Romulus BZA Meeting 10-7-26

The City of Romulus Board of Zoning Appeals met on October 7, 2026, and approved variance requests for three development projects; no procurement or contract-award activity was identified. For StorFlex at 15303 Merriman Road, the board approved rental of moving trucks up to 15,000 pounds, an existing parking area encroaching on the south setback, and access from a 60-foot right-of-way where 120 feet is ordinarily required. Approval included screening and landscaping conditions. The applicant said it would pave Merriman Road from Eureka Road to the facility entrance. A nearby resident opposed the requests and raised concerns about truck traffic and safety; the applicant and board discussed projected traffic volumes compared with the former school use.

The board also approved Universal Transport’s requests for its approximately 8.9-acre truck-facility site at Middlebelt Road and Metroplex, including outdoor storage exceeding the 125% floor-area limit, subject to conditions. For Romulus Trade Center North, the board approved two industrial buildings with a maximum height of 49.5 feet rather than 35 feet and truck dock doors facing Beverly Road and Ecourse Road, subject to planning-department conditions. The developer described a separate 4.5-acre area intended for future retail and stated that its conditional rezoning agreement provides for a $250,000 penalty for each industrial building if required retail construction does not begin within 36 months after that building’s certificate of occupancy. Members also discussed possible future zoning-ordinance revisions concerning industrial building heights near residential areas.