Event venue or campground? Casco wrestles with the question

The public gathers at the Casco Township Hall prior to the Trustee Meeting of June 16, 2025

A crowd gathered to provide perspectives on the activities of Daydreamer Domes and Dine Restaurant at the regular June meeting of the Casco Township Board of Trustees held on Monday June 16 at 7:00 pm. Comments built on those shared during a Special Meeting held on Monday night June 9 focused on revising the Casco Noise Ordinance. The revision of the noise ordinance was triggered by two outdoor gathering permit requests and a noise ordinance variance request made (and withdrawn) by Missy Fojtik, owner of Daydreamer Domes.

At this regular Board meeting, the agenda included two Outdoor Gathering Permit requests submitted by the Domes for events on August 2 and August 9. The agenda also included addressing "zoning questions surrounding land use at Daydreamer Domes."

The public chimed in. Bob Dakin, 487 Sunset Shore, reported that last Saturday morning he heard bass in every corner of Sunset Shore subdivision while walking his dog, which, in his words, "seemed insulting" after the Domes' staff said, at the June 9 meeting, that they would turn the volume down.

Mike Muehlfeld of 439 Blue Star Hwy thanked the Board for the Casco Master Plan and felt "betrayed" by the Domes which now included a restaurant even though Fojtik's March 2021 application stated she "does not want to run a restaurant." He considered it a music/event venue as tickets are sold to outsiders (non-campers). He expressed that this commercial activity violates the permit issued.

Scott Copenhaver of 431 Blue Star Hwy noted that he can hear bass tones in his house and yard and his family is negatively impacted by the intrusive sounds.

Sarah Clark, 453 Brandon, said, we have been "focusing on noise, but the bigger issue is scope creep." She argued that Daydreamer Domes was not operating as a campground and urged the board to address the zoning issue at the crux of the matter.

Patty Nowlin, proprietor and resident of Martha's Vineyard Bed & Breakfast located at 473 Blue Star Hwy said her business offers a retreat and respite. She expressed that the noise and zoning scope creep from the Domes is impeding on her own business operation.

Barb Calhoun of Sunset Shore said the low frequency bass is creating a problem which is not being addressed by the typical decibel measurement.

Dr. Paul Detrisac said he lived on Blue Star and thought the Saturday music was coming from the Consumers Energy Conference Center. He said he had participated in family friendly and fun events at the Domes including dressing as Santa Claus and hated to see the business disappear.

Jo Earls, who lives just north of the Domes at 7207 Fourth, stated that the bass goes on all day long. She confirmed that the Board had received correspondence from Leigh Ann McGrath.

Missy Fojtik, owner of Daydreamer Domes, spoke. "I understand and hear you," saying she is working to keep the volume low. "You're asking for silence; we are trying hard to do what we can, we are trying our best." She said she has turned business away from people who want to go late and is no longer pursuing a noise ordinance variance.

Fojtik conceded that she is offering a new type of music in her goal to "be a retreat for people" as well as offer community events. She introduced Todd Ernst, a sound consultant, who was present with her, concluding that "I have a right to make a living."

Marci Hayes of Mount Pleasant said, "Missy has brought something delightful to the area." Hayes reported that, during construction, Fojtik received negative notes and the Domes experienced vandalism. Hayes invited the crowd to a benefit for domestic violence scheduled for the Domes on Friday as a way of giving Fojtik and the Domes a chance.

A Mr. Sullivan of Sunset Shore noted the contrast in statements cited earlier pertaining to the special use. "You don't have a right to make a living any way you want."

Todd Ernst spoke, describing himself as an advisor to Fojtik; a producer of outdoor events; a real estate agent; and a teacher of sound engineering. He said the issue is resonance. Equipment for acoustical treatment, such as a limiter and compressor, could "knock the volume down." He proposed putting subwoofers in a cardioid position as a way of preventing sound from traveling.

Supervisor Allan Overhiser acknowledged that correspondence sent either to him or Tasha Smalley, the Zoning Administrator, had been circulated to the Board.

