By Lisa Carolin
Downtown Chelsea is now the home of FarmSudz, a retail store located at 104 S. Main Street in the lower level beneath Chelsea Print & Graphics.
The Chelsea Planning Commission unanimously approved a special use permit to allow the manufacturing of natural skincare products such as beeswax balms, natural creams, and goat milk soaps at the FarmSudz retail store with the manufacturing operations to be less than 35 percent of the square footage.
The property is zoned C-5 (Central Business District), which allows processing activities in combination with retail sales if floor space allotted to processing doesn’t exceed 50 percent.
Following a public hearing, commission members discussed the reason that FarmSudz owner Julie Konkle wants to use the space for manufacturing. Konkle said it would be easier to follow government regulations at the store than at her home.
Konkle began leasing space at that location July 1 and started the FarmSudz business in 2013. She is a nurse from the University of Michigan who retired after a 35-year career.
Konkle previously stated, “I’ve always had a keen interest in natural remedies and herbal medicine, which is where FarmSudz comes in.”
Products to be made at FarmSudz include soap made with local goat milk, oils and lye.
When questioned about the potential danger of a lye spill, Konkle responded that she needs the lye to make soap but only uses it in small quantities. She said that she would follow federal guidelines for the cleanup of lye.
Konkle also hopes to use the space for occasional educational demonstrations and classes, which would be limited to 10 people.
In other action, the planning commission unanimously approved an amended final site plan for Sheridan Books and the construction of a 25,350 square foot warehouse addition and parking lot expansion. Sheridan Books is located at 613 Industrial Dr.
Chelsea City Engineer Christine Linfield told planning commission members that no representatives from invited property owners in the industrial park attended an Architectural Committee meeting Aug. 9.
Sheridan Books plans to start working on the foundation for the building this fall and continue building in the winter.
On a separate note, Linfield shared the news that Carl Schmult, a longtime planning consultant for the City of Chelsea, has gone into full retirement. He has worked for the City of Chelsea since 1974.
