[0:00] under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all for all.

[0:14] » Number two on our agenda is roll call. Mr. McLei,

[0:18] » present. >> Miss Hood,

[0:20] » present. >> Mr. Gato,

[0:22] » present. >> And Chandler is present.

[0:25] » Mr. Lloyd is excused. >> I'm sorry.

[0:28] » Mr. Lloyd is excused. >> Yeah, Mr. Lloyd is excused

[0:34] and and that. All right. Item four is approval of the minutes for the board of

[0:38] zoning appeals. >> Item three.

[0:40] » I'm I'm sorry. >> Item three, the approval of agenda.

[0:43] » Oh, I'm sorry. I've jumped over B. Uh, item three is approval of tonight's

[0:48] agenda. >> So moved.

[0:52] » Support. >> Support.

[0:54] » Motion by Mr. M. Minelli. supported. Mrs. Hood to approve the agenda for this

[1:00] meeting. Take a roll call vote. Mr. Mcanelli,

[1:04] » yes. >> Miss Hood,

[1:06] » yes. >> Mr. Gaty,

[1:07] » yes. >> Chair Chandler votes yes. The agenda is

[1:12] approved for this meeting. Item four is approval of minutes of the

[1:19] board of zoning appeals regular meeting held on February the 4th, 2026.

[1:25] » So moved. support

[1:29] » motion by Mr. Minelli supported by Miss Hood to approve the

[1:34] minutes of the board of zoning appeals regular meeting held on February 4th

[1:39] 2026 take a roll call vote Mr. Mcelli >> yes

[1:43] » Miss Hood >> yes

[1:44] » Mr. Yes.

[1:46] » Chair votes channel chair votes yes. Those minutes are approved. And at this

[1:52] time I want to let the audience know that there is not a full board for this

[1:57] meeting tonight. Uh the vote of of all of the members for

[2:05] the first case on the agenda is required.

[2:14] and three of the four members for the second case on the agenda is is

[2:20] required for any for approvals. Uh the applicants can re decide now

[2:29] whether you want your case heard or want to postpone it for a full board

[2:36] meeting. So we'll start this uh under under old business. Item A is BCA 2025-

[2:46] Z 007 for Mr. Tire and brakes.

[2:51] The location for is 6363 middle belt DP number is 8002-

[2:59] 02-00004-003

[3:05] and the applicant is Hussein Khalil, Mr. retire and Carolyn Eritano property

[3:11] owner. The request is the following. The item

[3:17] number one is a reconsideration of the board's February the 4th, 2026

[3:23] decision regarding the use variance based on additional information provided

[3:29] by the applicant. Item two, use variance in accordance with section 22.03.

[3:37] 03 powers and duties D. Use variances of the city of Ramlas zoning ordinance to

[3:45] utilize the property as a tire and brake shop. The property is zoned C2 business

[3:53] where vehicle related uses are prohibited. The project for that is for

[3:59] auto repair and tire service. Would the applicants come to the the board and let

[4:07] us know if you want to continue with u not having a full board meeting?

[4:16] » Good evening. Uh we would like to post postpone it.

[4:19] » Your your wish is to what to wait for for a full board?

[4:22] » Yes, sir. >> Hopefully, we'll have it at the next

[4:25] meeting. Uh okay. I get at this time I'll take a

[4:30] we need >> I'll make a we need a motion

[4:32] » a motion for for >> I make a motion to postpone BZA 2025007

[4:38] till our next regular meeting >> you you may want to instead of next

[4:43] regular meeting if we actually we are going to have some other cases but next

[4:48] instead of saying regular perhaps say next available meeting

[4:52] » next available >> and that way then we're not tied in

[4:56] » in case something happens in Yeah. >> Until our next available meeting

[4:59] » when we have a full board. >> When we have a full board.

[5:03] » Let's hope we have >> key thing.

[5:05] » Okay. >> Is there support?

[5:06] » I second that >> motion by Mr. Menali to postpone this

[5:11] request uh till the next available meeting supported by Mr. Gadi.

[5:19] Excuse me. Take a roll call vote. Mr. McNo.

[5:22] » Yes. >> Mr. Gatoy.

[5:24] » Yes. >> Miss Miss Hood.

