Orion Township still doesn’t want to give Carrie Lee’s restaurant a liquor license, but this time they do want to give it their money back.
Trustees voted on Oct. 20 to deny Carrie Lee’s second application for a Class C Liquor License, above all others, but to refund the $1,000 application fee.
“We didn’t do any investigation or research (with the second application) like we did the first time,” said treasurer James Marleau. The non-refundable application fee paid to apply for a liquor license from the township is used for administrative fees involved with processing paperwork and conducting reviews of the application.
Carrie Lee’s had submitted their first application for a liquor license in July, when it was denied by the board. John Lucas, an attorney for Lai Wah, Inc., owner of Carrie Lee’s on Baldwin Road, said he had submitted in writing to have the second application request removed from the Oct. 20 meeting agenda because his client was unable to be there.
“I’m trying to figure out what the substantial change (in the application) is,” said trustee Michael Gingell. “Other than that (the application) be reviewed by a full board.”
When the original application came before the board in July, they were one board member short as Eric Wilson had already resigned to be the new Oakland County Commissioner, and a new board member to replace him had not yet been named. Trustee Will Wilsher has since joined the board.
“It’s hard to predict (even with Wilsher) when we will have a full board,” added Gingell. “Someone might be out sick or something.”
Gingell said he didn’t want to rehash the issues the board had discussed regarding the previous application.
“But it was their choice to bring it back,” he said in regards to the second $1,000 application fee paid.
Trustee Richard Tomczak said he still felt Carrie Lee’s deserved a chance.
“I like that they’ll still close at 10 p.m. (if they get a liquor license),” he said. “I thought we only had two (liquor licenses). I’ve now been told by the clerk we have three, and that’s why I’m in favor of granting this request.”
Marleau said that once an application was approved, state law would dictate the closing time, not the township, allowing Carrie Lee’s to stay open until 2 a.m. if they wished.
“We would have no say on where it could end up,” he said.
Wilsher said he was concerned the atmosphere of the restaurant might change if it got a liquor license.
“You’ve got a very nice family restaurant there,” he said.
“We’re certainly not trying to limit their ability to expand,” added Gingell. “But based on our master plan…we have to do what’s right for the area.”
Lucas said he really couldn’t make too many comments on the second application without consulting with his client first.
“I needed an opportunity to review the matter with her,” he said.
“My indication is we won’t have a full board at the next meeting either,” supervisor Jerry Dywasuk said. “How long do we drag this out?”