DoorDash wants to open a market in Farmington, but local leaders have some questions

Businesses of the future have arrived, but it appears zoning ordinances in some places haven't kept up.

Such is the case in Farmington, where a new type of business wants to locate in the Oakland County community, but local zoning laws don't have a fit for how or where the business can be located.

DoorDash proposed bringing one of its DashMart concepts to the Farmington Crossroads shopping center on the southeast corner of Nine Mile and Farmington roads. The business would essentially serve as a warehouse-style operation with indoor space dedicated to shelves of products that can be ordered through the DoorDash app and either delivered to them or picked up in person.

"We have all these kinds of products at the DashMart," said Paul Evans III, an operations manager for DoorDash. "Dashers deliver the product, but as a customer, you have the opportunity to pick up."

If approved, it's expected to operate 24 hours a day, though Evans said, though its busiest hours are typically late afternoon and early evening. The DashMart would only serve as a staging area for products; patrons would not be allowed to enter and peruse the shelves on their own.

It would join several other DashMarts in Michigan, including locations in Ferndale, Ypsilanti and Sterling Heights. Evans said there are plans to bring several more to Michigan, including in Canton Township, Dearborn, Southgate, Detroit and Lansing. 

Discussed at the Feb. 14 planning commission meeting at Farmington City Hall, the concept — which was to decide a determination of similar use — was met with plenty of questions from the commission, mostly surrounding how it would fit in a commercial space. 

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Commissioners deliberated plenty on the proposal, which could have lasting impressions on other similar developments in the future. Such approvals could set precedent for other businesses proposing to come to the community, something commissioners were aware of.

"We're making a decision that is going to have implications far reaching, in my opinion," Commission Chairman Steve Majoros said. "Unfortunately, the door we're walking through is a very unique circumstance."

After being originally discussed in December, the item was eventually tabled for discussion and brought back before the commission when requested by the petitioner. The commission stalemated on a motion to approve the proposed DashMart, 3-3, which does not approve the change. 

Instead, the commission requested looking at creating a zoning ordinance text amendment that would allow such a business to operate in a commercial zone such as the shopping center.

"They have to adjust to provide opportunity for that use because it's never been a part of the community," said Kevin Christiansen, the city's economic and community development director. "They recognize the value, they recognize the need for this kind of use."

That direction is expected to return before the planning commission at its March meeting, Christiansen said. 

Contact reporter David Veselenak at dveselenak@hometownlife.com or 734-678-6728. Follow him on Twitter @davidveselenak.