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Commission approves front-yard statue at 5138 Thornapple River Drive with screening, setback and height conditions
Summary
The planning commission approved a Type 1 special-use permit allowing an existing 21-foot statue to remain in the front yard at 5138 Thornapple River Drive SE under conditions (move location to meet a 200-foot setback, evergreen screening via a landscape bond, and a 22-foot height limit measured from average grade); commissioners also discussed RLUIPA implications and enforcement history.
The Cascade Charter Township Planning Commission unanimously approved a motion to permit an existing accessory structure — a roughly 21-foot statue placed in the front yard at 5138 Thornapple River Drive SE — subject to conditions intended to reduce visibility and ensure the structure complies with dimensional rules.
Staff described the structure as a fixed accessory structure installed without a formal permit and noted an enforcement history that includes prior complaints in 2023 and 2024. The commission heard from applicant Trang Nguyen, who said she and her family are Buddhist, that the statue was ordered from Vietnam and cost nearly $100,000, and that weekly gatherings generally number 5–7 people with larger observances twice a year.
Neighbors spoke in opposition or concern. Amy Reebel described repeated gatherings and traffic that reached the road and asked that if the site were effectively a place of worship it should seek appropriate special-use approval. Tom Natale, who owns surrounding acreage, raised sanitation concerns and said he had observed higher vehicle volumes during some events. Staff and the township attorney summarized that there is no record of a building or zoning permit for the statue and that federal law (the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act, RLUIPA) could be raised as a defense in enforcement if a substantial-burden claim were made.
To reach a compromise, commissioners attached conditions to the approval: (1) the accessory structure must be set back a minimum of 200 feet from the road/right-of-way; (2) the applicant must obtain a building permit from the Cascade Township building department meeting applicable code; (3) a landscape bond sufficient to guarantee evergreen screening between the structure and the right-of-way must be posted; and (4) the total height must not exceed 22 feet, measured from average grade. Commissioners and staff noted that administrative staff will review submitted documentation and enforce conditions.
The commission framed the decision as a site-specific resolution that reduces roadfront visibility for neighbors while creating a path to compliance and monitoring.