He clarified that the campground section of the Zoning Ordinance had been amended on July 17, 2023. He focused on the campground section 5 which permits ancillary commercial uses for campgrounds of 5-59 sites. The exact language is:

Section 9. Amend Chapter 15 Specific Use Regulations. Amend 15.03 Specific standard; E. Campgrounds and recreational vehicle parks. Amendment to the Zoning Ordinance to add to read as follows:

5. No commercial enterprise shall be permitted to operate on the project, except that a convenience shopping facility may be provided within a project containing 5-59 sites the store floor area not to exceed 1,000 square feet. Project containing 60 and over sites the store floor area not to exceed 2,500 square feet. Excluding laundry and similar ancillary uses.

Overhiser stated that the question is whether "similar ancillary uses" for Daydreamer Domes includes operation as a special events venue.

He further stated that the Outdoor Gathering Ordinance was developed for gatherings in any zone by anyone (thus outdoor gatherings are not a zoning issue); it was written for "service groups having a fundraiser, or a private family having a wedding."

The Supervisor proposed sending the Domes issue to the Planning Commission so it could work out what "ancillary commercial" means and what commercial uses might be limited, as not every commercial use is permitted.

The issue, Overhiser said, is that the primary use of Daydreamer Domes is a campground. "At what point does the ancillary use become the primary use?" he asked.

In board discussion, Treasurer Kenny Clevenger spoke to property rights but also the need to review insurance, planning and maps for large outdoor gatherings.

Trustee Mary Campbell felt the project was morphing into an ancillary use beyond a campground. Regarding the additional time needed for the review at the Planning Commission, she said, "We can only react to what we get when we get it."

Trustee Dan Fleming drew a parallel between the outdoor bass and loud music and smoking in a bowling alley. He said, in the 1970s, one would never have imagined that smoking could be removed from a bowling alley, but they are now smoke free. In the same way, he proposed the use of headphones so only the participants would hear the music.

The Casco Township Planning Commission holds its regular meeting on Wednesday June 18 at 6:00 pm, providing timeliness to address this agenda item. Acknowledging that the Planning Commission provides clarification but the Board of Trustees approves zoning decisions, it was determined that the Board of Trustees would then address the anticipated Planning Commission clarification at the Trustees' Special Meeting scheduled for Monday June 23 at 7:00 pm (the primary agenda of which is to decide on bids submitted for the Township Hall renovation). The motion to ask the Planning Commission to clarify "ancillary uses" was seconded and carried.

Groans were audible from the gathered public. Missy Fojtik expressed frustration at this delay. This is "turning into a fiasco," she said, arguing that she has capacity for 227 people in her pool and additional capacity of 100+ in her restaurant; while she and her event organizers were requesting a permit for 600 people, they weren't expecting that many, although they stated they had the ability to manage a crowd of 600.

In additional public comment, someone who lives across the street from the Domes asked Casco Township Deputy Hoyt if his department could support a 600 person gathering at the glamping site.

Hoyt responded that Fojtik can contract with the Sheriff's office; Fojtik said she has already been in pre-planning with the Allegan County Sheriff regarding parking and security.

A man attending his first Township meeting wondered how it works if families are going to the Domes and encountering outside people coming to the Domes.

An event producer present with the Domes team acknowledged that people have different music tastes and asked what kind of bands and music people might enjoy hearing.

A local resident responded that the issue is this is a camping facility that has become a special events facility. She acknowledged that, "yes, frogs chirp and make noise" but the proposed music events are an expanded business use and the issue is how to follow the zoning ordinance properly.

A last comment affirmed the dialogue on what sounded like a shift from being a campsite to becoming an events venue.

With public comment and the public both reaching a point of exhaustion, the Regular Board meeting was adjourned at 9:20 pm.

The Board remained for a second meeting focused on the Township budget. They were interrupted by sound engineer Todd Ernst who requested "60 seconds to share" what he thought was a perfect solution to the dilemma.

Ernst defined the problem as DJ crews bringing in different sound systems. He proposed that Missy Fojtik require outside groups to use her own system for which she will order a limiter. Ernst said the noise will be consistent and DJs would play "hardcore electronic" music "through my two speakers, and that's all."

The Planning Commission will address the issue of what constitutes "ancillary uses" for a campground at their regular monthly meeting on Wednesday June 18 at 6:00 pm at the Casco Township Hall, 7104 107th Avenue.

The Casco Township Board of Trustees will hold a special meeting on Monday June 23, 2025 at 7:00 pm to address the Planning Commission "ancillary use" clarification and Daydreamer Domes Outdoor Gathering requests, in addition to the previously noticed agenda of deciding on the Township Hall renovation bids.