Luxe Events seeks waiver for a banquet venue on Schoolcraft Road; council asks for neighbor outreach and consistency on hours

Tiffany Munson, owner of Luxe Events, asked the Livonia City Council and planning staff on July 13 for a waiver to operate a banquet facility at 27600 Schoolcraft Road in the Buckingham Village Shopping Center. She described a 2,800-square-foot storefront configured for micro weddings, bridal showers and corporate events and said most bookings would range from about 60 to 125 guests.

Munson said the venue will rely on catered food and certified mixologists vetted through a longtime bartending school, and that vendors will be required to carry insurance and provide proof of credentials. "Midnight would be the end time of the event, time to clean up, and the guests should already be out of the door," Munson said, describing contracts that would end events earlier while allowing vendors time to clear the space.

Planning staff told council the C-2 zoning district allows banquet halls by waiver but the proposal requires council action on a 300-foot separation from residential properties because a neighborhood lies immediately to the south. Staff and the planning commission recommended approval with conditions, including limits on hours, required storefront and alley improvements, and a provision that approval be limited to the current owner unless transferred back to council for review.

Council members pressed the petitioner on parking, security and noise. Council Member Tashnick asked whether the proposed hours would conflict with Livonia's noise ordinance and whether activity would be contained indoors; Munson said events would be kept inside and she would restrict rear access and add buffer/storage between the building and adjacent residences.

Council Member Persconi urged consistency with prior hour limits for similar businesses: "I think consistency is really important, and it's fair for the other business owners," she said, asking that weekday closing times align with earlier approvals. Council Member Basinski moved to place the item on the regular July 27 agenda so staff could confirm whether the weekday closing time should be 11 p.m. and to give the petitioner time to contact nearby neighbors; that motion was seconded and carried informally in the study session.

Planning staff noted other stipulations the council might attach, including a 11 p.m. weekday end time with an additional hour for cleanup (a practice used previously), an improvement plan for a privately owned rear alley, and a condition restricting transfer of the waiver. The planning commission's recommendation and the petitioner's willingness to do neighbor outreach were reasons cited by several members to advance the item for final action at the July 27 regular meeting.

The council did not take a final vote at the study session; the waiver petition will return to the July 27 regular meeting for possible approval and any formal conditions the council chooses to impose.