Pontiac City Council on Nov. 18 voted to remand an appeal by Carnival Investments LLC seeking a special-exception permit for a gasoline filling station and drive-through at 1075 East Walton Boulevard back to the city planning commission for additional review.

Pro Tem William Carrington moved to replace the original overruling resolution with substitute language that remands the appeal; Councilman Jones seconded. The mayor and the city attorney alerted the council that, under the attorney’s advice, a traffic study requested by council would require remand to the planning commission. Mayor noted a drafting inconsistency in the substitute resolution’s factual paragraph and asked the council to correct the record before voting.

“The original resolution that was on tonight’s agenda has a whereas paragraph that says the planning commission’s vote was 5 to 0. The resolution remanding it says the vote was 6 to 0,” the mayor said, urging an amendment to reflect the accurate planning commission record.

Council amended the remand language to correct the planning commission record and then approved the remand on final roll call, 5 yeas and 1 nay. Clerk Doyle’s roll call showed Parker, Carrington, James, Jones and McGuinness voting yes; Councilman Mikael Goodman voted no.

The remand directs the planning commission to consider supplemental information regarding the special-exception permit application, including any traffic study council members may require. City Attorney Castro told the council that the legal opinion in the packet supports remanding the matter if council wants to consider evidence outside the administrative record.

Supporters of remand said sending the item back would ensure the planning commission’s record contained the technical analysis councilors want before making a final decision. A council member who opposed the remand argued that council could decide on the record as submitted to the planning commission.

The council’s action pauses any final city decision while the planning commission considers the requested supplemental material. The remanded matter will return to the city council after the planning commission completes its review.

Council members did not discuss or disclose settlement amounts or other confidential matters in open session; the remand is strictly a procedural action to allow additional fact-finding by the planning commission.