Planning commission recommends lifting restaurant ban at Canton Corners shopping center

Canton Township's Planning Commission recommended approval of an amendment to the conditional rezoning at Canton Corners that will allow restaurants in a building where the 2007 conditional rezoning had previously prohibited them.

Staff explained the parcel (combined shopping center at 42911 and 42927 Ford Road) has adequate shared parking and that several prior food-related uses had existed on the site. Planning staff recommended striking the condition that prohibited restaurants but suggested retaining restrictions on additional access to Morrison Road to limit cut-through traffic.

The property owner's representative, John Hawkinson, said he recently signed a restaurant tenant for a vacancy created when AAA moved out and sought clarity because the lease requires the ability to operate as a dine-in restaurant. "We have a new signed restaurant tenant that wants to go into that space," Hawkinson said.

Commissioners asked questions about parking, access and whether the existing conditions had prevented reasonable reuse of the storefronts. After discussion, the commission voted in favor of the recommended amendments. Patrick Sloan told the commission the change is an ordinance amendment and will go to the Township Board of Trustees for two readings (first reading likely in early October, second reading later in October). Zoning compliance and permit approvals will be held until the ordinance is adopted.

Next steps: township staff will present the recommended ordinance changes to the Board of Trustees for two readings; if adopted, the owner may proceed with zoning compliance and permit applications.