What does it take to open a gas station in Sterling Heights?

Gas stations are special approval land uses in C-3 requiring a Planning Commission public hearing. A full service station needs 160 feet of frontage on its principal street and a 24,000 square foot site; a self-service station needs 150 feet and 21,000 square feet; a station combined with a car wash needs 190 feet and 30,000 square feet (Section 13.02.E, F, N).

Buildings take the district front setback plus 15 feet; canopies and pump islands are not buildings but must meet the ordinary setbacks, with 14 foot canopy clearance (Section 13.02.E-F; Section 28.02). Combined car wash sites need 4 stacking spaces per wash lane, a 100 foot drip distance to the exit approach, interior vacuuming placement, and camera monitoring (Section 13.02.N).

In C-1, a self-service station can be approved only on a site where a station already existed as a lawful nonconforming use (Section 11.02.C). Vehicle storage is capped at five per repair bay for no more than 15 days (Section 13.02.E.5). Expect the Section 25.02 compatibility standards and site plan review under Article 26 on top of these specifics.