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Update: The Township Board voted unanimously to send Seven Hills’ Special Use Permit back to the Planning Commission for review. They will then make a recommendation to the Township Board.
At Tuesday’s Peninsula Township Board meeting (June 10, 7 p.m. at the Township Hall), the Board will discuss compliance concerns and zoning ordinance violations occuring at the Seven Hills development over the past few years. These include amplified music, cars parked along Seven Hills Road, use of a food truck on-site, and other concerns related to the development’s special use permit (SUP).
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In a letter to the Township Board dated May 29, 2025, Dave Sanger, Township Ordinance Enforcement Officer, noted that on Sunday, May 25, at approximately 7 p.m., the Township had been notified that Mission Proper and Old Mission Distilling, the two businesses located within the main building at Seven Hills, allowed an activity that generated amplified voice and music, as well as overflow parking on Seven Hills Road.
The Kenny Olson Cartel was scheduled to perform that night during a free concert from 3 p.m to 9 p.m. Joining the lineup were Detroit musicians YORG and Badonna, as well as Traverse City musician Chris Sterr.
Sanger wrote that information was provided to the Township indicating that the amplified voice and music was “audible beyond the property line at a level greater than normal conversation as perceived by a reasonable person at a distance of over 1000 feet from the location of the applied voice and music,” which is not permitted by the business’ Special Use Permit. In addition, Sanger noted that photos provided to the Township confirmed more than 60 vehicles parked on Seven Hills Road that night.
He also noted that the maximum capacity of the septic system at Seven Hills, per the Grand Traverse County Health Department, is limited to 70 patrons both indoors and outdoors. “It is highly likely that the number of patrons on site during the reported complaint time exceeded 70, given that the parking plan for the SUP provides 55 on-site parking spaces, and 60 vehicles were observed parked on the public roadway,” wrote Sanger.
Parking of overflow vehicles on Seven Hills Road by patrons of Mission Proper and Old Mission Distilling is not allowed under the terms and conditions approved by the Township Board for Special Use Permit #35, Amendment #3, dated Jan. 14, 2025. View that amendment here.
Sanger noted that this is the second written notice of violation. The previous notice involved an activity that occurred on Sept. 1, 2024 — also a free concert by the Kenny Olson Cartel, with similar amplified music and parking concerns.
Similar issues were also noted on Saturday, Nov. 25, 2023, during a Holiday Tree Lighting event which took place at Seven Hills. Isaiah Wunsch, Township Supervisor at the time, contacted Sanger indicating that he had received several complaints about the event, and that many cars were parked on both sides of Seven Hills Road.
In a notice to the Township dated Nov. 29, 2023, Sanger wrote that complainants were concerned about the safety of families with small children walking to and from the event in the dark on the roadway.
On Feb. 24, 2024, Seven Hills hosted a Comedy Night and advertised that a food truck would be on site. However, in a letter dated Feb. 13, 2024, to Seven Hills by then Township Planner Jenn Cram, she noted that a food truck operation is not permitted under the Township’s Zoning Ordinance.
“The Township is willing to work with you to ensure the success of your new business,” wrote Sanger in a Feb. 22, 2024 letter to Seven Hills. “However, the Township has a responsibility to uphold the laws that have been enacted, and that responsibility will not be compromised. I ask for your cooperation.”
In his most recent letter dated May 29, 2025, Sanger wrote, “It continues to be the intention of the Township to resolve this matter by voluntary compliance with the conditions of Special Use Permit 35, as amended, and the noise ordinance.”
If voluntary compliance is not achieved, he wrote, the Township reserves the rights to enforcement action, including invalidation of the SUP for breach of the conditions and safeguard of the SUP under the Peninsula Township Zoning Ordinance.
In a note to Township Supervisor Maura Sanders on May 27, 2025, Jay Milliken, who is part of the Seven Hills team along with Troy Daily, Brian Peace and Jordan Valdmanis, wrote that he was not aware of many calls to the Township, to Sanger, or to the Sheriff’s Department about the event.
“We are aware that there were a few cars that ended up parking on Seven Hills around 8 p.m. that disregarding our emails, posted signs and our requests in person while monitoring the road.” (sic)
He said they also invested in a decibel reader and logged decibel readings around the property line, the road and the perimeter.
“As requested, we’d love to sit down and discuss everything further,” wrote Milliken. “We know there was an issue prior to getting approval for us to pay for and post signs on Seven Hills for no parking until there was a formal request or issues from the Sheriff’s Department. Maybe now we can escalate that to MDOT or the Road Commission and get that in motion.”
In a note to the community today, the Seven Hills team encouraged residents to attend the meeting and voice their support. “Seven Hills isn’t just a business — it’s the gathering place of the Old Mission Peninsula. It’s where neighbors connect, families celebrate, artists create, and community thrives. We’ve worked hard to address every concern raised, made meaningful progress, and are deeply committed to being a respectful, accountable part of this place we all call home.”
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To view or leave comments on this story, click HERE.
It seems to me the township needs to find a way to help seven hills by working with the owners to change the terms of their sup to accommodate the reality.
A 70 person limit and a subjective noise limit is not realistic. Clearly people support what seven hills is offering. I don’t know why allowing for portable bathrooms when there is an event wouldn’t solve the septic issue. And as far as I have been able to find most jurisdictions measure noise by dcb level meters. Using a very subjective test like conversation level would never withstand court scrutiny.
As far as the parking issue goes signs are as far as seven hills can go without creating a potential confrontation issue. Apparently we have plenty of money in the pot for matching funds for grants. Take some of that money to hire off duty police.
Perhaps the type of live music being offered should be considered. I understand hiring a band with a large following might be good for business, however for neighborly harmony perhaps not.
I am following this reporting of the Seven Hills issue. Sadly ,items being reported are not researched. Facts are nothing but hearsay and therefore destroying the credibility of the statements. PLEASE Old Mission Gazette, reporting needs to be honest . My friend’s son has won several Pulitzer Prizes for his journalism. I asked him how he reports and he said a good journalist must report truths not hearsay. research, research , research BEFORE you portray an article as true.
Thanks for the note, Kathryn. What is it in the story that is untrue? I am always willing to make corrections.
statements made about noise ( not documented) traffic numbers (hearsay…others were there and said not that many as being quoted were there…who to believe) police did not have any tickets issued ….I just would like to believe what is being reported.
What’s reported in the story is what was documented through the Peninsula Township offices.
Thank you. You are then reporting all discussion or just some topics discussed items. I do want to read and feel the entire issues were written about in the article