Warren City Planning Commission approves four site plans, amends bond amounts and releases legacy bond

The Warren City Planning Commission on April 20 approved four separate site-plan items, including two outdoor-storage proposals, building additions for a Buddhist temple and a minor amendment for a Planet Oil Change site, and took action to adjust performance-bond amounts and release a $3,500 legacy bond.

Planning staff presented item 6a for American Blower Supply, which seeks permission for open storage of pallets and two storage pods at a property on 10 Mile Road. Jeffrey Graham, a project architect with ChemTech & Associates, said the storage pods would be used temporarily while the company’s manufacturing and shipping activity continues to grow. Planning staff recommended approval with standard conditions — revised site plans, combined parcels, potential variances for setbacks, ADA parking adjustments, and construction of a concrete curb and wider drive approaches. Commissioners approved the site plan with staff conditions and agreed to increase the planning estimate for required site improvements; the commission noted a separate bond-release action would be taken for an existing $3,500 cash bond posted by a prior owner.

The commission then approved item 6b, a proposal from Dirks Management LLC for a parking-lot expansion and outdoor storage of shipping containers on 11 Mile Road. Tim Story, the project engineer, said the proposal formalizes existing outdoor storage and adds parking at the north end of the property. Correspondence from utility providers and Macomb County public works raised no objections and noted site disturbance of less than one acre. The commission approved the site plan subject to plan revisions that clarify storage-area square footage, setbacks, cross-access easements, and tree plantings.

Item 6c covered exterior and interior changes to the Vietnamese Buddhist Association of Detroit’s temple, including a 780-square-foot worship-area addition, a 264-square-foot entry, a new exterior deck and façade improvements. Planning staff identified six small sheds along the west property line (not shown on some surveys) and asked the applicant to show existing site features on revised plans and obtain variances if needed. The applicant representative said the owner agreed to remove the six sheds; commissioners approved the site plan with conditions and discussed the planning-staff bond estimate, eventually approving a reduced bond per the staff recommendation.

On an old-business item, the commission approved a minor amendment for a 308–310-square-foot storage-shed addition at Planet Oil Change (27612 Van Dyke). Planning staff reviewed parking requirements, utility notes, and site improvements and recommended several plan corrections and a performance-bond increase; the commission approved the amendment and amended the motion to set the bond consistent with staff guidance.

Commissioners also voted to amend the agenda to include a bond-release item tied to 6a and then approved releasing the $3,500 performance cash bond that had been posted in 1994 by the prior owner, subject to staff procedures for release.

The commission’s approvals were recorded by roll call; motions were moved, seconded and passed with yes votes from the commissioners present. The meeting concluded with routine planning-department updates and housekeeping items.

Votes at a glance • Item 6a (American Blower Supply) — Approved with standard conditions; bond estimate increased per staff; separate bond-release action added and approved to release $3,500 legacy bond. • Item 6b (Dirks Management LLC) — Approved with conditions (site-plan revisions, cross-access, setbacks, trees). • Item 6c (Vietnamese Buddhist Association of Detroit) — Approved with conditions; applicant to remove six sheds and provide revised plans and any needed variances; bond adjusted per staff recommendation. • Old business: Minor amendment (Planet Oil Change, 27612 Van Dyke) — Approved with plan corrections and bond adjusted per staff guidance.

What happens next Planning staff will receive revised plans and supporting documents (e.g., cross-access agreement, MDOT/Macomb County permits where applicable) and will track any required variances before building-permit review. The bond-release approved for the prior owner’s $3,500 performance bond will follow the commission’s standard bond-release procedure.