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Politics & Government

Planning Commission OKs Special Land Use Permits, Banner Installation

Cafe Muse, the future Jolly Pumpkin, Whittier Elementary School and Beaumont banner installation plans were approved Tuesday night.

The Royal Oak Planning Commission held a public hearing Tuesday night at and approved three special land use permits and a temporary banner installation.

The Planning Commission unanimously approved a plan to expand the restaurant's footprint into the space previously occupied by If the Shoe Fits.

“We have maxed out our current location’s capacity,” Café Muse co-owner Greg Reyner said. “We are looking to create a location that is suitable for more guests and more comfortable for everyone.”

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The expansion will add about 900 square feet to the restaurant, which will allow up to 75 guests to be served at one time. Currently, beverages are stored and made in the back of the restaurant. With the addition, Café Muse hopes to create a centralized location for crafting alcoholic and café drinks. The added space will also allow for a larger waiting area with a host stand and an area for coats.

“Café Muse is one of the finer restaurants in our city,” Mayor Jim Ellison said. “I am pleased to see this expansion and I look forward to the completed project.”

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Jolly Pumpkin

Commissioners also unanimously approved a special land use and site plan to

Plans for Jolly Pumpkin will renovate and expand the existing building. The finished building will be nearly 11,000 square feet, including an outdoor dining area of about 2,000 square feet.

The new restaurant will serve gourmet salad and hearth-baked pizzas and “homemade” alcoholic beverages. Licenses for a small wine maker, small distiller and microbrew were in January.

With three seating options available for guests (indoor, urban garden and seasonal sidewalk café seating), Jolly Pumpkin said it hopes to create a unique dining experience for the community.

More permits are required to execute all of Jolly Pumpkin’s plans, including the City Commission’s approval on a slightly revised floor plan. Jolly Pumpkin will also request approval for a sidewalk café and the installation of a surfboard display on the building’s attached tower.

“I think one of the coolest parts of Jolly Pumpkin is their idea to incorporate the tower by adding a surfboard display to it,” City Commissioner Jim Rasor said.

Whittier Elementary School

A plan to subdivide the former Whittier Elementary School site was approved by the Planning Commission. The plan will divide the land in 16 individual lots for single-family dwellings. Each lot will be 45 feet wide.

The commission previously established a 50 feet width standard for special land use permits. However, neighboring lots in this area vary drastically in size, ranging from a width of 30 feet to 48 feet. Though residents of the area encouraged the larger lot size, the majority of the commission believed a 45 feet width was acceptable.

Residents also raised concerns about the new homes causing parking issues and blocking the entrance to . The commission said parking would be controlled with the installation of garages and long driveways. Additionally, commissioners said parkgoers will simply be required to walk an extra block once the homes have been completed.

Beaumont Hospital was granted permission to install banners on three parking decks for a nine-month period.

The University Health System Consortium, an alliance representing nonprofit academic medical centers, recognized Beaumont’s high-quality care last year and honored the hospital with the . As one of only 10 hospitals that received this award, Beaumont plans to share the honor by installing the temporary banners.

“I am proud of Beaumont Hospital. I think it is outstanding what they have achieved,” Planning Commission Chairman Tom Hallock said. “Because these banners will be displayed on such a large campus, I think the size is acceptable for a temporary period.”

The banners will be approximately 20 feet tall and located on the south, west and north parking decks.

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