Jim's Oil Depot in Northville could soon have a very close new neighbor if plans for a self-storage facility receives final approval from members of the township board of trustees.
Plans for remodeling of a portion of building located on Doheny Street, the former home of the Jack Doheny Co., were recently evaluated by the township planning commission members. Owner Jon Hutto has proposed 28,000 square feet of individual rental storage units in the western part of the building. He said the renovations would create several dozen storage areas of various sizes. The oil change business on the other end of the building would remain as is, he said.
“All the changes to the building itself for now will take place west of the oil change,” Hutto said.
He added that any long-term decision about that portion of the building would be a decision of the business owner. Hutto said a remodeling of the exterior of the building is included in the plan which would require approval of a special land use permit. Hutto is also the owner of a storage facility in Lyon Township.
Township Planner Jennifer Frey suggested additional landscaping included in the plans presented to the planning commission would introduce “some green space back to the site.”
The planning commission unanimously approved the special land use for the development which will now go to the Northville Board of Trustees for final approval.
“I think it's a good use of the underused property. I think they may have done firetruck repair there in the past,” commented Planning Commission Chairman Matthew Wild. “We Americans have a tremendous fondness for our junk and we need places to put it.”
