“Interlochen Depot” Development Proposed in Green Lake Township

A 1.8-acre parcel on J. Maddy Parkway could be transformed into a “vibrant community hub” with food trucks, a small nature preserve with scenic micro-trails, space for local artists and vendors, and live music and community events, according to owner Toby Dunne. Dunne, who purchased the property in late 2024 with his wife Joelle under Michigan Impossible LLC, plans to anchor the site with his own De Food Truck and is working through the Green Lake Township approval process.

Dunne has worked as a chef in Belgium, France, Spain, Australia, and the U.K., and met Joelle abroad before they returned to the U.S. to settle in Benzie County. They ran Muy Loco Tacos in Frankfort for two years and later launched De Food Truck, which serves 100 percent gluten-free street food with a global twist. The truck has rotated among various locations, as well as at private events and pop-ups – but could soon make its home at the site Dunne calls Interlochen Depot.

Dunne hopes to create a “go-to destination for locals and visitors alike” at 2689 J. Maddy Parkway, located across from Good Eyes Optical. Dunne will offer regular hours and also hopes to offer community-focused events in the summer, such as live music, outdoor movie nights, and family-friendly programming. He plans to eventually offer nature-inspired, hands-on educational areas for children as well as a short scenic trail system where guests can walk through the woods and wetlands.

Over the next few seasons, Dunne intends to add a spot for a second guest food truck and launch a food truck incubator. He envisions local culinary students and start-up entrepreneurs gaining hands-on experience and a launching pad for their own food-related businesses. “I want to give back to the community that’s given so much to us,” he explains. That also includes offering local artists a chance to display their artwork along the trails and food truck area, “adding a cultural and creative dimension to the space,” Dunne says. With Interlochen Center for the Arts just down the road, Dunne hopes the property will offer a place for students to show off their artwork or pop in with their musical instruments for open mic events.

Dunne says the goal of Interlochen Depot isn’t just to have a food truck lot but to reflect “a long-term commitment to environmental stewardship and community engagement.” He plans to undertake a large-scale planting of native vegetation, including working with a downstate nursery that specializes in cultivating rare wetland plants. Educational and interpretative signs are planned to be installed along the trail system.

Dunne believes the various components will make for a unique community destination. However, “unique” can also be a challenge when it comes navigating zoning. Green Lake Township’s zoning allows Dunne to operate a food truck on the property. But the combination of other uses – notably having multiple food trucks – has elevated the project in the township’s eyes to one requiring a detailed site plan, akin to a special use permit (SUP). While Dunne recently submitted a lengthy proposal to the township – including wetland delineation and a pre-application visit report from the Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) – it doesn’t yet meet the standards of a formal SUP application, says Township Supervisor Marv Radtke.

“It hasn’t been submitted for a site plan review process yet,” he says. The standards for a detailed site plan are significantly more onerous than a basic site plan, ranging from soil erosion and sediment control measures to topographic and elevation information to numerous utility, driveway, parking, sign, and lighting details. Dunne, who says he’s already spent thousands on site preparation, is seeking township review before some of those permits and improvements are complete before making more investments. 

Dunne’s hoping the township can extend flexibility to a project that’s outside the norm – but is intentionally designed that way for the betterment of a property. For example, he says obtaining parking approval is an initial hurdle to clear, as patrons aren’t allowed to park on the grass. But while he has the space and ability to install a paved parking area, Dunne says he's worried “dumping truckloads of gravel will change the soil and won’t actually improve the property or the nature there.” He’s seeking township approval for a more sustainable option, like a constructed mulch pad to minimize the impact on the natural area and reduce runoff.

Dunne and township staff continue to discuss when his application might go to the planning commission for review, which Dunne hopes could happen in April. Radtke says Dunne could also potentially come to public comment at an upcoming meeting to discuss his plans with and see if some of upfront application requirements could be waived. The zoning ordinance does allow the planning commission to waive certain requirements if they’re “not reasonable for the parcel.”

“I have no issues with the concept,” says Radtke. “It seems to work well in certain locations...but with a higher intensity use, we just have to make sure we’re going to mitigate any impacts.”

With a project that doesn’t neatly fit into the ordinance, Dunne is hopeful the township “can look at the whole plan instead of just the letter of the zoning,” he says. “We’re trying to build things that will make the community excited.”