Plenty of feedback and suggestions were given by the Oxford Township Planning Commission last week regarding plans to place a used car lot on the old McDonald’s site.
Neighbors, traffic, security and lighting were among the topics of discussion as officials questioned and advised the potential applicant, Oxford resident Tamer Shaker, during a pre-application conference, which is basically a nonbinding, informational chat.
Shaker, owner of Redline Motor Group, is looking to transform the site located at 280 N. Washington St. (M-24), south of Helen, into a pre-owned vehicle dealership.
The commercially-zoned site, which is approximately 1 acre in size, was occupied by a McDonald’s restaurant for approximately 30 years before it was demolished in December 2010. It’s sat vacant ever since.
Shaker, who already owns a used car dealership in Almont, wants to put either a temporary or permanent sales office on the site along with approximately 40 vehicles.
‘We don’t need anything big. We just need an office,? Shaker said. ‘It’s not going to be a garage. We’re not looking for anything bigger than (an office).?
North Carolina resident Louise Tuttle owns the site.
‘We are either going to do a 10-year lease or we are going to purchase the land,? Shaker said. ‘That’s up in the air.?
Shaker was advised by multiple planning commissioners to contact the homeowners on nearby Helen and Harriet streets and inform them of his plans.
Based on past experience, Commissioner Kallie Roesner-Meyers described the residents of those two streets as ‘very active? and ‘very tight-knit.? They’ve previously attended meetings to address various issues that could impact them.
‘They’ve been very concerned about changes around their neighborhood,? she said.
Commission Chairman Todd Bell suggested Shaker make a ‘preemptive strike? by sending something in the mail to the neighborhood or knocking on doors.
Residents in that area will be notified by the township of Shaker’s plans because place ment of a used car lot on that site will require a public hearing and special land use approval from the planning commission, according to township planner Brian Oppmann, of the Ann Arbor-based Carlisle-Wortman Associates.
Shaker was asked by the commission if he plans to repave the site.
‘If it needs to be repaved, we will,? he said. ‘I’d like it to be a very presentable site. If something does need to be fixed, we would go ahead and fix that.?
Shaker is well aware the site is, as he put it, an ‘eyesore? and he wants to improve it.
‘I’d like to invest in our township,? he said.
Commissioner Jack Curtis explained to Shaker that if he wants to make any changes with regard to the site’s existing driveways along M-24, his plans would have to be reviewed and approved by the Michigan Department of Transportation.
‘I don’t think we have plans to change it,? Shaker said. ‘We’re going to use what’s there.?
There was some concern expressed by commissioners over whether car haulers would be entering and exiting the site and the potential impact this could have on public safety.
‘We don’t want accidents out there (and) people dying,? Bell said.
Shaker explained most of the vehicles at his Almont dealership are delivered individually, meaning they’re driven to the lot.
He estimated that ‘probably 10 percent? of his vehicles are delivered via car haulers.
‘It happens maybe once every two (or) three months,? Shaker said.
However, Shaker noted he would be willing to have the car haulers make their deliveries to his Almont location, then have them driven to Oxford.
‘It’s a 20-minute ride. It’s not a problem,? he said. ‘If it’s going to be a hurdle, we can work around that.?
Commissioner Tom Berger inquired about Shaker’s plans for security at the proposed dealership.
Shaker indicated the site would be open, just as Almont location is, but the sales office would be protected by an alarm system and all of the vehicles would be insured.
‘I wouldn’t put up a fence or anything like that,? he said.
Shaker was advised township ordinance prohibits the use of any streamers, banners or flashing lights as a means of advertising his business.
Given the site’s close proximity to a residential area, Shaker was told the lighting he intends to use is something that will have to be carefully considered and discussed with neighbors and the planning commission.