New City Manager Josh Eggleston Monday evening told the Wayland City Council that talks continue with the Shepard family, which is remodeling the old Smith Lumber building on West Maple Street into Lumberyard Events Center.

Eggleston said the biggest hurdles to clear are securing the minimum required parking spaces and a request to use the adjacent alley for parking.

Eggleston and Police Chief Steve Harper recently walked the property and tried to size up the parking requests for the new business, which was purchased by Mark and Mary Shepard last year. Their vision is to turn the former Smith Lumber & Coal business that was started in 1898 and closed in 2005, into a venue for banquets, wedding receptions and and reunions, including a dance hall.

Sometimes referred to as “wedding barns,” such places are becoming more popular, especially in more rural areas.

The Shepards received approval for a special use permit, but the parking issue has remained since.

Part of the problem is caused by off street parking in front of the old Smith Lumber building at the corner of  Maple and Railroad Streets.

Mark Shephard said of the property, “It’s sat there on rough idle for about 80 years,” but added he believes it’s in the public right of way.

City Planner Kirk Scharphorn Jr. of Professional Code Inspections said, “They’ve (the Shepard brothers) been renovating the inside of the building to bring it up to code. I think it’s a positive development for the city.”

The Shepards said they do not have any plans to seek a liquor license.

Smith Lumber & Coal was run by the Smith family for three generations over more than a century in Wayland. It was most recently managed by Jay Leonard Smith, who created a sort of museum of local history with photos and artifacts after he closed the business a dozen years ago. The Shepards bought it at the beginning of 2017.

Eggleston told council members, “I will update everybody when we get this resolved.”

In other business at Monday night’s meeting, the council:

• Agreed to pay up to $1,500 for this year’s audit by Gabridge & Co.

• Approved payment of $225 and $99 for one hotel aty for Eggleston to attend Michigan Rural Council Conference March 21. Eggleston this month also will attend a BS & A accounting conference.

• Set 7:30 a.m. Saturday, March 17 as the date and time for a strategic planning meeting for city officials and council members.

COVER PHOTO: An artist’s conception of what the Lumberyard Event Center will look like eventually.