The City Planning Commission denied a restaurant and bar in Easttown its request for expansion on Thursday.
Operators of "The Love Lounge" fear their current rules -- no dance floor, no loud music and closure by midnight during the week -- aren't consistent with keeping the bar running.
The commission denied its petition to be able to operate as a normal bar, like it's neighbors "Mulligan's Pub" and "Billy's".
Operators of "The Love Lounge" fear their current rules -- no dance floor, no loud music and closure by midnight during the week -- aren't consistent with keeping the bar running.
The commission denied its petition to be able to operate as a normal bar, like it's neighbors "Mulligan's Pub" and "Billy's".
The Love Lounge is located in Easttown on the corner of Wealthy Street and Lake. But the building is zoned to be a restaurant and bar, not a nightclub.
"The Planning Commission was asked permission to change a restaurant use to a bar," Suzanne Schulz, Planning Director said. "They had to make a decision as whether or not there'd be impacts on the neighborhood."
At a public hearing Thursday, patrons and neighbors weighed in on both sides of the debate.
Some supported the restaurant and called it 'a huge success'.
Other neighbors feared allowing the restaurant to operate as a bar would bring back some of the headache they had with "The Intersection", a bar that was located in the same spot in the past.
The Love Lounge is nestled in the same block as the Hookah Lounge, Mulligan's Pub, Yesterdogs and Billy's Bar. Those businesses are zoned to stay open until at least 2 a.m. during the week.
Some supported the restaurant and called it 'a huge success'.
Other neighbors feared allowing the restaurant to operate as a bar would bring back some of the headache they had with "The Intersection", a bar that was located in the same spot in the past.
The Love Lounge is nestled in the same block as the Hookah Lounge, Mulligan's Pub, Yesterdogs and Billy's Bar. Those businesses are zoned to stay open until at least 2 a.m. during the week.
"The issue really is that the approval stays with the property, not with the owner or the operator," Schulz said.
Any liquor license approved by the board would automatically be associated with the building, meaning anyone could come in and run a nightclub there after the Love Lounge left.
Any liquor license approved by the board would automatically be associated with the building, meaning anyone could come in and run a nightclub there after the Love Lounge left.
The Grand Rapids Police Department voiced opposition to expanding the Love Lounge's license because of the potential traffic issues, large crowds and alleged violation of the existing ordinance.
After the committee denied the request, Belcher said, "Ouch."
"It's an injustice for our community," he added.
The commission said the Love Lounge is still approved for jazz and can stay open until 2 a.m. on the weekends. But they must close at midnight during the week and cannot have a dance floor or live music.
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