VBT Planners OK rezoning for Denton/Michigan development

By Rosemary K. Otzman
Independent Editor
At its Jan. 28 meeting, the Van Buren Township Planning Commission voted unanimously to recommend rezoning of 1.99 acres from C (Local Business) to C-1 (General Business).
The two parcels are located at 49230 Michigan Avenue and 5825 Denton Road, at the northeast corner of Denton and Michigan.
The applicant, Denton Partners LLC, proposes a new fueling station with convenience store and a drive-through restaurant on the site.
Tom Demond of Voss Engineering, representing Denton Partner, at a previous meeting said they would tear down the old Willow Run Market as part of the project.
The recommendation to rezone will now go to the township board for a final decision.
The commission also discussed a proposed addition to Section 12.02 of the Zoning Ordinance to permit outdoor dining and table service in the C-1 district.
Commissioner Carl Johnson asked if this would be added to the ordinances that are being updated as an overall project.
Patrick Sloane, a planner from McKenna Associates, said this amendment would be put in place as soon as possible because Belleville Development planned an outdoor eating area in its project on the former Big Boy site.
The amendment was introduced at the Jan. 14 meeting. Sloane said he would take it back for more updates, including which parts would be approved administratively and what would trigger a return trip to the planning commission. Also, they would address parking, including whether the new seats in the outdoor dining area would need to be included in the numbers that determined the number of parking spaces required.