My name is Steve and I have been a proud owner of the BP gas station at the southeast corner of 14 Mile & Ryan Road for almost 24 years. My friend Sonny has run his 7-11 store at the northwest corner for over a decade, and Rony has been operating his Sunoco gas station at the northeast corner for almost 20 years. We have watched the community of Warren grow and flourish around us.

On June 2nd, our livelihoods, which have been built by serving this vibrant community, are threatened. The Warren Planning Commission is considering the approval of a third gas station, a Speedway, for the fourth corner of our intersection at the former Rite Aid Building. This decision is not just a threat to us, but it is also unnecessary for our city of Warren, which already has 76 gas stations.

This decision more closely mirrors a trend of over-development and points to an oversight in understanding our community's needs. A city where there is nearly one gas station for every 1,763 residents is more than enough compared to national average of one gas station for 2,600 residents. Adding another station not only threatens established businesses but also contributes to the unnecessary surge of similar businesses.

We urgently ask you to consider the livelihood of ourselves and the community we serve by opposing the decision to establish another gas station at 14 Mile & Ryan Road intersection. Let our legacy and service to this community speak and let Warren continue to be a city that values its small businesses. Sign the petition and support us in our stand against over-development and redundancy.