[5:25] » Yes. The chair votes yes. Uh we'll postpone this till the next available

[5:30] meeting. >> Thank you.

[5:32] » When there's a full board. >> Thank you.

[5:34] » All right. Thank you.

[5:47] » All right. Next item on on the agenda. Let me see where I'm at here.

[5:55] is under new business. It's for BZA 2026-00001

[6:03] for Bucks Oil. The location is 31055 Beverly Road. The DP number is

[6:11] 80-008-99-00002-0000.

[6:20] Uh the applicant is Eric Buck. He is the property owner

[6:26] and the request is a variance from the city of Romulus zoning ordinance section

[6:31] 14.03C

[6:36] off streetet loading requirements orientation of or overhead dock doors to

[6:42] allow the overhead doors along the front of the building to face Beverly Road.

[6:48] The project is used oil and antifreeze processing and treatment facility. Um,

[6:56] » Mr. Buck. >> No, I'm Mr. Brock. I'm

[6:59] » Mr. Brock. That's close. >> That's close. Yeah.

[7:02] » All right. Give us a little explanation of what you're doing.

[7:05] » Sure. Uh, my name is Michael Brock. I'm with Hennessy Engineers here tonight u

[7:10] with with Bucks Oil. Um, Bucks is located at 30155 Beverly Road between

[7:17] Maravan and Middleb Belt. Um, that's kind of an overview, an aerial overview

[7:22] of the of the property. They're um the property itself is 9 and 1/2 acres, but

[7:29] they're only using about three and a half at at this point. Uh, the property

[7:33] is zoned M1 Light Industrial. Uh, let's see. There is a a proposed

[7:39] 20,000 foot building that is set back 165 ft from the Beverly Road rightway

[7:46] line. Uh we're here tonight for a to request a

[7:51] variance for overhead doors uh facing a front yard. Now these are these are

[7:59] pullth through doors. It's it's not a truck. So they're just pull through

[8:03] doors is what it is. And the doors would be uh like an opaque glass uh type of

[8:10] door. So it wouldn't be uh like a regular loading dock door. They'd be um

[8:16] they'd be more of a more aesthetically pleasing than uh than just a regular

[8:22] loading dock door. So these doors would be exit only. So actually I

[8:30] have a truck route. So it would be bringing in tanker trucks and coming

[8:36] into the rear of the building um unloading them or loading them up and

[8:41] then pulling through the front of the building. So those doors would would

[8:46] only be open and closed or they would only be open when a truck is exiting and

[8:50] then they would they would close. So they wouldn't stay open all the time.

[8:53] » Yeah, they're nice doors like that. Yeah, I see that. Nice doors.

[9:00] » And you know, we we do have a buffer type, what is it? D, a buffer type D of

[9:06] landscaping that's along the front yard. And you can see how we offset the drive

[9:11] to be um kind of in front of the office

[9:16] portion of the building and not in front of the doors. So the intent there was to

[9:22] screen those doors with an extensive amount of landscaping. So there's a 4ft

[9:27] high BM and then a buffer type D landscaping.

[9:37] That's about it at this point. I'll I'll let Box Oil come up and tell you a

[9:41] little Mr. Chairman. Mr.

[9:46] just it looks like from what I remember from our site plan review at planning

[9:51] commission level the trucks are going to come off the road off of Beverly and

[9:55] then they're going to cycle around the back of the building. So you're not

[9:58] going to open the doors initially to let it in. It'll go in do what work it has

[10:03] to do and then the front doors will only be open as the trucks exit.

[10:06] » That's correct. >> So that way you're limiting the amount

[10:09] of times that door is staying open. >> Correct. The design of the doors

[10:13] themselves are more opaque, looking more like a a bank of windows would look if

[10:19] you didn't know any better. >> Yes.

[10:21] » And these are all the things that we kind of paid attention to on the site

[10:24] plan review. >> Right.

