Farmington Hills residents react to news of potential removal of Marvin's Marvelous Mechanical Museum
FARMINGTON HILLS, Mich. (CBS DETROIT) - It's an ever-changing situation concerning a beloved Farmington Hills establishment.
The future of Marvin's Marvelous Mechanical Museum is up for debate.
In a packed planning commission meeting Thursday, city leaders got an earful from residents in a nearly three-hour public comment period.
Many residents disapprove of the museum potentially being removed. Developers are seeking to use the land to build a grocery store.
"I am Gen X. My niece-in-law is millennial, and my grand niece is Gen-0, and we've all got pictures from us being in Marvin's, so the fact that everyone saying, 'We can just move it' ... is impossible," one woman speaking to the commission said.
More than 28,000 people have signed a petition to save the business. During the meeting, developers said they are willing to work with Marvin's and other businesses to be a part of the new development. They added that it can't be guaranteed the business would stay where It currently is.
"Marvin's is something that makes the City of Farmington Hills - a city of distinction, a city of attraction - people literally come from around the world to see this. There's no other collection like this in the world," another resident added.
Ultimately, the planning commission recommended for the project to move forward. Next, it will go before the Farmington Hills City Council.
City of Farmington Hills City Manager Gary Mekjian issued the following statement:
"Marvin's Marvelous Mechanical Museum is a longstanding business in our community and a distinctive destination in the City of Farmington Hills. The City recognizes that Marvin's Marvelous Mechanic Museum contributes greatly to the quality of life and unique character in the City, and we hope that the shopping center owner and the owner of Marvin's will continue their discussions, in order to come to a mutual agreement.
"As Commission Chair Dale Countegan and attorney Tom Schultz clarified during last night's Planning Commission meeting, the City does not have the ability during the plan review process to dictate specific tenancy of any commercial property in the City. That is a private, contractual relationship between private entities.
"The application for this PUD was recommended for approval based solely on its adherence to City planning and zoning regulations, which do not include regulations regarding who specifically can occupy space in the development.
"The City has reached out to the owner of Marvin's to determine his needs and to connect him with resources and/or opportunities that could allow him to remain in the City of Farmington Hills for many generations to come."