The City of Southfield Planning Commission voted July 30 to give a favorable recommendation to a special land use permit for a used-vehicle sales business with accessory dealer repair at 24260 Telegraph Road.

The recommendation, which will go to Southfield City Council for final action next month, covers reusing an existing building in an I-1 (general industrial) zone with a rear strip of parking abutting residential property. Planning staff described the site as mostly gravel and dirt with some wooded area to the rear and said the site is within the Southfield Technology Corridor.

Planning department staff reviewed a revised site plan and told the commission the applicant removed several front parking spaces to maintain a 22-foot two-way driveway to the curb, relocated the ADA parking to the front near the public entrance, clarified landscaping and shrub placement, reconfigured a dumpster enclosure to accommodate garbage-truck turning radiuses, and provided manufacturer specifications for a vehicle lift to be installed inside the building. Staff noted one minor administrative fix—shifting shrubs where an ADA walkway meets the sidewalk—which will be handled during the administrative site-plan review.

Mike Sima, the applicant’s representative, said the proposal is for a dealership that will perform service only on vehicles the dealership acquires (not on customer vehicles). He described planned parking as “about 12” spaces for sales cars, seven customer spaces and three employee spaces, and said the business hopes to open within four to five months if permits are issued.

Commissioners asked clarifying questions about the accessory-repair limitation. Planning staff reiterated that “accessory auto repair” limits work to dealership vehicles only and does not authorize general public service. After discussion, Dr. Stevens Gunn made the motion recommending approval; Commissioner Bernutti seconded. The commission voted unanimously to forward a favorable recommendation to city council.

The planning department’s recommendation included conditions: final site-plan approval by the city planner; continuous compliance with applicable codes, permits and inspections; and hours of operation limited to Monday through Saturday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. The applicant was advised to continue coordinating with planning staff as the project moves to administrative site-plan review.