Planning commission approves Seven Brew, MMC storage plan; residents press for parking, noise controls

The Warren City Planning Commission on June 10 approved multiple site plans and extensions and recorded robust public comment on outdoor storage and traffic impacts.

Karen Birdie, representing MMC Real Estate, sought approval for outdoor storage and light manufacturing at 28661 Van Dyke Avenue. She and owner Ryan H. Hearnden said the business has reduced operations from two shifts to one and now employs about 35 people. Birdie described mitigation steps including a precast sound‑deadening wall and reorganizing yard storage; the applicant said deliveries are scheduled by appointment to avoid trucks queuing. "We are not the ones that are taking up the parking along the street," Birdie said in response to resident concerns.

Neighbors described a different experience. Lois En, who lives on Anna Avenue, told the commission the lot is frequently full of materials and 18‑wheelers park or wait on the street, creating safety and pavement‑damage concerns: "The lot is full of the materials... the property in my mind is way too small for what he does." Jennifer Furwa, five houses down, said early morning machine noise carries to nearby homes: "The machines start pounding and you can hear it from my house."

Commissioners pressed the petitioner to continue working with neighbors and to schedule trucks to limit street queuing; several members said the pre‑cast wall and reduced hours should help but asked staff to verify compliance. Planning staff recommended approval with technical and operational conditions — including lighting shields, trash enclosure specifications, required variances to retain open storage or reduced parking where applicable, and an increased performance bond estimate closer to $50,000 for required improvements. The commission approved the MMC plan with those conditions.

The commission also approved a Seven Brew drive‑through coffee shop at 5702 12 Mile Road, presented by Aaron McMacken of Stonefield Engineering. The applicant said Seven Brew will demolish the former Crab Shack/Coney Island restaurant building, install two small prefabricated buildings (no indoor dining, limited food service) and provide two stacking lanes and a bypass to accommodate up to 37 vehicles on site; hours were listed at 5:30 a.m.–10 p.m. Planning staff recommended a $15,000 performance bond and several plan clarifications; the commission approved the plan with staff conditions.

Other administrative items: the commission postponed the U‑Haul site plan (item 6B) and a Ryan Road outdoor storage item (item 6D) to the August 10 meeting to allow petitioners to resolve engineering and right‑of‑way items, and granted one‑year extensions for several previously approved projects, including outdoor dining and industrial building proposals.

What’s next: applicants must submit revised plans addressing the planning staff’s detailed comments; staff will verify compliance before issuing building permits. Commissioners emphasized ongoing communication with neighbors and recommended the petitioners refine truck scheduling and monitor the sound wall’s effectiveness.