[10:26] » That along with the fact that we questioned

[10:30] reasonings why the setup had to be and it was basically the the lot design

[10:35] doesn't allow to have it and the building had twisted in any way to

[10:39] accommodate the doors on the side. >> Correct. Correct. Yeah, we looked at I

[10:44] our my first design actually was was rotating the building 90 degrees because

[10:48] I knew we couldn't or we're not really allowed to have the doors facing the

[10:52] road, but there's just not a not enough room to pull the trucks in and out

[10:57] because of the uh because of the the narrow width of the property. So there

[11:03] there wouldn't be enough room to to pull them in and out. But yes, this uh thank

[11:08] you for that reminder. Y >> um yeah, as you can see here, the that's

[11:12] kind of a truck route uh diagram. They'll pull in the back of the building

[11:17] unload while the front of the the doors at the front of the building will remain

[11:22] closed and then once they're ready to leave, door comes up, they they exit,

[11:27] door comes back down. Um I think I thought there was Yeah, you

[11:33] can see the three three glass um overhead doors there in the front. there

[11:38] be an opaque type of glass so you wouldn't be able to see in. There's talk

[11:42] of maybe do maybe the um upper row of windows, maybe making those uh um you

[11:50] know regular glass to to let light in, you know, but um the remainder of it

[11:55] would be would be opaque opaque glass. There's a picture in here that kind of

[12:03] well it's very small the picture but they wouldn't have signage and anything

[12:09] like that. They you know but it'd be that you know like a decorative type of

[12:13] uh type of garage door.

[12:20] » Yeah. Introduce Bucks Oil to you.

[12:26] » Good evening. My name is Craig Patrick, one of the partners at Bucks Oil. This

[12:31] is my oldest son, Buck. Facility. He's been a college for environmental

[12:37] engineering. >> Thanks.

[12:39] » Thank you for your time tonight.

[12:43] » Okay. Well, I guess we got a pretty good idea what you're going to be doing over

[12:47] there. >> Yes. Uh I guess that particular portion

[12:51] that you presented we can kind of close that and leave it o open it up for the

[12:55] board members to for questions or comments regarding your program.

[13:01] » Sure. I I'll start with what what kind of how

[13:06] do you process the used oil? So the used oil comes in some of it has high water

[13:13] content. So you're effectively mechanically and then chemically

[13:17] breaking the h the hydrocarbon molecule off the water molecules. You're

[13:23] segregating oils and water. So we've gotten into emergency response last few

[13:28] years and we're doing a lot of cleanups where there's incidents on freeways and

[13:34] typically it's raining or snowing at the time. So we're getting hydrocarbon

[13:39] and water matrix that are blended. All of the material currently goes to three

[13:44] different CWTs um in Detroit area or southeast Michigan area. Um it's just

[13:51] we've grown enough that we wanted to build our own.

[13:56] » Do you reprocess that? I do you reuse that oil? Is it kind of reusable?

[14:01] » 99% of the oil that Bucks hauls we take down to refineries. So the one gallon of

[14:09] oil, >> call it 55 gallons of oil.

[14:12] » 50 gallons goes right back into the market and the rest is asphalt.

[14:16] » So they they're taking like the hydro um the ad pack out of the oil. It goes

[14:21] right back into the asphalt. We're not building a refinery like that. This is

[14:26] just to get the water portion off of the oil so that the refineries can accept

[14:31] the material. these local uh car parts facilities like

[14:37] O'Reilly's and Advanced Auto, they collect used oil.

[14:41] » Yes, sir. >> Is do you go out and pick up that kind

[14:45] of oil? >> Yes, sir. Yeah. So, that is the primary

[14:48] collection oil portion of >> I kind of thought so, but

[14:52] » we do car dealers, quickie loops, little mom and pop garages.

[14:58] Uh Detroit Metro Airport generates >> Oh, that'd be a big one. contaminated

[15:03] oils. So we we haul a lot up there. >> Same applies to anifreeze.

[15:07] » Yes. So antifreeze is we do refine the antifreeze oursel. We've got vacuum

[15:12] distillation currently in Monroe, Michigan. Um but the idea is in the

[15:16] future we would like to bring that operation up here. And I would highly

[15:20] suggest that any of you that want to do a tour down there, it's a really neat

[15:24] process. I I could nerd out on this stuff all night long. So

[15:28] » yeah, but we do refine used antifreeze right back into usable glycol that can

[15:34] go right back in. >> Oh yeah,

[15:35] » that's amazing. >> A lot of people take their used

[15:37] antifreeze and dump it in the backyard. >> Kill your grass.

