Demolition of the iconic Bluebird Restaurant and Tavern in Leland is scheduled to began yet this month.
The Leland Township Planning Commission voted last week to approve the first phase of a three-phrase project proposed by Skip and Lynn Telgard.
Skip Telgard, who is also on the Planning Commission, recused himself from discussion and action on the Dec. 6 agenda item, which was presented by his wife, Lynn.
The Telgards are the third generation in the family to own and operate the Bluebird, a staple in the community since it was founded in 1927.
The restaurant expanded over the years to meet the community’s needs; however, the Telgards said the current building is “functionally obsolete” — insufficient to operate and does not meet the current trend toward fast, casual, and increased outdoor eating spaces.
Proposed redevelopment plans include demolition of the restaurant which will be replaced with a new building; large patio with 100 outdoor spaces and indoor seating to accommodate 100 patrons.
The Telgards also own the adjacent former Early Bird restaurant which had been leased to Leelanau Coffee Roasting Co., until the restaurant closed this fall.
Phase II of the redevelopment anticipates the demolition of the existing structure in two to three years and a new two-story mixed use building with retail on the first floor and up to three residential units on the second floor.
The first phase of the project was approved. However, the second and third phase of the project will be up for review at a later date.
In October the Leland Township Board supported the Telgards’ request to the county Board of Commissioners last month for tax incremental financing through the county Brownfield Redevelopment Authority. The request was approved at the county level in November.
In other business during its regular meeting the planners scheduled a Jan. 4 public hearing on a request from Atlas Tower, LLC of Boulder, Colorado to construct a 199-foot communications tower on property owned by the Price Family Trust. The property, located on the south side of M-204 east of Lake Leelanau, is currently the site of a 90-foot wooden communications tower. The wooden tower would be replaced by a metal structure.
Bill Williams, Atlas representative, was present and explained how the tower is expected to improve cellular communications locally.
“It won’t solve all the problems, but communications will be far less problematic with it there,” he said.
At Monday’s monthly township board meeting, Clerk Lisa Brookfield stated that the township had been approached by another tower company interested in erecting a tower on township-owned property. The township owns Provemont Pond Natural Area and adjacent property off Popp Road, now used as the site of the Leland Township sewer lagoons and overnight parking for Leland School buses.
However, during public comment, township resident Stephen E. Mikowski spoke in opposition to the proposal.
