March 1, 2021
A popular Hartland Township family attraction has been approved for more outdoor seating.
Back in May, Hartland Township was among the first municipalities to waive zoning requirements for restaurants to help with limited seating capacities during COVID. The understanding was that should an establishment wish to make that space permanent, they would still need to go through the site plan process and get approval.
At last Thursday nightâs meeting of the Hartland Township Planning Commission, Spicerâs Orchards did just that. Owner Shannon Rowe was present asking for 2 newly-permanent outdoor seating areas, both adjacent to the main building. The east patio will cover 6,300 square feet and have 12 patio tables. The west patio will be 500 square feet with 6-10 tables.
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 Ma
December 21, 2020 By Mike Kruzman / news@whmi.com
Hartland Township officials have again amended their ordinance to help allow businesses to operate during the pandemic.
In June, Hartland Township officials were among the first to relax outdoor use standards for restaurants and businesses in effort to give them every chance they could to succeed through the pandemic. Businesses, through their action, were more easily approved to use more of their available outdoor space without having to go through the Planning Commission. It also waived the associated permit fee that would normally come attached to the request. Resolutions extending these certain suspensions within the townshipâs special events ordinance have occurred as the year drags on, but at this past weekâs meeting of the Board of Trustees, board members extended it again for hopefully the final time.