Starbucks still possible for old Big Boy site in VBT

By Rosemary K. Otzman
Independent Editor
After Monday’s Van Buren Township Board of Trustees work/study session, Thom Dumond of Boss Engineering said Starbucks is still interested in setting up shop in the new building that will be constructed at the former Big Boy site on Belleville Road.
The problem for Belleview Development LLC that could have scrubbed Starbucks from the plan was that the developer wanted a separate driveway for Starbuck’s drive-through access and the VBT Planning Commission said it could only have one curb cut onto Belleville Road.
If Starbucks got its own drive, that would make two drives in the plan.
At first, Dumond said he thought Starbucks would pull out.
But now, Dumond said the developer and prospective tenant have decided one drive is enough and it would include three lanes: one entrance lane and two exit lanes, one for cars turning north on Belleville Road and one for cars turning south.
The project’s request for special land use approval for a Drive-Through Restaurant will be before the VBT Board of Trustees at its March 17 meeting, where it is expected to get approval.
Then the project will return to the planning commission for final site plan review and approval.
The Belleview Development project calls for the old Big Boy restaurant, at 10705 Belleville Road, to be torn down and replaced by a new three-unit commercial building.
The plan is for Starbucks to be at the north end of the 10,052-square-foot building and two other tenants to fill the center and south sections.