Planning Commission approves car-wash renovation at 30458 Eight Mile Road; vacuum relocations trigger ZBA variance

The Farmington Hills Planning Commission on March 20 approved a site plan to renovate an existing tunnel car wash at 30458 Eight Mile Road, subject to outstanding engineering, planning and fire-marshal corrections and a required variance to the zoning standard for vacuum-station setbacks.

City staff said the project primarily renovates the existing car-wash building and reconfigures internal circulation and stacking lanes. The plan removes two existing pedestal vacuum units and installs seven individual vacuum stations served by a central vacuum system; staff noted the new vacuum locations do not meet the ordinance’s 100-foot separation from a C-2 district (the units will be roughly 75 feet from the adjacent district). The vacuum setback standard is a zoning relief issue for the Zoning Board of Appeals, staff said.

The commission’s approval is conditioned on resolving outstanding items in the planning consultant’s and city engineer’s review letters and on addressing the fire marshal’s comments. In addition, the approval explicitly noted the need for a ZBA variance for the vacuum locations.

Project representatives told the commission the vacuums will be modernized to a central system that provides individual free vacuum spaces and that most existing lighting and setbacks remain unchanged. The owner said the operation will continue to offer monthly membership and pay-as-you-go wash options.

One commissioner voted against the motion, saying they were not convinced adequate noise-control measures for the vacuums had been demonstrated; the rest of the commission voted to approve the site plan subject to the conditions and the required ZBA variance.

The decision allows the applicant to proceed with plan revisions and to seek the zoning variance; final permit issuance will follow clearance of engineering and other conditions and any action by the Zoning Board of Appeals.