[15:42] » I shouldn't say that. Just have them call

[15:45] material. That's fine. >> Thank god we got people like you that

[15:49] can >> Yeah. So

[15:50] » salvage it. >> Yeah. We're I mean I know we're

[15:52] basically, you know, looked at as an oil company, but we're the guys that are the

[15:56] middleman between environmental regulation and actual oil companies.

[16:01] We're that gray area that's taking the molecules that are recoverable and

[16:07] recovering them in a in a environmentally safe method.

[16:12] » And just so you guys are aware, we are now the largest used oil filter recycler

[16:17] in the world right here in congratulations. Never done a tour. I'd

[16:22] love to get one. >> I'd love to see it.

[16:23] » Love to see it. >> I would love to have you.

[16:25] » I really go by there every once in a while. I'll stop.

[16:29] » But by volume, we're now the licens. >> That's I think you guys should be proud.

[16:34] » Absolutely we are. >> Yeah. I I think that uh the education

[16:38] for the young man is important for the business. Following his footsteps,

[16:42] smart, great business. >> I am the last of the uh cowboy based

[16:46] » Sure. >> collectors. The next generation coming

[16:49] up behind us all have high level educations and they're going to refine

[16:54] it and take the company farther than Eric and I would ever consider. I'm in

[16:58] the same sort of kind of safety realm and I've learned so much from the

[17:02] younger people. Uh they've taught me so much. So I really admire that and go to

[17:06] school, get your education, take it over and and grow it and right here in

[17:09] Romulus. >> Be proud of it. I mean I see you guys

[17:12] everywhere and it's a great business. >> Yeah. Thank you,

[17:16] » Mr. Chairman. Mr. B, >> if I could through the to the planner.

[17:21] This is a public hearing, correct? We need to open the public hearing for

[17:24] comments. >> Oh, yeah.

[17:30] » Well, let's put it for the record. >> Still Yeah. Open it up for the record.

[17:35] » We have to be official around here, you know.

[17:39] » Is there anybody in the public sitting in there that would like to comment on

[17:43] anything? Come to the podium. One thing I would like to comment on with the

[17:47] front facing doors. >> Can you come up?

[17:50] » Yeah. Just just that helps our recording secretary who who's got to listen to

[17:54] this. >> So my my name is Trevor Reese with

[17:56] Jackal Contracting. So I'll be the builder on site here. And one thing to

[18:01] consider with the front facing doors is with the path of entry and exit, we're

[18:06] also trying to eliminate trucks backing up just safety hazards in general. So

[18:10] having one smooth path around the facility is very important to me who has

[18:14] to train the operators and show them how to use the facility in a safe way. So

[18:18] that's one thing I want. >> So you won't have stacking issues into

[18:20] the road or anything. >> Yeah. Because I I can see somebody

[18:22] looking at this and saying, "Well, just keep everything in the back." Yeah.

[18:25] » And get rid of the front doors and then it's just chaos and it's not safe.

[18:29] » So that's one thing that I'd like to add to that.

[18:33] » Like it. That's all. Oh, >> thank you. I can close that public

[18:37] hearing.

[18:41] All right, that portion of the public hearing is closed and thank you.

[18:49] Any other further comments from the board members or questions?

[18:56] » This was basically approved by the planning commission.

[19:00] » Site plan was correct. >> This varian site plan.

[19:06] So, >> so and and actually to that point, we do

[19:10] need a revised site plan and I know it reads a little weird that we want it in

[19:13] 30 days. It's actually for your benefit. Um planning commission we actually we

[19:18] we've changed the timing on our planning commission approvals. These variances

[19:23] are only good for 12 months. So, if you don't pull a permit within 12 months, um

[19:29] it expires. You got to come back and go through this whole thing again, which we

[19:32] just like like to avoid this way. Plus, this stuff is hanging around too long.

