There was a full house at Vergennes Township Hall last night as people filled the seats to show their support for Arrowhead Golf Course. The business, located on Alden Nash Ave NE, is hoping to add a building with hitting bays and an indoor golf simulator.
All board members were present for the meeting which lasted approximately 80 minutes.
Zoning Complicates Golf Course Expansion
Josh and Kristen Bruwer, owners of Arrowhead Golf Course, spoke to the board during its December meeting about their desire to add a building to their property to accommodate hitting bays and an indoor golf simulator. The discussion at that meeting reportedly turned heated with some on the board apparently concerned the business plan was akin to adding an arcade or a Dave & Buster’s.
Last night, Josh Bruwer disputed that characterization and clarified his idea. He also noted that he and his daughter had gotten on a plane to visit a facility in New Jersey that was similar to what he envisioned.
Bruwer said the golf course would like to build a two-story structure that would add 28 hitting bays split between two levels. The bays would have three walls to serve as a semi-enclosed driving range. In the basement, Bruwer would like to have indoor golf simulators available. His plans also call for food and drink – such as sandwiches and snacks – to be available to customers.
“This is very preliminary,” he said, “and we’re just asking if we can move forward.”
Ryan Carrigan, zoning administrator for Vergennes Township, said the issue was that the golf course is located on property zoned for rural agriculture. Since Arrowhead predates that zoning designation, the golf course is considered a legal, non-conforming use. However, the zoning ordinance doesn’t allow legal, non-conforming uses to be expanded or otherwise intensified.
Having the property apply for a rural recreation special land use could be one way to get around that zoning problem. However, the zoning ordinance limits rural recreation facilities to 5,000 square feet, which Bruwer’s proposal exceeds. However, some in attendance questioned whether the hitting bays should count toward that 5,000 square feet since they will be open on one side.
The other potential issue with using the rural recreation designation is that the ordinance prohibits “indoor sports facilities” in these establishments. Carrigan questioned whether the golf simulators would be considered an indoor sports facility.
Commercial zoning does allow for indoor sports and entertainment facilities and may be more appropriate for the proposed use, according to Carrigan. However, Supervisor Tim Wittenbach thought rezoning the property would amount to spot zoning and could cause legal problems.
Issue Tabled, Legal Opinion Sought
Bruwer expressed frustration with the 5,000 square foot limitation and noted that what he was proposing wasn’t anything different than what was already offered at Arrowhead. Instead, it was just a way to continue offering golf opportunities year-round.
“I love this idea because it helps our facility keep moving forward,” he said. He added that many golf courses are modernizing by adding simulators and private hitting bays, and these amenities are particularly beneficial for families who want to introduce children to the sport.
“I think this would bring a lot of excitement to the community,” Bruwer said. “I think people would love it. No, I know people would love it.”
Wittenbach said he now had a better idea of what Bruwer was proposing. “I think it’s fantastic,” he said. “I’m not dead-set against it or anything like that.”
Trustee Rick Gillett worried that sending the proposal to the Planning Commission for consideration as a rural recreation facility would result in a denial because of the square footage restriction.
In the end, board members voted unanimously to table the issue and ask the township attorney for his opinion on what options may exist for the project to move forward under current zoning provisions.
At the end of the meeting, during public comments, five people spoke in favor of Arrowhead Golf Course’s proposal, with several noting the Bruwers often go above and beyond to help others. “They’ve been a real beacon of light in our community,” said Craig Veldman.
Other Board Action
The Vergennes Township Board briefly discussed two other pieces of business:
- The board voted unanimously to remain a general law township. Apparently, the township had the opportunity to convert to a charter township, but board members did not see a benefit in doing so.
- Fees for approximately eight zoning services and permits were increased from $25 to $50. The increase brings those fees in line with the other fees charged by the township for various zoning needs. The cost for a business to request a zoning board of appeals or planning commission meeting was raised from $350 to $600. Clerk Shantell Ford noted that it costs the township $550 to run a meeting.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:18pm, and the next regular meeting of the Vergennes Township Board will be on Monday, February 21, at 7pm.
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