The Metropolitan Board of Zoning Appeals Division 1 voted 5–0 to deny petition 2024 UV1023, a request by Wagner Michigan Road LLC to allow a grocery store, an eating establishment and an event center at 7780 Michigan Road.

Petitioner Ingrid Velasquez told the board she considered the existing 55-space parking area adequate and that she had negotiated a second dumpster and other modest site changes to address concerns. “There’s plenty of space for parking and I don’t see the issue of the traffic,” Velasquez said during her presentation.

Neighborhood groups and staff urged denial. Susan Blair, president of the Pike Township Residents Association, said the site is zoned C1 office commercial and that the petition’s requested uses are typically permitted in the C3/C4 commercial districts. Blair highlighted safety concerns at the nearby West 79th Street–Michigan Road corridor and noted a packet submitted to the board citing a traffic‑study news item and a Department of Transportation daily traffic count referenced in the record. “Attempts to make a left hand turn without a dedicated left turn lane on an extremely busy road … [is] extremely dangerous,” Blair said.

Kerry Michael Manders, chair of the Crooked Creek Community Land Use Committee, added that the broader corridor plan envisions retail concentrated at major intersections and residential transition elsewhere; he said the requested uses would effectively create a mid‑block, high‑traffic node that is inconsistent with that plan.

Staff recommended denial, citing the absence of a demonstrated hardship, incompatibility with the comprehensive plan’s office‑commercial recommendation for the parcel, and concerns about traffic generation, deliveries and lack of multimodal access. Staff also noted missing details about the proposed event center — for example, frequency and size of events and servicing/delivery plans — that would affect impacts and mitigation requirements.

After rebuttal and closing statements from both sides, the board voted: David Duncan — no; Jennifer Witt — no; Peter Nelson — no; Andrew Catona — no; Tom Barnes — no. The variance was not granted.

The transcript shows the petition drew sustained public comment from organized neighborhood groups and detailed staff analysis; the petition will not move forward as presented.