The Livonia City Planning Commission voted to recommend that City Council approve a waiver allowing Charara Property LLC to operate an oil‑change service in connection with an existing coin‑operated car wash at 38400 Joy Road.

Planning staff described the property as a 40,000‑square‑foot parcel at the northwest corner of Joy and Hicks with 200 feet of frontage on each road. The building—originally constructed in 1985—has six self‑service wash bays and two interior bays that the petitioner proposes to convert to oil‑change service. Staff noted that under the zoning ordinance an auto‑wash plus auto‑repair use would typically require at least 25 off‑street parking spaces; the submitted site plan shows 16 striped parking stalls plus six service bays, and staff reminded the commission that city council can modify numerical requirements if justified.

Department memos read into the record reported no objection from inspection, police or fire, but flagged required code compliance: barrier‑free, building and mechanical code confirmation at plan review, stormwater compliance with Wayne County rules, right‑of‑way permits if work is required, and submission of full plan sets for further review.

Petitioner Sam Sharara told commissioners the site has been cleaned up and upgraded (new siding, roof, canopy and vacuum islands) and that the proposed shed would match the building materials. Commissioners asked about vacuum island proximity to the road, canopy lighting, stacking and queuing plans for the oil‑change lane and water recycling; Sharara said vacuums and canopies are being updated and that cones, striping or other visual cues would manage stacking, that used oil would be removed from site by a contractor every one or two weeks, and that the car‑wash system does not currently use a water‑recycling process.

Commissioner Dinaro moved to offer an approving resolution recommending council approval subject to 13 conditions that include: adherence to the approved site plan; hours limited for oil‑change service (Monday–Saturday 7 a.m.–8 p.m.; Sunday 8 a.m.–7 p.m.); double‑striped parking spaces; enclosed dumpster built to match the building; prohibition on outdoor storage and promotional signage; exterior lighting limitations and shutoff times; and submission of plans to the inspection department. The motion passed on a recorded roll call (Dinaro Aye; Rose Aye; Long Aye; Ventura Aye; Cara Magno Aye; Chairman Aye). The commission’s recommendation will now be forwarded to City Council for its public hearing and final decision.

Next steps: the petition moves to City Council for review; plan review and building permits are required before any change of use can occur.