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Kalamazoo planning commission approves special-use permit to rebuild gas station at 4710 Stadium Drive
Summary
The City of Kalamazoo Planning Commission on May 7 approved a special-use permit allowing American Gas and Oil to demolish and rebuild a gas station and convenience store at 4710 Stadium Drive; the project removes an on-site car wash and retains existing curb cuts and pump locations.
The City of Kalamazoo Planning Commission on May 7 approved a special-use permit allowing American Gas and Oil to demolish and rebuild the gas station and convenience store at 4710 Stadium Drive.
Chair Curtis opened the public hearing and city staff summarized the application and ordinance standards the commission must weigh. Staff said the site, on the city’s western border at the Stadium and Drake intersection, has been a gas station for decades and that the proposed redevelopment is consistent with the CC zone’s commercial character and the city’s future land-use map.
City staff reviewed the special-use criteria in chapter 50, noting the proposed layout keeps the existing curb cuts on Stadium and Drake, centralizes vehicle circulation, adheres to required lighting and canopy setbacks, and includes stormwater and hazardous-material containment measures as part of site-plan review. Staff also noted the property’s distance from the nearest package liquor store meets the ordinance separation requirement and that the new layout removes an off-street driveway behind the building.
Steve Wade, the project engineer, and Jason Barris, president of American Gas and Oil, told the commission the rebuild will retain the canopy and pump locations, push the building slightly north to improve circulation, and remove the existing car wash building. Jason Barris said demolition and tank removal could take "probably a good couple months," followed by about six months of construction for most of the rebuild, with the full raise-and-rebuild schedule typically taking about eight months; he added timing could shift if permit approvals are delayed or if work begins in winter.
A commissioner moved to approve the special-use permit for PC202604; the motion was seconded and the commission approved the request by voice vote after commissioners said they welcomed the removal of the car wash and the improved maneuvering space. The commission directed that final technical details be handled in the site-plan review process with city staff.
Next steps: the applicants will proceed to site-plan review with city staff and the site plan review committee for final civil and construction documentation before building permits are issued.
