Wickwood Inn returned before officials May 11, this time seeking approval for a conditional rezoning request from Saugatuck City Council.
The business sought approval to rezone 510 Butler St. from R-4 City Center Transitional Residential District to C-2 Water Street East — which would allow for additional commercial uses.
Wickwood Inn has appeared before the Saugatuck Planning Commission several times in recent months, including a meeting April 16 — during which commissioners recommended denial of the rezoning request.
Councilmembers took that recommendation, sidelining a stated wish from proposal representatives that the matter be referred back to commissioners instead of denied outright. Officials said the request wasn’t consistent with zoning ordinance or compatible with surrounding land uses.
Prior to the vote, representatives said the goal was to provide more “shoulder season” offerings, obtain a liquor license to serve alcohol, offer limited dining opportunities to the general public on a reservation-only basis, and allow non-guests to attend events.
If the business wishes to try again, it must submit a new application.
Wickwood previously earned approval for a separate special use and site plan request in October (allowing two outlying structures to be incorporated as guest accommodations) and sought special land use approval to offer alcoholic beverages to various guests and attendees in November.
In March, commissioners tabled two requests from the business, including rezoning. For that round, Wickwood also sought an ordinance text amendment for “motel/motor courts” that would’ve expanded access to amenities beyond overnight guests.
Since then, business representatives revised a set of voluntary conditions and indicated an interest in being designated as a “hotel/inn” instead of a “motel/motor court” in the future.
However, according to a staff report shared with commissioners, the updated request included various conflicts and mixed standards between the two designations.
— Contact reporter Austin Metz at ametz@hollandsentinel.com.
This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: Saugatuck Council denies rezoning request from Wickwood Inn
Reporting by Austin Metz, Holland Sentinel / The Holland Sentinel
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