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Mustang Bar Design Meets Goals of Island Planners
"This type of project, this rendition in particular, is exactly what we really want to do in terms of integrating housing and ancillary businesses. It makes a lot of sense," said ZBA member Lee Finkel, who motioned to approve the variance. "This has been well thought out." Board member Jason St. Onge agreed. "I'm glad to see architectural vision that doesn't think it has to have a turret and gingerbread to look historic." The property on Astor Street is being sold, and a purchase agreement was presented during a public hearing just before the ZBA met. The document was signed by current owners Cathy Arbib, Stephanie Arbib, and Cynthia Pierson, and by buyers Jason Klonowski and Larry Myers of Mustang Property Development, LLC. The new owners say they plan to live in the apartments and the sleeping rooms will house employees. The main floor of the proposed project includes a remodeled bar and restaurant and the addition of street-side dining. A second and third floor addition, set back from the street, would add two apartments and three sleeping rooms. The lot size allows one apartment and the sleeping rooms. The variance provides for the second apartment. "The principles are proposing to restore and renovate and continue the operation of a business that is both historic and socially significant to the community," said Planning Commissioner Mary Dufina, who attending the public hearing and urged the ZBA to approve the variance. "They are cleverly blending the housing of owner families with employees, while creating a design that will visually decrease the bulk of the building." Mrs. Dufina also requested the ZBA instruct the Planning Commission to revisit the city's ordinance requirements in the commercial district. The current zoning regulations limit living space in the commercial area, she said, and yet, community members have indicated a need for such housing in the district. Eventually, the Mustang project will require additional Residential Equivalent Units (REUs) for construction to move forward, an issue that is not part of a variance consideration. The city has halted allocation of REUs and placed the Island under an 180-day sewer moratorium until the end of January, while city leaders determine the future of the aging sewer facility, which is nearing capacity. No letters were received by the ZBA either for or against the project. "We are not tearing it down," said project architect Eugene Hopkins of HopkinsBurns Design Studio in Ann Arbor, of the heavy timber, log-on-log building. The plan is to retain the original heritage of the building, he said, and the original heavy timber frame appears to be in good condition. "What we hope to do is strip down all the stuff that has been added to that building and get back to that main structure," he said, "and recreate it in the areas where it has been remodeled and pulled out." The main building is 18 feet deep by 68 feet long. Everything behind the building will be removed and a new three story building with basement will be built. The first floor of the building will contain the kitchen and restaurant seating and the top two floors will include the apartments and employee sleeping rooms. One apartment will have three bedrooms, and the other four bedrooms. "The goal is to maintain the street presence scale of the building," he said. Island resident Susan Lenfesty, who attending the public hearing, supported retaining the authentic construction of the building. "This is exactly the kind of work that ought to be done here," she said. The project now moves to the Planning Commission for site plan approval. |
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