Clawson planning commission postpones special land use review for proposed auto service at 607 N. Rochester Rd.

The Clawson Planning Commission on Dec. 9 postponed its decision on a special land use application to convert the former Napa Auto Parts building at 607 North Rochester Road into an auto service operation, after commissioners said they needed clearer site plans and evidence of local demand.

City planning consultant Joe Tangieri described the 0.45‑acre site and told commissioners the existing single‑story, roughly 6,000‑square‑foot masonry building would be reused for an auto‑service use that requires special land‑use approval in the I‑1 district. He flagged several outstanding items the applicant must address, including the number of service bays, an ADA van‑accessible stripe detail, dumpster‑enclosure drawings and confirmation that cross‑access through a neighboring driveway is allowed or guaranteed by easement. Tangieri said the site shows multiple nonconformities and an existing maneuvering lane about 19 feet 5 inches wide — narrower than the ordinance standard (24 feet for two‑way, 20 feet for one‑way).

The applicant, doing business as AutoPro and Carfix, told the commission the operator runs four stores in the area and intends to operate five service bays inside the building with a single existing bay door; most work would be same‑day service and the applicant said cars are not routinely stored overnight. "From our experience, there's a great demand," the applicant said, adding he would provide business data if the commission wanted it.

Residents urged caution. Stuart Supinat of 663 Goodale cited traffic and limited on‑street parking on Goodale and asked commissioners to compare the proposal to a nearby repair shop he said has a much larger lot. Robert Hayes of 860 Goodale told the commission he found many auto‑service businesses on Rochester Road and asked whether the city needs another full‑service shop.

Several commissioners said the packet lacked details needed to evaluate the proposal and questioned whether the applicant had demonstrated a community need — a factor the code requires the commission to find for special land uses. One commissioner moved to deny the special land use for lack of demonstrated need, but the motion was amended and voted to postpone pending the applicant’s submission of a full site plan, landscape and lighting plans, dumpster enclosure detail, and any market/demand data the applicant can provide. The commission recorded a roll‑call vote and the motion to postpone carried.

The commission also postponed the separate site‑plan review for 607 North Rochester Road to the next meeting so the applicant can submit the requested materials and, if needed, pursue a variance from the Zoning Board of Appeals for the 200‑foot separation standard referenced in the code.

Next steps: The applicant is expected to return with updated site‑plan drawings, details about the number of service bays, documentation about cross‑access or an easement with the adjacent property owner, a compliant ADA parking layout and any data on local demand. The commission said staff will include those materials with the next agenda packet for further review.