improving safety and circulation. Commissioner Martin asked the applicant to notify surrounding neighborhoods about the temporary closure during rebuilding. Planning staff clarified that the planning commission’s favorable recommendation and any council approval would be conditioned on the waivers being granted by the zoning board of appeals; if waivers are denied the project would return to the commission.

Formal actions
The commission voted unanimously to forward a favorable recommendation on PSLU25-0001 (special land use) and, with the added bumper-block condition, on PSP25-0002 (site plan). Both approvals remain subject to the zoning board of appeals granting required variances and to subsequent city council action.

The project will be on the City Council agenda next Monday; staff said the applicant will attend a study session ahead of that meeting.