Commission approves open commercial vehicle storage at East 14 Mile with neighbor conditions

The Warren City Planning Commission approved, with conditions, a site plan to permit open storage of commercial vehicles at 650 East 14 Mile Road. Petitioner Jeffrey Graham described the site as a long‑standing truck parking area associated with a former large warehouse; he asked to formalize the existing use and add minimal improvements (office footing, dumpster enclosures).

Staff and nearby property managers raised concerns. Planning staff recommended standard site‑plan corrections, including documentation of elevations and dimensions and noted that several variances may be required (setbacks and open storage area). A nearby apartment property manager submitted a letter urging mitigation—buffers, gatehouse enforcement and use restrictions—after reporting increased truck traffic and trucks using a west entrance adjacent to residential buildings. Local business owner Roger Slattov opposed approval on competitive fairness grounds, saying the site has operated without proper approvals in the past. Tenants and neighbors described vibrations and safety concerns and asked for routing that keeps truck traffic away from the west driveway.

In discussion commissioners reviewed the site’s regulatory history and recommended operational controls: the petitioner agreed to restrict use by its tenants, install cameras and enforce tenant leases (warnings and termination for noncompliance), pursue gate enforcement with the landlord, remove specified fencing, and provide revised site plans and a performance bond. Staff and commissioners emphasized the limits of the commission’s authority to control activity on portions of the property owned by others; they asked the petitioner to work with the property owner to close or gate the west entrance if feasible.

The commission approved the plan with conditions that included revised site and landscape plans, required variances to be obtained if needed, removal or repair of certain fencing/enclosures and a modest performance bond. Commissioners also added a recommended expectation that the petitioner document security monitoring (cameras and guard) and a procedure to enforce tenant compliance with ingress/egress rules.

Next steps: petitioner to submit revised plans addressing staff’s items, post required performance bond and coordinate with landlord and the planning department on access control and tenant enforcement.