Sanford council advances multiple building projects, denies portable structure request

The Village of Sanford council on Dec. 9 advanced engineering for a potential parking area west of Harry's Sewer and reviewed a string of local building projects while denying a request to add a portable waiting structure for a food truck.

Building Inspector Justin Finney told the council about several incoming blueprints and inquiries. Red Oak submitted plans and expected to begin construction Dec. 9 for office and catering spaces behind its site; Airworks Heating plans to convert the old TDS building into a shop and the former Lanny's building into a public showroom and office; Cliff Lesperance submitted restroom plans for the former Bigelow building (which currently houses Cultivate Coffee on the east side). Finney also said Food Pride is planning a new structure for a farmers market and Christmas tree sales and is waiting on blueprints.

Finney said a resident inquired about building a 400-square-foot home, but the village’s current minimum dwelling size is 900 square feet; he advised anyone seeking a smaller home would need to pursue a variance through the Planning Committee.

Darla Ball of Famous Dogs Food Truck asked about purchasing a portable structure to give customers indoor wait space. The council did not approve the request; minutes note the lease allows the food truck but not additional structures and cite a 33-foot setback measured from the center of Saginaw Road and hazard-mitigation requirements as constraints.

The council discussed land it owns west of Harry's Sewer and reported a completed survey of those lots. Council moved to have the Spicer Group proceed with engineering for that area at a cost of $4,200; the motion by Marcus Thrush, seconded by Leah Ziems, passed unanimously.

Councilmembers noted possible parking as a way to remove service trucks from Saginaw Road. The minutes state village staff and consultants coordinated with EGLE and other partners to scope work and that the village sought bids to obtain any required EGLE permit for constructing parking on the parcels it owns.

The meeting also recorded that Village staff plan a walkthrough of a house north of the Sanford Historical Society as a possible future village hall; that item is at the staff and planning-committee consideration stage with no decision recorded.

The council took no final zoning variances at the meeting; several projects remain at the blueprint or planning-committee stage.