CORRECTION: A previous version of this article stated The OAB’s new 204 E. Cedar Property, located right across the street from the overlay district, was not a part of this agreement. In fact, the property is apart of the agreement, but can't host food trucks or amplified music.
It’s official.
Leland Township has a new Cultural Overlay District after an amendment passed, combining the campuses of the Old Art Building, Leelanau Historical Society and Leland Township Library under new zoning rules.
“Given our proximity (next door neighbor), I think it’s fair to say that my family is one of the most directly impacted by what happens at this site,” Leland resident Matthew Hogan said. “We live just 40 feet from the Old Art Building, and are intimately familiar with the traffic, parking, and sounds that come with the activities there.
“But we also see every day the enormous value this cultural home brings to Leland, and those benefits more than justify any inconveniences ... This proposal represents the best possible outcome for this land. The alternative was private development.
Homes or condos on nine buildable lots, which would permanently change the character of the riverfront in the neighborhood.”
The first-of-its-kind district for Leland nearly got hung up at the 12th hour, all because of food trucks.
The board and applicant lawyer Marc McKellar sparred briefly, but eventually reached an agreement to reduce the number of food truck-attended events per year in the newly created overlay district from nine to six.
Leland Township negotiated down from nine to six after the board raised several concerns.
“It’s a big leap,” Leland Township Clerk Lisa Brookfield said. “When you bring in food, and you close our streets, and you get parking situations and lots of crowds, that’s when tensions hit.” An important note about the food truck compromise is that the language allows the three organizations to collaborate on events and use one of their six food truck “permits” per event, if necessary.
No food trucks will be allowed in the Harbor (Fishtown), according to the board.
Multiple concerns regarding the overlay district stem not only from food trucks but also from the already slim parking availability, noise regulations, and housing devaluation, to name a few that have been discussed.
A slew of pro-overlay viewpoints from residents, former Old Art Building board members, local business owners, and more waxed on and on about how an overlay district would be important for the community for nearly an hour.
Nobody spoke against the overlay district during public comment.
Dan Lisuk, a former OAB board member for 22 years and president for 15, was excited to see a concept that began many years ago now coming to fruition.
“In the process of planning the overlay, we quickly realized the benefits to our organizations, allowing us to more fully meet the needs of our mission. But we also saw the benefits for the township by eliminating the need to constantly process special requests,” Lisuk said. “For you (the township), it’s a move for more efficiency. That’s what overlay districts are. These organizations are run by your neighbors, for our neighbors.”
