ZBA postpones decision on Hoover/13 Mile gas station expansion; shared parking urged

The Warren City Zoning Board of Appeals on July 23 voted to postpone action on a proposed expansion and reconfiguration of the Hoover/13 Mile gas station (11610 13 Mile) until an Aug. 13 meeting so the applicant can provide a shared-parking agreement and clarify potential outdoor sales or storage.

Applicant representative Brandon Castoff described plans to expand an existing 2,239-square-foot convenience store by about 2,153 square feet and add a carryout restaurant component, while keeping the fueling canopy. The applicant requested four non-use variances affecting parking, parking space length, setbacks and existing maneuvering lanes near pumps. The project already had conditional planning commission approval; the variance requests were needed because of fixed site constraints including existing fuel canopies and drive aisles.

Board members raised multiple concerns: potential on-site congestion if the carryout becomes busy, reduced on-site parking after the expansion, the history of outdoor sales and storage at similar mixed-use gas-station sites, and whether pump islands should count toward parking totals. Several members suggested the petitioner seek a shared-parking agreement with the adjacent shopping-center owner and asked for clearer site-plan revisions showing how new parking and circulation would function.

Mr. Jersey moved to postpone to Aug. 13 so the applicant can return with a shared-parking agreement; Mr. Clift supported the motion. The board recorded a roll call and the motion to postpone passed by a majority (final tally 5–2). Members voting to postpone included Mr. Jersey, Mr. Clift, Mr. Assessor, Mr. Green and Chairman Storovich; Mr. Watts and Mr. Lindsey voted no.

The board emphasized that if the applicant later seeks outdoor sales or storage, a site-plan amendment and further review would be required.