Planning Commission approves site plan for 7‑Eleven/Speedway at 409 West Genesee Ave.

The City of Saginaw Planning Commission on the evening of the meeting approved a site plan for a proposed 7‑Eleven/Speedway prototype store at 409 West Genesee Ave., authorizing construction to proceed with conditions including a floodplain permit and engineering department approval of all utility connections.

The applicant, Nathan Denha, said the proposal would redevelop a former vacant Walgreens into a 4,853‑square‑foot building with Nichiha wood finishing and CMU block. “This store will feature a 4,853 square foot building composed of CMU block, as well as Nichiha wood finishing,” Denha said. He told commissioners the site plan calls for six pumps and 12 dispensers and meets the B‑2 general business standards required by the city code.

Commissioners questioned operational details and site design. Commissioner Clark asked whether the use would include automobile repair; Denha replied, “That’s correct. It’s not a repair station.” Clark also raised concerns about light pollution; Denha said the development would use downward‑facing fixtures and a canopy and that “there’ll be a photometric plan submitted, that will show 0 candlelight in through neighboring properties.” Commissioner Clark and others sought clarification about landscaping islands and the truck route shown on different plan sheets; the applicant confirmed the final landscape plan shows a planted island and the submitted sheet reflects the intended vehicle flows.

Commissioner Platt said he was “not very fond of the location,” calling the intersection an awkward fit even though the project satisfies zoning requirements. Commissioner Moore asked about staffing levels; planning staff advised employee counts are not an element of site plan approval.

The commission moved to approve petition J25‑2824 PC with the conditions noted at the meeting: issuance of any required floodplain permit and engineering department review and approval of utility connections. The motion passed; the commission chair announced the petition is approved. The applicant may proceed to construction permitting once the conditions are satisfied.

Clarifying details recorded at the meeting include the building size (4,853 square feet), fueling equipment (6 pumps, 12 dispensers), the applicant’s statement that the prototype is the second in Michigan (20 nationwide), and that a photometric plan and landscape plan will be submitted before final permit approval. The agenda initially referenced the site by a different address (409 North Michigan Avenue), while the applicant repeatedly identified the project location as 409 West Genesee Ave.; that discrepancy was discussed during the review and should be reconciled in permit documents.

The commission’s approval does not require the store to install electric vehicle chargers; Denha said future EV infrastructure “would be added to the site” only if required and at the operator’s discretion. Engineering and floodplain permit requirements must be met before building permits are issued.