Bloomfield Township, Michigan, finds itself at the heart of a local dispute as residents come together to voice their opposition to a high-end event center proposed by Peas & Carrots Hospitality Group. Dubbed Bloomfield Hollows, the venue, championed by the hospitality group's head Zack Sklar, could host up to 1,000 guests daily, according to a ClickOnDetroit report. Residents, many only recently informed about the plan via postcard, worry about lowered home values and the change in their community's character.
At a recent planning commission meeting, tempers flared, and one member stated it was "the most contentious in over 15 years." Fears of noise, alcohol, traffic, and lighting were front and center in the residents' remarks. "This is insanity what I'm hearing," Greg Yatooma, a local homeowner, told CBS News Detroit. The meeting left no resolution, with the planning commission opting to table the discussion around the site plan and zoning change required for the development.
Residents such as the Northcutt family expressed grave concerns, particularly about the idea of an open bar operating near where their children play. "An open bar, 8 a.m. to 1 a.m., 365 days a year — about 100 feet from where our kids are playing," Brett Northcutt said in a statement obtained by ClickOnDetroit. With their home uncomfortably close to the proposed venue, the Northcutts predict a substantial loss in their property's value if the event center materializes.
Backing the residents' stance, attorney Jonathan Martone argues that the township is preemptively pushing for specific use approval without properly amending the necessary zoning laws, as reported by ClickOnDetroit. During another packed meeting, frustrations spilled over regarding late notices of the planning through postcards, which many found inadequate for the gravity of the situation. Echoing a broad sentiment, John Schafer said that the proposed venue "is going to destroy the value of my property and I think it's a nuisance," in a statement to WXYZ.
The uproar from locals has, for the moment, stalled the project as the board agreed to shelve the proposed ordinance language changes and the site plan, awaiting further discussions. Despite residents like Schafer hoping for outright rejection, the tabled decision at least points to increased resident involvement in the ongoing debate over the future of their community.
