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Residents press Madison Heights council over proposed Dartmouth gas station expansion; planning commission hearing set for Aug. 19
Summary
Neighbors of Dartmouth Street voiced opposition to a proposed gas station expansion that would add a drive-through restaurant and remove homes. City staff said a formal public hearing will be held at the Planning Commission on Aug. 19 and that prior meeting minutes can be included in the planning packet.
Residents from Dartmouth Street and nearby blocks told Madison Heights City Council they oppose a proposed gas station expansion at 28767 Dartmouth Street that would add a drive-through restaurant and, they say, could require demolition of homes.
At the council's public-comment period, longtime resident Kathy Sapia said neighbors are concerned about traffic and property values and asked four specific questions about notification and Planning Commission review. "Last September 2023 ... we were here to oppose the gas station expansion project at the end of Dartmouth. We were and are concerned about our home values and traffic," Sapia said. Another neighbor, who identified herself as Linda, described increased traffic in the neighborhood and said she feared for pedestrian safety if a drive-through and restaurant are added: "Somebody's gonna get killed there."
City staff told residents that the next formal public hearing on the project will be before the Planning Commission on Aug. 19 at 5:30 p.m. Giles, the city's economic development coordinator, said the required public-hearing notice was published in the newspaper for this application and that staff would include prior meeting minutes in the Planning Commission packet. Staff also said they would check whether direct mail notice could be provided beyond the newspaper notice.
Councilors asked staff to explain the process: Planning Commission will take testimony and make a recommendation to council; if the project is forwarded, council review would follow. Staff confirmed the application parcel number (28767 Dartmouth Street) will be included in the Planning Commission packet and that residents' prior comments can be added to meeting minutes.
No action on the application occurred at the July 28 meeting; the item will next be heard at the Planning Commission's Aug. 19 public hearing.
All quotations in this article are taken from the July 28 council meeting transcript.
