What’s happening at Robin Hills Farm?
The business closed its doors last year and has been a frequent topic of conversation throughout the Chelsea community since that time.
Tuesday night at the Sylvan Township Board meeting, Trustee Cyndi Jabara, who is also a member of the Planning Commission, updated the board on the future plans of this popular township destination at 20390 North M-52.
She said that a representative from Robin Hills assured the township’s Planning Commission that they are “still moving forward and working on the special events building.” The owners still plan to open the restaurant in 2019.
Planners granted a one-year extension to Robin Hills to begin construction of the event building, according to an activity report submitted to the board by Carol Konieczki, township zoning and planning administrator.
The last public post on the business’s Facebook page said, “Hello Everyone! Because of the amount of inquiries we have received, we want to assure our supporters in the Chelsea community and other interested parties that we are still here and still very much active. To update you: 2018 will be spent making important improvements and forming lasting partnerships in order to provide you with a better experience on the farm. We appreciate your continued support, and look forward to seeing you in the near future.”
Township officials said Robin Hills has the same owners, are putting in solar and electric and “brought in new management for the restaurant.”
In other zoning news, Konieczki told the board that in 2018, the township issued 58 zoning permits and 12 new housing permits. In 2017, those numbers were 40 new zoning permits and 15 new housing permits, she said.
In 2016, there were 43 zoning permits issued and 10 new housing permits.
The next Sylvan Township Planning Commission meeting is scheduled for Jan. 24.
In other business, Chelsea Area Fire Authority (CAFA) Lt. Eric Stanley gave a presentation to the Township Board about the merits of adopting the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) code.
Stanley, a state certified fire inspector, told the board that adopting the fire code would give CAFA personnel the ability to review both commercial and residential development site plans.
He said adoption of this code was for “life safety, community-risk reduction to make sure that developments are safe, that there are always ways out and to make sure everyone’s safe,” he said.
“We’re here to serve and protect,” Stanley said of the fire authority.
He said the main goal is not to be “enforcers” rather to work with developers and business owners to make their buildings safe.
For more information about this code, click here. https://www.nfpa.org/Codes-and-Standards/All-Codes-and-Standards/List-of-Codes-and-Standards
Stanley and Fire Chief Rob Arbini are still working on the document to enact a uniform fire code across the member municipalities of CAFA – the City of Chelsea, Sylvan Township, Lima Township and Lyndon Township.
