Planning commission postpones decision on outdoor storage at Kenmore Road to June 2 after staff conditions

The City of Warren Planning Commission postponed action to its June 2 meeting on a site plan for outdoor storage of construction materials and equipment at the South Side of Kenmore Road (near 10 Mile Road), after detailed staff conditions and a lengthy public discussion.

Mark Titini (identified in the application materials as associated with Rhino Utility and Rental Inc.) told the commission he has used the property for more than 40 years and said a certificate of occupancy could not be found. Planning staff delivered a multi-part recommendation requiring five copies of revised plans and numerous clarifications: dimensioning the building, showing utilities and light poles, specifying types and square footage of storage areas, adding notes to prevent dust emissions, indicating the total storage square footage, and showing existing and proposed lighting. Staff also required that separate parcels be combined into a parent parcel and that recorded ingress/egress and shared-driveway agreements be provided for adjacent property owners prior to site-plan release.

Staff warned the petitioner that used-oil handling is regulated by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE) and by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and that variances from the Zoning Board of Appeals may be required because the proposed open storage area exceeds the zoning district’s allowable percentage of open storage. Planning staff’s memo also recommended a performance-bond estimate near $33,000 and a bond of $1,000 based on their calculations; staff noted the petitioner’s original bond estimate appeared low.

The petitioner described the existing fence and gates at the site and said they have deterred intrusion for decades; he expressed concern about the city’s requested 19-foot setback and moving the fence back. Planning staff explained that the property predated present setback requirements and that the planning recommendation was a compromise between the required 50-foot M2 district setback and the practical location of the building. Commissioners discussed whether landscaping in the front setback would obstruct County Road Commission turning activity; the petitioner said daily truck turnarounds occur in the area. Commissioner Dusey suggested the petitioner present his variance requests to the Zoning Board of Appeals; Commissioner Dusey later moved to postpone to June 2 to allow the petitioner time to meet with planning and zoning staff and to pursue necessary variances. The motion to postpone carried on roll call; commissioners voting in favor recorded their support to delay the item to the June 2 meeting so the petitioner could meet with staff and zoning.