Warren planning panel postpones decision on proposed Mound/13 Mile gas station after traffic concerns

The Warren City Planning Commission on Tuesday voted to postpone consideration of a proposed gas station at Mound Road and 13 Mile, citing outstanding questions about traffic data and requests from nearby employers to review the study.

Jordan Siegel, attorney for Walton & Engineering, told the commission that his clients were not given sufficient time to review the applicant’s materials and described the submitted traffic count as "suspect" because primary data were collected on Nov. 4 — an election day when General Motors and local schools were closed. "Without that information, you do not have a proper record to make the decisions upon which they're asking you to make," Siegel said.

Why it matters: Commissioners said the data’s timing and local concerns — including truck turning movements and driveway widths — raised credible process and safety questions. Several residents and at least one company representative asked for another look at the traffic implications before a final decision.

What the petitioner and engineer said: The project’s traffic engineer told the commission the study complied with the Institute of Transportation Engineers’ trip generation methods and used SYNCHRO modeling. He said MDOT counts taken on Dec. 14, 2024, were used as supplemental data and that the team conservatively increased 13 Mile Road volumes by 25% for modeling. He added that modeled queue lengths were about 80 feet short of the site driveway and that fueling-truck turns were modeled with an industry-standard truck template. "We feel the traffic impact study before you is accurate," the engineer said.

Commission action and next steps: Commissioner Morey moved to postpone the site-plan decision until additional information — including any material GM provides — is available; the motion was seconded and, after roll call, the chair announced the matter would be carried to the commission’s Jan. 26 meeting. Commissioners who supported postponement cited the unusual count date and requested that the petitioner consult with GM and the Macomb County Road Commission. Commissioners opposing postponement said the study met ordinance requirements and warned that delaying action without specific new criteria could be futile.

Details and clarifications: Residents and commissioners raised technical points the commission asked the petitioner to clarify before the next meeting: the final agreed driveway width (plans discussed both 30- and 40-foot dimensions), exact truck routing and tank locations (presenters identified fuel tanks in the southern portion of the property), and how often fuel deliveries would occur (petitioner said deliveries are not multiple times per day and that fueling trucks typically deliver between 1 a.m. and 5 a.m.).

What’s next: The commission asked the petitioner to pursue discussions with GM and the Macomb County Road Commission and to provide any updated or supplementary studies; the item is scheduled to return to the commission on Jan. 26 for further consideration.