[19:37] We get on mic all the time. We got to finish these things up. So, you know, I

[19:42] got talking talking talking with the folks, you know, back at back at DPS and

[19:46] we said, "Let's let's get because we really so many people get they think,

[19:50] oh, 12 months is not a problem, but by the time you get going and if you

[19:54] haven't started construction, that's why we tell you to wait to get in here until

[19:59] you're really really serious, your engineering's all done, and you know,

[20:02] get that variance and get get rolling so you don't risk it expiring." So that's

[20:06] why we want to we're not going to come out and you know make a big deal if it's

[20:10] not within 30 days but we really would like like that revised plan and so we

[20:14] can get it get it moving and get you guys into engineering. So

[20:19] » I'll be on it. >> Good. Thank you. So with that, I would

[20:24] like to make a motion to approve BZA 2026-001

[20:29] for Bucks Oil at 30155 Beverly to allow three overhead doors

[20:35] along the front of the building that will face Beverly Road subject to the

[20:40] following. Number one, if the doors are highly

[20:43] visible upon completion of the construction of the building, additional

[20:47] landscaping and/or larger uh starting size plant material may be required as

[20:52] determined by the city for adequate screening. And number two, a revised

[20:56] site plan addressing the conditions of the planning commission and the city

[21:00] consultants and staff must be submitted within 30 days of this approval.

[21:06] support.

[21:10] » Okay. Motion by Mr. Gador, supported by Mrs. Hood to approve

[21:17] the various requests for Bucks Oil to

[21:23] regarding the overhead doors and the the stipulations stated.

[21:30] Take a roll call vote. Mr. Gaty, >> yes.

[21:33] » Miss Hood, >> yes.

[21:34] » Mr. McAllie, >> yes. Chandler, chair votes,

[21:39] excuse me, your request has been approved. Good luck with that project.

[21:43] » Okay. >> Can't wait to see it go.

[21:45] » Want to say you guys are doing a great job.

[21:47] » And we and we have one question. Where are you going to school?

[21:51] » I went to >> Oh, good.

[21:52] » Great. Environmental engineering. >> Good job.

[21:57] » Good. >> Two of my boys graduated.

[21:59] » That's excellent. >> Both of my boys graduated there, too.

[22:04] » It is. Yeah, >> I was happy with every

[22:09] » All right. Thank you very much. I appreciate it. My My clock's ticking

[22:13] now. >> 30 days.

[22:16] » We are going to check on you, Mike. >> Caleb bug you.

[22:27] » All right. The next item number seven, reports of communications.

[22:33] The first one on A is planning commission liaison report.

[22:39] » I have nothing this meeting. >> All right. I item B, city planner status

[22:46] report. >> So, you've got that in front of you. As

[22:50] you can see, we've got a lot of stuff happening. Um,

[22:55] » there's another one. Actually, I think you might be seeing Mr. Brock again in

[23:00] another month or two. He's got a project uh new Mawa which is a trucking facility

[23:05] on Middle Belt. You guys approve that with conditions and he's got to get a

[23:09] variance on that. And a couple of the other projects that

[23:13] we're seeing may have may have them. So, they may be coming to you maybe by the

[23:19] summer. But, um if you've got any questions, some of these are big

[23:24] projects and they're going to city council. uh Marman School, which is a

[23:28] reuse of the building for self storage and some flex space. Uh contractors can

[23:34] go in there and have their office and if they need a little bit of storage, you

[23:38] know, their stuff. >> Um but yeah, the the one of the

[23:43] highlights of that project is the whole back of the property is getting conveyed

[23:47] to the city. So for park use, it's where the dog park is if you're if you're

[23:50] familiar with that area back there. So, uh, there'll be some improvements to

[23:54] Marman Road kind of just as you're coming off of, uh, Eureka.

[23:59] So, it's a it's a it's a good project coming.

[24:03] » Is there any information on that bill's convenience store in Michigan Fuels

[24:07] that's going to be on Ecourse Road? >> Yeah, there's I mean, we've we've done

[24:10] one quick review of it. Um, they've got some challenges with sewer and, you

[24:16] know, some things there, but that's something PL planning commission

[24:19] probably won't see it for a little bit. that we haven't gotten a resubmitt in,

[24:22] but that's a public hearing. It's a resoning, your standard ones that you're

[24:26] seeing, resoning, special land use, and site plan, and then a trip to city

[24:30] council. >> So,

[24:32] » yeah, let's

[24:55] All right. Any other questions or comments on on city planner status

[25:00] report?

[25:05] If not, we'll move on to item eight discussion.

