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Home » Fitness » Proposed LA Fitness in Livonia draws concern over parking – Detroit Free Press

David Veselenak, hometownlife.com 2:37 p.m. ET March 15, 2017

The former Farmer Jack building on Seven Mile west of Middlebelt.(Photo: File photo)

It looks like a little more work may have to go into it before approval will be granted for the proposed LA Fitness going in at the former Farmer Jack on Seven Mile.

The Livonia City Council reviewed the waiver petition for the proposed development at the site, located at 29659 Seven Mile,Monday night during its study meeting. After the presentation, several council members said they were concerned with some elements of the proposed work, including the larger-than-needed amount of parking spaces and some of the building's design, including the larger-than-required amount of parking spots currently planned for the entire center.

The proposal currently calls for 523 parking spots for the project, which consists of the proposed LA Fitness, a small shopping center with retail stores and another commercial pad that will house another business at a later date.

"Did I hear correctly that you think you need all 523 spaces?" asked Councilman Scott Bahr. "I'm blown away by the amount of parking on this, and that's something I'm very sensitive to. I'd rather seegreen and shade than more concrete."

The proposal for the redevelopment was recommended for approval by the city's planning commissionlast summer. The proposal calls for the removal of the former Farmer Jack, which has been empty for nearly 10 years, and replace it with a new LA Fitness and two other commercial buildings.

Developers said the amount of parking was done to make sure the facilities would be able to accommodate as many customers as the business could have at one time.

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"I think what LA Fitness is trying to portray certainly is with their experience, one spot short turns a customer away," said Karl Zarbo, director of operations for Lormax Stern. "I think they certainly design for the load."

Councilman Brian Meakin said he'd like to see some of the proposed parking space land banked, especially if one of the out-lots is not expected to be developed in the near future.

"I'm sure the neighbors to the east would appreciate something like that, too," he said.

If approved, it would become the second LA Fitness in Livonia: another gym currently operates in Wonderland Village near Plymouth and Middlebelt roads.

Councilwoman Maureen Miller Brosnan said she noticed the design of the proposed building is different than the one in Wonderland Village.

"It looks remarkably more substantial in its building materials then what you're proposing for Seven Mile and Middlebelt," she said. "Is there any way we could get closer to what that looks like? That's a good-looking building."

Officials said they planned on using many of the same designs for the smaller building on the property to mirror the ones in the Livonia Marketplace shopping center across the street. Lormax Stern also owns that shopping center as well.

Zarbosaid there are a few companies who have a lease in escrow at the proposed new center, though he declined to talk about which companies those were in detail. He said the additional pad would be filled most likely at a later date, a strategy that allows the company to be more selective about the type of businesses that go into that center.

"It allows us to be way more selective then just taking something early to pay the bills," Zarbosaid.

The council has two motions on the floor for its next regular meeting: one to approve the development and another to send the issue to the council's committee of the whole for further discussion. The council's next regular meeting takes place at 7 p.m. March 27 at Livonia City Hall.

dveselenak@hometownlife.com | 734-678-6728 | Twitter: @DavidVeselenak

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Proposed LA Fitness in Livonia draws concern over parking - Detroit Free Press

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Home » Fitness » Proposed LA Fitness in Livonia draws concern over parking – Detroit Free Press