Planning commission backs Outback’s request for off-premises packaged-alcohol (SDM) waiver, sends recommendation to council

The Livonia City Planning Commission voted to recommend city council approve a waiver allowing Outback Steakhouse at 13010 Middlebelt Road to add an SDM liquor license — permitting sale of packaged beer, wine and mixed spirit drinks for off-premises consumption. The motion, made by Mister Long and supported by Missus De Niro, passed on a 4–2 roll call and will be forwarded to city council for final action.

The planning staff’s report said the location is zoned C-2 and that Livonia’s zoning ordinance (section 6.03) requires special land-use approval for SDM licenses and a 500-foot separation from other SDM establishments. Staff read departmental correspondence into the record: the engineering division had no objections and noted utilities appear adequate; the inspection and fire prevention divisions likewise reported no objection but flagged standard plan-review and safety-inspection requirements. Police correspondence said the proposal does not meet the 500-foot separation guideline, noting Applebee’s at about 337 feet and Costco at about 455 feet from the Outback, and recommended the commission and city council consider maintaining the separation requirement guidelines.

Petitioners David Franchuk, owner-operator, and Donnie Thompson, joint-venture partner, told the commission they expect low volumes of packaged alcohol sales — ‘‘very few, actually’’ such as six-packs, a bottle or two of wine and seltzers — and described curbside-ID procedures in which an employee verifies identification at the curb before retrieving a sealed order for the customer. Thompson said alcohol orders would be clearly labeled and handled with the same ID-verification protocol as in-house sales. Franchuk acknowledged prior sting-related violations that predated his ownership and said those employees were terminated; he told the commission ‘‘nothing like that has even remotely close to happen[ed] under my reign.’’

Commissioners asked about underage-sale safeguards, curbside procedures, and the potential for drinking-in-vehicle. Petitioners said curbside sales would be sealed and handled only by trained employees of legal age to serve, with managerial oversight.

Mister Long’s approving resolution recommended council waive the 500-foot separation requirement and approved the SDM use ‘‘subject to city council approval and the following conditions,’’ and staff noted any state or local licensure steps remain separate requirements. The commission recorded Ayes from Mister Long, Missus De Niro, Cara Magnav and Chairman Walshaw; Nays from Mister Dross and Mister Ventura. The commission’s action is a recommendation; final approval is with city council after its public hearing.

The commission closed the public hearing and forwarded its recommendation to city council.