Garage Restaurant May Get Final Approval Tonight to Open in Northville

Tonight, the prospective owners of – an American grill restaurant with a seating capacity of 244 – will learn if they'll get the city council's seal of approval to move forward. A special meeting has been scheduled for 7 p.m. at the city hall.

has not been easy, after numerous meetings of various kinds with city commissions and neighbors. Brothers Bill and Mark Evasic, who seek to , have faced concerns from prospective neighbors on issues such as noise, smells and scale. But a constant source of contention between community members and the owners is parking.

Northville’s planning commission held a public hearing in March and determined the restaurant was eligible for a PUD, or planned unit development.

At the city council meeting last week, one resident told the council that he has seen Northville’s traffic increase over the 23 years he has lived in the city. He said that he is worried about how the capacity of the Garage might push the limits of free parking in the downtown area. He added that he is also concerned about how traffic enforcement will be handled by the police department

Mary Starring, owner of Starring the Gallery on Main Street, said that she is excited to see such a large-scale business open on the west end of Main Street.

She said she has been “impressed” with the Evasics. “I applaud these guys for sticking with it,” she said, citing the many meetings they’ve had with residents.

One of the Evasic brothers was in the audience but did not address the city council.

Jim Long, local business and property owner, said, “increased investors, responsible business people, good business plan, something we need in this town. Seems like a no-brainer to me.” He added that he hoped the city council would show its support for the proposed business.