Sign rule exceptions sought for Hall's Sport Center on West River Drive
Hall's Sport Center at 4020 West River Drive has asked the township for exceptions to sign rules to allow for a new sign that would be larger, taller, and closer to the road than normally permitted. In exchange, the business would remove an existing sign from state-owned land. The Zoning Board of Appeals postponed a decision in January 2026 and was scheduled to review it again in March 2026. The final outcome is not included in the available public records.
Timeline
- Agenda posted from agenda · published Mar 11, 2026
- Meeting held; minutes not found yet from meeting overview
- Public hearing listed from agenda · published Mar 11, 2026
This item appeared at a past meeting, but minutes or final action evidence are not in the local record yet. Action may have been taken not yet represented here.
Key facts
- Hall's Sport Center requested three variances from the sign ordinance: for size (from 32 sq. ft. to 50 sq. ft.), height (from 4 ft. to 8 ft.), and setback (from 10 ft. to at or near the property line).
- Township staff recommended approving the variances on the condition that the applicant removes its existing, non-conforming pole sign from the neighboring MDNR-owned property.
- On January 20, 2026, a motion to approve the variances failed with a 2-1 vote, as 3 votes were needed to pass.
- Following the failed vote, the Zoning Board of Appeals voted unanimously to postpone the item to its next available meeting to allow the full board to consider it.
- The request was placed on the agenda for the Zoning Board of Appeals meeting on March 17, 2026.
Discretion or exceptions
- The Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) can grant variances if it finds that unique property conditions create a "practical difficulty." Township staff argued that the property's wide road frontage, the adjacent White Pine Trail, and a four-foot grade drop combine to create such a difficulty for sign visibility.
- During a January 2026 discussion, the ZBA chair disagreed with the staff's assessment, stating he did not view the grade as a significant issue and was concerned that granting the request would lead to other local businesses asking for similar exceptions.
Who could be affected
- The owner of Hall's Sport Center
- Drivers on West River Drive
- Neighboring properties in the light industrial district
- Users of the White Pine Trail
What could change
- The proposed sign would be 50 square feet, whereas the ordinance permits a maximum of 32 square feet.
- The sign would be 8 feet tall, while the ordinance maximum is 4 feet.
- The sign would be placed at or near the front property line, while the ordinance requires a 10-foot setback.
- If the variances are approved, the existing pole sign located on Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) property at 3840 Mill Creek Avenue must be permanently removed.
What to watch
- The staff report states the property's circumstances are "unique to less than a handful of properties." Which other properties might qualify for similar variances under this reasoning?
- How would the township ensure that the new sign, if placed near the driveway, does not create a vision obstruction for traffic, as noted as a potential issue in the staff report?
Main source pages
These packet pages are the main source material for this item.
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variance request starts with March 11 memo (pages 2-5) and includes supporting materials (pages 9-15)
Supporting records
These related records help explain the item, including the agenda listing, staff explanation, and draft text.
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Variance Request - Public Hearing Previously Held 4020 West River Drive Sections 31.11(1) (two parts) and 31.11(2) Brian Burmania, Legend Sign on behalf of Hall's Sport Center
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Zoning Ordinance Sections Section 31.11 (1) (Sign Size) Section 31.11 (1) (Sign Height) Section 31.11 (2) (Sign Setback) Public Hearing Public hearing was held on January 20, 2026 Update At the Zoning Board of Appeals meeting held on January 20th, 2026, this request was postponed to the next available meeting to ensure that the full board could consider it. Since then, there have been no changes. For your review, st…
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Zoning Ordinance Sections: - Section 31.11 (1) (two parts) - Section 31.11 (2) Action Requested of the ZBA: The applicant is requesting multiple variances to permit the placement of 50 square foot, 8 foot tall ground sign at or near the property line. Application for Consideration by the Zoning Board of Appeals £¤131 West River Drive School Street General Location Map - 4020 West River Drive 4020 West River Drive La…
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MEMO TO: Zoning Board of Appeals FROM: Community Development Department DATE: March 11, 2026 RE: 4020 West River Drive - Variance Requests PROPERTY INFORMATION Owner/Applicant Hall’s Sport Center Property Address 4020 West River Drive Parcel Number 41-10-31-326-014 Zoning LI, Light Industrial
Meeting history
Agenda and minutes records showing when this item appeared and what procedural step it reached over time.
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The item appeared on the Zoning Board of Appeals Meeting agenda: Variance Request - Public Hearing Previously Held 4020 West River Drive Sections 31.11(1) (two parts) and 31.11(2) Brian Burmania, Legend Sign on behalf of Hall's Sport Center Variance Request - Public Hearing Previously Held 4020 West River Drive Sections 31.11(1) (two parts) and 31.11(2) Brian Burmania, Legend Sign on behalf of Hall's Sport Center
Accuracy note
Civic Desk summarizes public records to make local issues easier to follow. Mistakes, omissions, or outdated details are possible, especially when an issue is still moving through meetings. Before relying on an item for an important decision, verify the details in the linked source documents or with the township directly.