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Commission recommends approval for 248 Garage to add limited online used-car sales at vehicle-storage site
Summary
The Planning Commission unanimously recommended that the City Council approve a special land use request allowing 248 Garage to add low-volume, appointment-only used-vehicle sales to an existing indoor vehicle storage facility on Telegraph Road, subject to hours and administrative site-plan compliance.
The Southfield Planning Commission on Feb. 25 recommended approval of a special land use for a vehicle-storage facility to add Class B used-vehicle sales under restricted conditions.
Staff told the commission that the applicant operates a public-facing location on Woodward Avenue and separate indoor storage facilities where vehicles are kept without public walk-in access. Douglas Mason, who identified himself as the applicant for "248 Garage," said the proposed Telegraph Road site will continue to operate primarily as storage, with vehicle sales conducted online and visiting buyers arriving by appointment only. "We are not going to be a traditional used car dealer with a public inventory, a walkable lot in a dealership," Mason said, explaining that sales would facilitate title transfers and other regulatory requirements that require a dealer license.
Planner and staff recommended a favorable special-land-use recommendation for PSLU26-00001 with conditions: adherence to the approved administrative site plan, continuous compliance with ordinances and statutes, and specified hours of operation (public access by appointment: Monday–Friday 8 a.m.–5 p.m.; Saturdays 9 a.m.–noon). Commissioners asked about vehicle condition requirements, battery maintenance and whether nonrunning cars would be accepted. Mason said the facility requires vehicles to be operable, that owners must carry insurance while in storage and that staff maintain batteries and monitor vehicles.
After questions, the commission moved, seconded and voted unanimously to forward a favorable recommendation to City Council. Staff advised the applicant the matter will go to council next month for final approval; site-plan details will return in an administrative site-plan review prior to occupancy changes.
