The Adrian City Planning Commission on Tuesday unanimously approved a revision to the site plan for 1032 South Main Street (Case 25-20) that removes a rear garage and expands the property’s parking area.

The motion to adopt the staff resolution was made and supported during the meeting; commissioners recorded support on a roll call and the resolution passed. City staff had recommended approval after reviewing the submitted changes.

The project applicant, Ken Allen, manager of construction for Wild Bills and Levels Cannabis, told the commission the work applies to the garage portion of the property and is unrelated to the dispensary. “This proposal is for, the garage portion that has nothing to do with the dispensary,” Allen said, adding the owner wants to replace what he called an “eyesore” and “make it look as clean and professional as possible.” He said the change affects roughly the west 50% of the rear building.

Dan Blatt, the city’s building official who is also filling the role of planning and zoning administrator, confirmed there were no staff objections to the revised site plan and recommended approval.

Why it matters: The decision clears the applicant to remove the rear garage and enlarge the parking area under the approved site plan, a change the applicant said would improve the look and upkeep of the property. The commission’s approval follows staff review and a public hearing process for the amendment to the previously approved site plan.

During the public-comment portion of the meeting, attorney Ron Marienfeld, representing Andy Abro, owner of Super Licker 3 at 800 South Main Street, told commissioners he had heard neighborhood reports that a building two doors down — identified in the meeting as the Dragon Sushi location near Fricker’s — may be renovated to house another liquor store. Marienfeld said his client has operated in the community for more than 30 years and was concerned about the local impact of adding another liquor outlet in the immediate area.

Commissioners and staff responded that a liquor store is a permitted retail use in the district and, unless the planned work changes the building footprint, the planning commission would not review the business. A city staff member said the building inspector had seen the blueprints and, as the plans appear not to expand the footprint, the use would proceed as permitted rather than coming before the commission.

The commission’s discussion also noted a separate item under old business: the city commission unanimously approved a new zoning ordinance at its Sept. 2 meeting, and the planning commission chair said the ordinance will go into effect shortly. The ordinance name and effective date were not specified in the planning commission record provided at the meeting.

Votes at a glance

- Case 25-20, site-plan revision for 1032 South Main Street — Motion to adopt staff resolution approving removal of a rear garage and expansion of parking: approved (roll-call support recorded).

Meeting context: Commissioners spent a portion of the evening on the site-plan revision and heard a single public comment about a nearby property’s potential use; staff described the application as routine and recommended approval. No formal appeals, conditions, or amendments to the site plan were recorded at the meeting.

What’s next: With the commission’s approval, the applicant may proceed with the work as shown in the revised site plan subject to any building permits and inspections required by the city’s building official.