Zoning board approves variances and sign waivers for proposed Costco at Southfield Galleria

The Southfield Zoning Board of Appeals on Dec. 16 approved multiple variances and sign waivers for a proposed Costco at the Galleria, clearing the way for a roughly 166,114‑square‑foot warehouse, a 40‑pump fueling station and expanded building signage.

City staff told the board that the site plan and conditional rezoning to B3 were on the Dec. 15 city council agenda and had been approved the night before. The board voted, by voice, to grant: taller lighting fixtures (36 feet 6 inches proposed, 20 feet permitted); larger parking stalls (10 by 20 feet proposed, 9 by 18 feet required); two fewer loading docks (four proposed, six required); and a reduced rear yard setback (61 feet proposed, 93 feet 3 inches required). The board separately approved waivers to allow multiple large wall signs facing Northwestern Highway and on other elevations, subject to final building permits and inspections.

The applicant’s agent, Larry Jerjek, said the changes reflect Costco’s standard operational design. “Our standard Costco light for all our parking lots throughout the country and the world is 35 feet 6 in. That is a given dimension. That gives us exactly what Costco is looking for in terms of foot‑candles and light levels throughout the parking lot,” Jerjek said. On parking stalls he added, “the 10 by 20 is critical … it allows us to open up a rear hatch, for example, and not extend into the drive lane.” He also described the proposed building as large and said the parking layout and detention requirements constrain the rear yard line.

Board members asked operational and schedule questions. Mr. Jenkins asked about the construction timeline; the agent said demolition could begin next year with completion likely in the fall of 2027. Mr. Rogers said, “I don’t see any problems with any of these variances,” and members generally agreed the design and added screening and stormwater controls would limit adverse impacts. Mr. Freriedman questioned why the ordinance sets a strict parking‑space size, saying he would consider a code change to avoid prescriptive sizing.

Staff told the board the proposals include stormwater controls meeting modern Oakland County requirements and added landscape screening and tree preservation near the northern property line. The board’s approvals were conditioned on the applicant securing all required permits and final approvals from the City of Southfield building department.

Next steps: the applicant must obtain final permits and inspections before construction begins; the conditional rezoning and site plan approvals already were adopted by the City Council on Dec. 15.