Phantom Fireworks Gets Special Exception

At its May 15, 2012 meeting, the Ann Arbor planning commission unanimously voted to grant a temporary retail sales special exception use for Phantom Fireworks, a firm based in Youngstown, Ohio.

According to a staff report, the business is proposing to put up a 40×40-foot tent and an 8×40-foot storage pod in the parking lot of Colonial Lanes at 1950 South Industrial Highway. The tent would be set back 25 feet from South Industrial and take up 24 parking spaces on 2.96-acre site, leaving 203 parking spaces for the bowling alley and Cubs A.C. restaurant.

The northeast, two-way traffic entrance would be temporarily closed by placing four orange traffic cones and yellow tape in the parking lot. The remaining four entrances to the site would remain open. The sales tent would operate from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. every day of the week, with sales hours extended to midnight depending upon sales demand leading up to July 4, according to the staff report. At the planning commission’s May 15 meeting, a representative for Phantom indicated to commissioners that the intent was to sell fireworks just for the 10 days leading up to and including July 4. On July 5, the tent would come down, he said.

The site is zoned C3 (fringe commercial district), which allows certain types of temporary outdoor sales. A special exception use is needed because the proposed sales are different from items sold at the property’s permanent business. Special exception use is granted by the planning commission and does not require additional approval by the city council.

This brief was filed from the second-floor council chambers of city hall at 301 E. Huron, where planning commission meetings are held. A more detailed report will follow: [link]