VBT planners approve temporary parking lot for DTE

DTE Energy is expanding its garage at 8001 Haggerty Rd. and the site is congested so they need a temporary parking lot for workers. Tetra Tech was seeking the special land use for the project.
After a brief discussion at its July 9 regular meeting, the Van Buren Township Planning Commission unanimously approved a temporary, 60’x120’ crushed aggregate parking lot at the northeast side of the property.
Lauren Sayre represented township planning consultant McKenna Associates at the meeting and she recommended approval after a performance bond is instated to assure restoration of the property after the temporary use expires. She also said there should be no “laydowns” on that site which should only be used for parking.
The representative from DTE said the lawn property that is to be used for the parking is near the wetlands, so DTE got approval from Wayne County and will build the lot to avoid drainage from the wetlands.
She said she didn’t know why the McKenna letter said “no laydowns.”
Treasurer Sharry Budd, who sits as board liaison to planning commission, said that “laydown” stipulation should be removed from the approval.
Planning commission chairman Brian Cullin agreed it should be stricken.
Budd said the motion for approval should stipulate that that be taken out, “so if someone sees a box of nails” there won’t be a problem.
Commissioner Medina Atchinson said she also is not sure that a performance bond is necessary.
Brittney Williams, township planning and zoning specialist, said staff was discussing it and said the bond for the project would be about $300,000 to $500,000, or sometimes they charge 10%.
Commissioner Bernard Grant asked if they could tie the parking lot renewal into the construction bond so DTE wouldn’t get a certificate of occupancy until the parking lot is restored. Williams said that would work.
When asked how much the garage construction will cost, the DTE representative said that is $2.5 million. She said they are working during regular work hours.
Grant confirmed that the certificate of occupancy could be withheld until the parking lot is restored.
Commissioner Atchinson made the motion to grant temporary land use to Tetra Tech for a parking lot for the DTE project. It can be used Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. from July 10 through Dec. 19. The part of the McKenna letter that says it shall not be used for anything other than parking is removed and the certificate of occupancy will be used in lieu of a bond.
Grant seconded the motion and the board voted unanimously to approve.
In other business at the 23-minute meeting, the commission was reminded of the joint meeting with Belleville and Sumpter planning commissions at 5 p.m., Wednesday, July 30, at the Belleville High School cafeteria. Williams said both the front door to the school and the outdoor cafeteria door will be unlocked for entry.
Williams said the next regular meeting on July 23 will include the tree removal permit for Stellantis and the site plan for the McDonald’s construction.
Absent and excused from the meeting were commissioners Peter Creal and Jeffrey Jahr.