Residents in Addison Township may be one step closer to getting a small grocery/liquor store in downtown Lakeville after the township’s regular planning commission meeting on March 11.
Although no official action was taken, the commission came to the consensus that such a market, which would be located inside the Lakeville Towne Square Plaza at 1400 Rochester Rd., is zoning compliant with the township’s C-1 Commercial District
Zoning compliance is necessary for the obtainment of a liquor license from the Michigan Liquor Control Commission.
Owned by Rochester resident Ammanuel Yasso, the other buildings in the plaza are leased to the Lakeville Post Office, Caroline’s Shear Inspirations hair salon and Robert J. Kanas, D.D.S.
Two vacant buildings inside the plaza would be used for Yasso’s proposed new store. He also runs Manny’s Liquor Shoppe in Rochester and in Troy.
Although the store would sell milk, eggs, fruits, vegetables, operate a small delicatessen and provide everyday items like newspapers and coffee, Yasso is also planning on selling imported fine wines, beer and liquor, which upset some residents and other local business owners.
‘I oppose the liquor license mainly because I have a liquor license down the road,? said Jean Wright, owner of Wright’s Market at the corner of Lakeville Rd. and Rochester Rd.
Lakeville resident Sereal Gravlin had many reasons for why he was opposed to Yasso getting a liquor license, one of which was that the property is supposedly too close to Lakeville United Methodist Church.
‘We’ve already got a liquor store in town, we’ve got another one in Leonard. I think that’s enough liquor stores in one township,? he said.
Eric Wilson, the attorney representing Yasso, told commissioners the grocery/liquor store would benefit everyone because it would save them from spending gas money to drive to Oxford or Rochester to shop.
‘We believe we could run a very clean, nice, modern operation here to benefit the citizens of Addison Township,? he said.
Although Yasso said he plans to expand the store in the future, it won’t become as big as chain stores like Kroger or Meijer.
‘You’ll be so happy to have a store around here,? he said. ‘I really appreciate your help and support.?
The issue may come back for the planning commission for action next month.