Planning commission approves conditional site plan for Adrian Steel expansion at 906 James Street

The Adrian City Planning Commission voted June 2 to approve a conditional site plan for Adrian Steel’s expansion at 906 James Street, subject to parcel consolidation, approval of a zoning-board variance for a front-yard setback and resolution of utilities and fire-department requirements.

Jason Hess, representing Adrian Steel, told the commission the company intends to add “112,000 square feet plus or minus of manufacturing space along with about 3,800 square feet of additional offices” and to extend the facility north toward Beecher Street and east toward Tabor Street. Staff from McKenna, represented by Lori Morgan, reported the property is zoned I-2 (general industrial) and that the proposed use is consistent with the city’s future land-use map but does not meet the 50-foot front-yard setback; Morgan said that discrepancy will require a variance from the zoning board of appeals.

Morgan also flagged a discrepancy in the project’s parking tables: the plans state 518 total spaces in one place while other figures on the plans list 346–400 spaces; staff asked the applicant to clarify the actual parking total. The addition itself would add 55 parking spaces, which staff said is allowable under the ordinance, and bicycle and interior landscaping requirements were noted as met. Morgan said drainage, erosion-control plans and required water improvements — including an indicated new 8-inch fire connection to James Street and a contractor-installed 6-inch sanitary lateral — were submitted and that the utilities and fire departments had outstanding comments to be addressed.

Commissioners discussed whether recently added parking across the street could be counted toward the site total. Jason Hess and staff clarified that one of the new lots is outside Adrian city limits (in the township) and therefore cannot be credited to the city site plan’s parking calculations.

During public comment, resident Steve Navarro, who lives at the southwest corner of Tabor and Beecher, showed photos and raised safety and access concerns about semis that frequently park on the street and sometimes block driveways. “There’s no regard for private property there,” Navarro said, urging signage or other measures if curbs are installed that could reduce roadway width.

The commission approved the site plan and adopted the staff resolution with contingencies that contiguous parcels be combined under a single tax ID, that the applicant obtain the required ZBA variance, and that utilities and fire-department comments be addressed. A roll-call vote recorded Commissioners Love, Weatherby, Johnson, Watson and Jacob in favor; the motion carried.

The commission noted that if the ZBA denies the variance, the applicant would need to resubmit revised plans and the site plan could return to the commission for further review.