Gas station liquor licenses held for post-election

By Dana Casadei

Bloomfield Township trustees decided at their meeting on Monday, September 23, that it would be preferable to postpone the public hearing until November 11, after the general election, to determine if proposed zoning ordinance changes to permit gas stations in the township to obtain a liquor license should be permitted.

Patti Voelker, director of planning, building and ordinance, originally asked the board of trustees to vote on a public hearing to be held October, but after her presentation, there were a lot of questions from trustees about the changes – ranging from if there would be certain hours gas stations would be allowed to sell alcohol to how decisions were being made about the change – with about half of the board very supportive of the proposed amendments from the get-go, while others clearly hesitant about moving forward. 

Clerk Martin Brook suggested they table the public hearing and instead do a study session, which was supported by trustees Neal Barnett and Valerie Murray, the latter who had a plethora of questions for Voelker about the amendments, including why this was being rushed, to which Voelker replied that they’ve received requests on this from local businesses.


“I just don’t see a rush for this,” Brook said. “All of these gas stations have been aware of these rules.”

After more discussion, trustee Chris Kolinski suggested the later date in November for the public hearing, to which everyone agreed. He also suggested that instead of just regular notices that are sent out to residents for proposed changes, they try to get in front of more eyeballs by utilizing the township’s social media channels, sending out more email blasts, and obtaining sponsored ads in local publications. 

“I think the residents need more than a standard public hearing to have a chance and give us feedback,” Barnett said. “Our responsibility is to our residents.”

Not wanting to surprise Bloomfield Township residents came up again and again during the board of trustees meeting, with some, such as Barnett, saying he has heard from residents that they are against these changes. 

Other trustees said they have heard the opposite, having spoken with residents who are very much for them.

“I think people will be surprised if we don’t go forward on this,” said treasurer Michael Schostak. “I think we are overthinking and over-regulating an industry that’s already over regulated, and we’re way behind the times on this subject.”

Bloomfield Township has never had a gas station successfully earn a liquor license with current ordinances. This, in part, is why the planning commission was asked back in April by the board of trustees and an applicant, the Barbat Organization, which owns several gas stations in metro Detroit including in Bloomfield Township, to take a look at the current ordinances and consider amending the zoning ordinance in hopes that this would allow a gas station to be able to submit a successful site plan application. 

Over the course of two meetings, and their own public hearing, the planning commission voted in favor of the proposed amendments presented by the planning, building, and ordinances department.

In the end, they moved forward with the following proposed changes to the current standards, including revising the distance from the point of sale and fuel dispenser from 50 feet to five feet, therefore aligning with the requirements from the state; changing the minimum building size requirement from 4,000 square feet to half that at 2,000-square-feet; adjusting the parking standard from one space for every 200 square feet to one space every 300; completely eliminating the minimum lot size of one acre and maintain the current land area of 0.51 acres, which is required for all gas stations; prohibit the sale of mini alcohol bottles; adding the minimum of 750 feet distance to any school to stay consistent with the retail package outlets requirements; and lastly, eliminating the provision for Specially Designated Distributor (SDD) licenses to not exceed one for every 3,000 people. This last point is a criteria regulated by the Michigan Liquor Control Commission (MLCC), and the current state SDD provisions now allow for licenses to be transferred from another municipality. 

One of these changes in particular – that there be a minimum size requirement of 2,000 square feet for gas stations that do want to sell liquor, wine and beer – was a direct result of the planning commission meeting on August 5, during which planning commission members Barnett and Richard Atto spoke strongly about the need for a size requirement.

Within the packet was also a police report from police Chief James Gallagher, who contacted police departments in West Bloomfield, Birmingham, Royal Oak and Shelby Township. All have gas stations that sell liquor, and he found that there were no negative reports on the impact to public safety or an increase in crimes or calls for service after they allowed for liquor, wine and beer to be sold at gas stations.

Out of the 12 gas stations currently in Bloomfield Township, with the proposed changes, Voelker said only two seem to have a real chance of meeting the criteria, even with the proposed changes to the ordinances, with a third being a possibility.

That’s still better than the zero gas stations that would be successful with the current standards if they applied. 

Currently, the standards that need to be met come with a lengthy list of requirements that include a minimum of 50 feet between the cash register and fuel pumps; no drive-through within the same building; a minimum building space of 4,000 square feet with one parking space every 200-square-feet; frontage on a major thoroughfare; no service or repair operations within the gas station; they cannot be adjacent to a residential zoned property; and a minimum lot size of one acre for a single user.

Their location must either be located in a neighborhood shopping center that’s composed of one or more commercial establishments, and/or have a minimum inventory of $250,000 on the premise, which does not include alcoholic beverages or motor vehicle fuel.

They also need a license issued by the Michigan Liquor Control Commission (MLCC).

For those looking to speak to the board of trustees about the amendments, a public hearing will be held after the election on Monday, November 11.