March 1, 2021
By Mike Kruzman / news@whmi.com
A Hartland Township restaurantâs request for permanent outdoor seating has led the Planning Commission to consider amending the township ordinance.
Joe and Yvonne Mackle, owners of Mackleâs Tables and Taps in the Hartland Town Center, were before the planning commission last week for an amended site plan approval. In May, the township simplified the process for restaurants wishing to use more of their outdoor space for seating to help them seat higher capacities, temporarily, while COVID restrictions are in place.
A business wishing to make that space permanent, such is the case with Mackleâs, still needs to go through the site plan process as the owners are doing. The patio space being requested is 180 square feet and would allow for four more tables that could seat 4 people each. Normally in Hartland Township outdoor seating is capped at 25% of indoor seating. Though this would put Mackleâs over that limit, Planning Director Troy Langer said that has a lot to do with parking. In Mackleâs case, they require 135 spaces, but have 203 on site, with other open space that isnât counted because it isnât striped, but could be.