Flea market proposed for old Township Hall property

Greg Pardee has been a successful painting contractor for 28 years, and he’s always looking for new business opportunities. A couple of years ago he started Hill Top Pheasant Farm & Hunting Preserve, an operation that extends into both Torch Lake and Milton Townships along US 31. This winter he spent some time exploring the huge outdoor swap meets and flea markets in Florida. He noticed that there were a lot of cars in the parking lots, and that the vendors were doing a brisk business. He thought about the way the economy is affecting shopping habits.

He came back home and began to look for a place to try a flea market in Antrim County. He’s considered the closed Alden Lumber in Elk Rapids, several locations in Central Lake—and the old Torch Lake Township Hall and ambulace barn in Eastport, vacant since the move to the new facility last summer. The property is listed for $380,000 and there have been no serious inquiries.

Old Township Hall mothballed

The former EMS ambulance barn

Pardee went to talk to Township Supervisor George Parker about renting the Township Hall property.  The Supervisor suggested he ask the Planning Commission to consider his proposal. He went to the Planning Commission meeting a week ago and they told him he should first find out whether the Township Board would even consider leasing the property. They also referred him to Zoning Administrator Bill Briggs for information about applying for a Special Use Permit to do business in the Village zone. Whew. Sounds like a ping-pong game, doesn’t it?

However. Planning Commission Chair Lee Scott helped Pardee to get his proposal on the Board’s agenda. Bill Briggs gave him everything he’d need to file a permit application. And last night he was at the Board meeting, pursuing his idea, with some other folks from the business community in attendance for support.

Pardee explained that he wanted to model his operation on the Bargain Barn over in Manistee County and the Brownwood weekly flea market in Central Lake. He said if the Board would work with him, he could have it open this summer. He proposed a lease with option to buy, and asked for some consideration with respect to the $450 Special Use Permit application fee.

The Board listened, and asked some questions. They all agreed that the property is unlikely to sell at the listed price. George Parker said he would obtain an updated commercial appraisal so there would be a starting point for negotiations. He said he’d give Pardee a tour through the buildings anytime, and that he’d call him when the appraisal was completed. Trustee Larry Tomlinson said he thought it would be good if the Township could generate some income from the property. Trustee Alan Martel said he thought it would be better for the building to be used than to sit empty. Treasurer Sharon Schultz and Clerk Kathy Windiate were open to the proposal but wanted to see some numbers.

It could have taken months for all this stuff to work itself through the system, but in two weeks there has been a lot of progress. I don’t know if the Board and Pardee can come to terms on a lease. I don’t know if the proposal is feasible. We’ll find out.  But I do know that the members of the Board and the Planning Commission are looking at business with fresh eyes, and trying hard to work with Pardee to evaluate his proposal on its merits, rather than having it die a lingering death in a maze of confusing regulations. Good for them. Good for all of us.

Gregg Pardee speaks to the Township Board

. . . and the Board listens