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Commission approves parking modification for indoor baseball training facility at 7757 Rhonda Drive
Summary
The planning commission approved allowing 30 existing parking spaces to serve a new 4,800-sq.-ft. indoor recreation (baseball training) use within a 16,000-sq.-ft. building, with a condition that overflow parking must be added or a shared-parking agreement obtained if demand exceeds capacity.
The Canton Township Planning Commission on Aug. 4 approved a parking modification to permit 30 existing spaces to serve an indoor baseball training facility at 7757 Rhonda Drive.
Patrick (Planning Division staff) said the building is about 16,000 square feet; the existing contractor’s business will continue in about 11,175 square feet and the proposed indoor recreation use will occupy about 4,800 square feet. The zoning ordinance would require about 57 spaces for both uses combined; the applicant requested to use the site’s 30 existing spaces.
Staff reviewed 11 aerial photos from 2023–2025 and found the lot typically shows five or fewer vehicles and never more than 10. Staff also referenced Institute of Transportation Engineers parking guidance estimating average peak demand for a fitness/rec use at about 5.2 spaces per 1,000 sq. ft. and an 85th-percentile demand of roughly 8.5 per 1,000 sq. ft. For 4,800 sq. ft., that equates to 25 (average) to 41 (85th percentile) spaces. Staff recommended approval of the 30-space plan with the condition that the owner must construct additional parking or secure a shared-parking agreement if demand exceeds capacity.
Applicant Ryan Fitzgerald said the training business will operate outside the contractor’s peak hours (contractor: 8 a.m.–4 p.m. weekdays; training: evenings 5–10 p.m. weekdays and 10 a.m.–8 p.m. weekends). He described a low-density, largely 1-to-1 training model with four batting cages and anticipated session-level parking of about 16 spaces or fewer, noting parents often drop off and return for pickup.
Recusal: Commissioner Singh disclosed an ownership interest in the property and recused himself from the vote. Motion and vote: Commissioner Watkins moved to approve the 30 existing parking spaces for the combined uses, subject to the condition that the owner provide additional spaces or a shared-parking agreement if demand exceeds capacity; Commissioner Foster supported. The commission approved the motion with one abstention (Commissioner Singh) and the rest voting yes (Yes: Cruz, Foster, Janowski, Lee, Watkins, Chairperson Zuber; Singh abstained).
Staff noted that if parking overflow occurs the owner must either build additional on-site spaces or obtain a shared-parking agreement with a qualifying nearby property owner pursuant to section 4.01(b)(5) or construct spaces under section 4.01(c)(6).
