Commission recommends approval for new gas station and convenience store at Newburg and Schoolcraft with conditions

The Livonia Planning Commission voted to recommend approval of a waiver to allow construction of a gasoline service station with a convenience store and carryout restaurant at 13400 Newburg Road, subject to multiple conditions addressing landscaping, elevations, lighting, canopy height and site circulation.

Planner Jacob Uhasi described the 0.68-acre site and the applicant’s plan for a roughly 6,240-square-foot two-story service building with four pumps. Staff noted the proposal satisfies required setbacks and includes a canopy no taller than 18 feet, EV charging stalls and a carryout area. Review by engineering, inspection and fire departments flagged technical items: submittal of sanitary/water/storm engineering calculations, possible water meter upgrades for food service, sidewalk installation on Newburg frontage, potential stormwater treatment modifications and a requirement that rooftop equipment and lighting be screened or shielded.

Petitioner Steven Hamadi said he plans to open the station 24 hours and offer regular grades plus nonethanol recreational fuel and low-sulfur diesel. He proposed two underground tanks — one 20,000 gallons, one 12,000 gallons — and said final canopy and sign treatments will be coordinated with the brand. Hamadi told the commission he expects the site will be well lit and will improve that corner.

Adjacent property owners raised concerns that the proposed dumpster location sits within an existing ingress/egress easement and that added daily traffic could cause trespass onto neighboring parcels. Thomas Kraybill, representing neighboring building owners, asked that the dumpster be relocated or reoriented and requested measures to prevent cut-through traffic. Commissioners and staff advised the petitioner to work with the engineering department to resolve easement and stormwater constraints; the petitioner agreed to pursue engineering solutions.

Commissioner Long moved to approve the waiver subject to a set of conditions including revised site and landscape plans, adherence to submitted floor plans and elevations, a revised western elevation to reflect updated renderings, photometric plan adherence, screening of rooftop equipment, canopy height and column treatment requirements, free-air availability, restrictions on ice sales, signage to limit unauthorized cross-access, submission of plans for building permits, and a one-year validity period. The motion carried on a unanimous roll call and will be forwarded to city council for final action.

The record shows the commission’s approval is a recommendation; final site plan approval and permits remain contingent on resolving the technical issues and obtaining city council approval.