Most Important Points

This is for a private club
The BYC is requesting a 6000 sq ft facility with a 3100 sq ft dining area and large decks in a residential neighborhood.
Would you want this next to your home?

The BYC has requested approval for a marina that extends 145' into the lake, plus another 100' of no-wake zone, right next to the bridge.
Is this good for the lake?  Compare to Johnny's Grill; 30' docks there.  Double that, then double again, then add another set of docks.

 The BYC states their membership is 51 so they qualify for only 10 parking spaces for a 6000 sq ft facility!  Ten parking spaces, two of these handicapped for 6000 sq ft?
In their presentation to Belleville they stated their membership will exceed 100 (probably many more).

The Biggest Questions:
1.  Would you want this next to your home?
2.  Everything next to the BYC property is residential, all the way down the street on the lake side.
3. The BYC can have hundreds of people for weddings and other events (which they stated they will have).  They want 45 boat slips of which they can come & go at any hour on any day of the week, a large deck and docks for their members to enjoy at any hour, any day of the week. 

Is this good for Belleville?  A good precedence to set so other businesses & private clubs can extend into the lake 145' or more?

Recommendations:  The first recommendation is to move it somewhere away from a residential neighborhood.  Secondly, allow 30’ of docks into the lake as virtually all other residences and businesses are limited to.  Third, require the BYC to have their own parking spaces, not rely on the city public parking.  Apartments are required to provide this.  Homes are required to provide this.  Why not the BYC?

For PDF Copies of this and the site plan application, or to send comments/suggestions (whether for or against), or to stay up-to-date on the status, email to:  mail@RiggsProductGroup.com
(Emails will be confidential (bcc) and not shared with anyone unless requested by you)

Also Send comments to Van Buren Township:
Terry Carroll - Interim Director     Ph:  734.699.8913     Email:  tcarroll@vanburen-mi.org

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Notes from the Belleville Planning Commission Meeting - April 14th, 2011. 
(These are per my understanding of comments made and descriptions.  Please confirm with the BYC or other sources to confirm accuracy)

1. The BYC building proposal requests approval for a 6000 sq ft building occupying most of their property with parking for only 10 cars.  It has a 3000 sq ft dining area, and only 10 cars of parking space!

2. The BYC, as of the presentation to the Belleville Planning commission, didn't know the number of parking spaces across the street that they plan to use.  They didn't know the usage of the parking facility;  I.E. - The number of cars typically using these spaces on a weekday, a weekend, holidays, etc.  In my opinion, it shows lack of concern for the local businesses and only concern for their needs if they didn't even investigate this.

3. Membership plans will be at least 45 members, per comments at the Belleville PC perhaps 100 or more over the next 5 years, plus family
members and friends.

4.  Parking could approach 50 to 100 vehicles or more during special events such as Memorial Day, 4th of July, the Air Show weekend, Strawberry Festival, Labor Day; the same days when parking would be most limited even without the BYC.  How 
would this affect residences nearby and businesses across the street?

5.  Typical parking times for people going to the Bayou might be a few hours.  For CVS, perhaps 15 min to ½ hour. The hardware, a few minutes.  Typical parking time for a BYC member coming to enjoy an event, a day at the lake, probably would be 4 to 6 hours, 8 hours, perhaps 12 or more.  For a private club taking away these parking spaces from the public is unacceptable.  We designed the parking for our local businesses, not for a private club with all day parking.

6.  It was brought up that based upon 45 members with a wife/girlfriend, son or daughter driving separately on a holiday or special events, parking requirements could equal 100 cars or more as their membership increases.  This was not disputed by the BYC.

7.  Noise could be an issue; weekdays and weekends throughout the year, during and after meetings, special events, perhaps going late into the evening with people on the docks, decks, boats coming in & out.  Is this good for a residential neighborhood?