Commission approves roll-up door at 1213 West 14 Mile Road after safety and access questions

The Clawson Planning Commission unanimously approved a site-plan application April 28 to add a roll-up (overhead) door on a street-facing facade at 1213 West 14 Mile Road.

Staff explained that any new door on a street-facing facade requires planning-commission review; the proposed roll-up door is roughly midway along the rear elevation and about 205 feet from the Samoset sidewalk. Staff said the application included only the door addition and no other site changes, and that ordinance compliance was met for the scale of the work presented.

Commission members asked questions about the door’s exact placement, how deliveries would be handled and potential effects on circulation and neighboring tenants. During the discussion a commissioner raised a safety concern about a large pile of pallets behind the shopping center that could be a fire risk. Staff said code enforcement would inspect and ask property management to address pallet storage.

A commissioner moved to approve the site-plan application; another commissioner seconded. The chair called for a roll-call vote and announced the motion carried.

The approval authorizes the roll-up door as presented; staff will follow up with code enforcement on pallet storage and verify that any operational changes comply with building and fire rules.

The applicant and staff were welcomed to the community following the vote.