VBT Planners approve preliminary site plan for 7850 Haggerty Road

In a 16-minute meeting on May 10, the Van Buren Township Planning Commission voted unanimously to grant preliminary site plan approval so Van Buren Investors, L.L.C. can build an addition to the back of an existing building at 7850 Haggerty Road.
The site is about 4.49 acres, just south of the intersection of Ecorse Road, and houses Continental Canteen. They plan to build a 17,477.34-square-foot addition to the west side of the existing 50,988.31-square-foot warehouse building.
Most of the details of the project had been worked out in advance between the developer and the township, but they have to add three more trees and put a dense row of shrubs around the perimeter of their storm water pond.
The Van Buren Township Fire Department also requested a new fire hydrant to be put in the parking island/curb area just south of the fire department connection. This is to allow for access to the rear of the building during fire operations and not block the driveway if obtaining water supply for the sprinkler system is needed.
Dave Nummer of Wade Trim engineers said the addition did not comply with hydrant coverage standards (entire building within 250 feet as the hose lies).
Jill Frohlich, facilities manager for Continental, said they did not expect a fire hydrant to be added and they would have to dig to the road which is very expensive.
Nummer said he would work with the applicant to make it as short as possible.
Nummer also noted that the existing storm sewer system appears to be surcharged (structures surveyed full of water). He said he believes this may be due to clogging at the detention pond and they will review the storm system in more detail once the reason for surcharge has been identified in engineering review.
Also at the meeting were Continental’s Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Jim Belisle and architect Derek Slupka.
Commissioner Ron Jackson was absent from the meeting.