Warren planning panel denies Logistics One rezoning for trailer parking

The Warren Planning Commission voted June 1 to deny a request to rezone a 5.56-acre parcel at 13800 Frazzo Road from R1C (single-family) to M2 (medium light industrial) for conditioned empty-trailer parking.

The petitioner, represented by attorney Mark Derest, told the commission the rezoning would be conditional and limited to empty-trailer parking, with restrictions including no idling, no structures, no refrigerated trailers, right-turn-only circulation on nearby streets, and hours limited to 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday. "This is not an unconditional rezoning," Derest said. "Under the conditional zoning agreement it can only be used for this purpose and if the use ceases it would revert to the current zoning."

Planning staff recommended denial, citing the city's master plan, which identifies the parcel as green space or a location for "missing middle" housing, and noting that rezoning to M2 would represent a significant industrial encroachment into an area dominated by single-family homes. The staff report also flagged lower property value projections under an industrial scenario and the broad uses permitted in M2 zoning absent a binding condition.

Dozens of nearby residents spoke during the public hearing, urging denial. Neighbors described existing truck activity in the corridor, bright lights, noise and damage to yards and streets. "My house literally rattles when the trucks go by," resident Jerry Schneider said, calling the site proposal a worsening of a long-standing nuisance. Several speakers said they did not receive timely notice of the proposal and asked the commission to prioritize residential character and safety.

After discussion, commissioners said their votes reflected concerns about neighborhood safety, master-plan consistency and long-term land-use impacts. The denial motion, made and supported on the record, passed by roll call; commissioners cited impacts to property values and the surrounding residential fabric as central reasons for the vote. The commission recorded reasons for the record as required by local procedures.

The Planning Commission's denial will be forwarded to City Council as the commission's recommendation on the rezoning request. Any further action would be scheduled at Council. For now, the applicant withdrew the site-plan application for a related car wash earlier in the meeting and remains the owner of adjacent properties, the petitioner said.