[25:10] You know, we're we're missing we we've only got a

[25:15] vice chairman on on this board right now. Uh we're going to have election of

[25:21] officers. Hopefully, if we ever have a full board

[25:26] and I think that's something for everybody to think about,

[25:31] there's some officers openings available.

[25:38] So we kind of give that some more thought.

[25:42] Any comments or anything on the election of officers?

[25:46] » With regard to that, Mr. Mcelli cannot serve in that capacity because he's on

[25:51] the planning commission. >> Just the way the

[25:54] » I was going I tried nominating him. >> Yeah.

[25:57] » Yeah. I think we I'm pretty sure we checked into that through the clerk's

[26:00] office and the enabling legislation said you can't when you're one of those kind

[26:04] of positions. uh you can serve as vice chair uh but you can't serve as the

[26:10] chair. >> So

[26:12] » well I mean >> I think that I think

[26:14] » if it came down to I would be willing to serve as vice chair but

[26:18] » and I'm going to verify that >> if you verify it before once we get a

[26:22] quorum >> give that some thought between now and

[26:25] the next meeting. >> Okay.

[26:27] » I think it's time for some new blood. >> Well, you've done an excellent job in

[26:31] the show. >> Yeah, you've done a fantastic job.

[26:34] » Very very lucky. I think about 22 years worth.

[26:37] » Yeah, understood. >> We're also um hoping hoping that uh some

[26:42] alternates will be appointed soon. So, it's one of the problems we've had the

[26:47] last several months with um you know, decisions and whatnot and that's the

[26:51] reason the enabling legislation allows for alternates because of these number

[26:56] of votes that are needed on certain particularly on use variances which are

[27:00] rare. Did who all went to training that Dan did? You two did He went to the

[27:05] advanced also that night. >> Did you?

[27:07] » Yeah, I went to both last night. It was amazing. I really really enjoyed it.

[27:11] » Good. >> It was It was great.

[27:12] » Good. >> One thing I found fascinating was if I'm

[27:16] absent and we were to pull an alternate in on an item, agenda item.

[27:21] » Yeah. >> And then it got postponed

[27:25] » when it came back, I would not come back and vote on it. The alternate would have

[27:29] to come back in and I would sit down. >> Yep. And that was something I hadn't

[27:34] thought about. Yeah, there's some there's some tricky aspects of things

[27:37] and that's we talked earlier about the both for planning commission and the uh

[27:42] board of appeals by in the planning commission case it's bylaws for you guys

[27:47] it's called rules of procedure but those are all I'm working with Carla Wartman

[27:51] to get those all rewritten and to be very specific about some of these things

[27:56] about appointments about voting um most of it's it's there out there it's just

[28:03] in different places and you know kind of pulling it all together. We sometimes we

[28:08] sometimes >> it was good training.

[28:10] » Yep. Good. >> Well, that's going to continue. Um and

[28:14] when things come up, um the city's very supportive of that, of course, which

[28:19] which makes us very happy in our department. Get you guys all and and us

[28:24] too. Um I've been doing doing some stuff. I did, you know, various ones

[28:28] here and there. I think there's an ethics class coming up that I've got to

[28:31] do next month. Um, but that's out there. We're also going to try hard. Both our

[28:37] consultants, our planning consultant, Carla Wartman, is relatively new.

[28:41] They've been here a couple years now. John Enos, both John Enos and Doug Lan,

[28:45] which I you had dug at planning and zoning essentials.

[28:49] » Yeah, he he was the one that did that. >> Yeah, he does that. and then also Dave

[28:52] Greco, our new city attorney to have them in um and do do some training, you

[28:59] know, with you guys probably along with planning commission just to, you know,

[29:03] get get things done at one time. So

[29:10] that's that. Any other discussion?

[29:17] If not, number nine is adjourned. So moved.

[29:21] » Yeah, I second it. >> Motion by Mr. Mali, support by Mr. Gatis

[29:27] to adjourn the meeting. Excuse me. Take a roll call vote. Mr. McAllie, yes. Mr.

[29:33] Caty, >> yes. Miss Hood,

[29:35] » yes. Chair votes yes. This meeting is adjourned.

[29:39] Okay.

Romulus BZA Meeting 4-1-26

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