Metro Park Party Store seeks approval for 4-pump gas station

Metro Park Party Store, at the southwest corner of Haggerty and East Huron River Drive in Van Buren Township, wants to put four gas pumps in its strip mall parking lot.
At the May 23 meeting of the Van Buren Township Planning Commission, Ron Akers explained how the applicant is requesting review and comment on the need for front yard and rear yard setback variances for the project at 41001 E. Huron River Drive.
A front yard variance of 19′ is being sought (75′ required, 56′ proposed) and rear yard variance of 9′ being sought (25 required, 16′ proposed.
The project was due to go to the Board of Zoning Appeals at its 7 p.m., June 12 meeting, but comments from the planning commission are required and so the planners did their best to comment without having a site plan before them.
“We would like it to go forward,” said Planning Commission chairwoman Carol Thompson. “We do not have a site plan to decide on and our decision will be based on the BZA decision. Variance is the key to if we can look at the site plan.”
She said key pieces of information are missing.
The project’s engineer, who just got out of the hospital, was present to give information on the project. He said they have reduced the size of the canopy and it is now at 60 feet. Two pumps would allow them to build without a variance, but, he said, no bank will give a loan for two pumps because of resale value. He said they tried three pumps, but that didn’t work.
The strip mall received a 10′ rear yard variance from the VBT BZA in 1987 before it was built.
Andy Shina said they are enhancing the site with new sidewalks along Haggerty and E. Huron River Drive, landscaping, monument sign and bench, LED gas price sign, and a new approach for truck circulation.
They asked for the commission’s blessing on the setback.
After discussion, the planning commission sent the project on to the BZA.
In other business at the May 23 meeting, the planning commission:
• Approved a site plan amendment for Gilbert Homes to construct three additional elevations for their ten lots in Townsend Park/Victoria Park subdivision, located on the northeast corner of Ecorse and Morton Taylor roads;
• Approved a site plan amendment for Gilbert Homes to construct one additional elevation in their eight lots in Arlene Arbors subdivision, on the south side of Savage Road, just east of the City of Belleville city limits;
• Approved temporary land use approval for Angry Tiger Fireworks from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m., June 20 to July 7, to sell fireworks from a tent at 41001 E. Huron River Dr., the southwest corner of Haggerty Road and E. Huron River Drive, at Metro Park Party Store;
• Approved going out with a Master Plan Citizen Survey to find out what the citizens want in their township. It will be available online and in paper format available at the township hall; and
• Heard Akers say their intern Chris Madigan left the township last month and two new interns are coming in, one for the planning department and one for the Downtown Development Authority.