IRONWOOD - Thursday, February 07, 2008 - A public hearing to review and consider rezoning several homes and parcels of land on Wilson & Roosevelt Streets was held prior to the regular meeting of the Ironwood Planning Commission last night. The meeting was held in the City Commission Chambers due to the large number of people in attendance.

Planning Commission members attending the meeting included: Chairman, John Wyssling, Eric Lytwyniuk, Marge Rayner, City Commissioner Bob Burchell (ex facto), Jackie Powers, Mark Fitting and Bob Schomberg. Commissioners Stacey Jackson and Debbie Kimball-Bowles were absent.

WILSON STREET REZONING

A number of Wilson Street residents were on hand to voice their objections to the Planning Commission's rezoning scheme. The Wilson Street neighborhood is an "R-1 (single residential) island" surrounded by a sea of C-3 (highway commercial) properties. The Commission's goal is to make the entire US-2 Corridor a commercial zone.

The homes affected by this scheme include the following: 314 Roosevelt Street; 501-509 Wilson Streets; 511 Wilson Street; 600-614 Wilson Street; 701-711 Wilson Streets. They are highlighted in red in the map above.

Chairman Wyssling first asked for comments in support of the rezoning. There were none.

Randy Forstrum, 604 Wilson Street, was the first citizen to voice his opposition to the plan. He stated that the properties in question were zoned residential for at least 120 years. "We have perhaps one of the quietest neighborhoods in that area!", he said. He pointed out that the property is close to the K-Mart plaza and that most of the residents in the area have lived there a long time. He expressed fear that rezoning the property would make it more difficult to sell in the future, pointing out that most conventional residential lenders won't finance commercial property.

Mark Silver, Slade Road, Ironwood Township, made a clarification about financing. He said first time buyers through programs like MSHDA might have trouble financing because they are unable to come up with the standard 20% down. He said that most purchasers, however, would have no trouble financing through conventional lenders with an appropriate down payment.

Jeff Rose, 610 Wilson Street, explained that he was new to the area. He purchased his home in September, and his new neighborhood is one of the quietest in the City. He said the homes are well-kept and people take pride in their community. He said there are a lot of elderly in the neighborhood, and he fails to see a need for more commercial property on the highway, pointing out that the old K-Mart lot and other properties remain vacant and unused.

"Sometimes I look at the back of K-Mart, and it's just a litter ground..." explained Charlie Alexandroni, 608 Wilson Street, "I'd just hate to see it turn commercial, and they have a business and my front view is the back of somebody's garbage can and garbage piled up!" He went on to say it's a nice neighborhood, and he'd like to keep it that way.

Dennis Mattson, 314 Roosevelt Street, also expressed opposition to the rezoning plan. He expanded on Mr. Alexandroni's comments regarding trash, blight and garbage. He said he fears that commercially zoning the property will bring the blight even closer to his home.

An unidentified gentleman from 707 Wilson pointed out that the property across from his property was previously called "wetlands" and was not acceptable for building. He asked why is it suddenly okay to disturb the property if, indeed, it was "wetlands."

Helen Graykowski, 614 Wilson Street, asked the Commission how rezoning would affect taxes in the area. Her question was turned over to City Assessor Dennis Hewitt who explained there would be no change in tax structure or tax fees.

There were no further comments from those in attendance, so Chairman Wyssling asked the Commission for their thoughts.

Commissioner Mark Fitting told the crowd that he liked that neighborhood; he agreed that rezoning would be inappropriate; and that he was going to vote against the proposal. His comments drew applause from the Wilson Street residents.

Commissioner Powers asked why this was even on the agenda, and Wyssling explained that Attorney Marvin Marks had requested that a parcel he owns in the area be rezoned commercial.

When the Commission voted on the rezoning proposal, it was unanimously defeated.

TOWERING PINES APARTMENT COMPLEX

City Manager Scott Erickson updated the Commission on changes submitted by the Hovey Companies, LLC for the proposed Towering Pines Apartment Complex on Ayer Street. Changes need to be made to accommodate snow storage. There was discussion about a proposed tennis court/basketball court on the site, as well as comment regarding use of a "shared" driveway with the adjacent townhouse project, proposed by project investor and fellow Planning Commissioner Schonberg.

Commissioner Powers questioned the logic of the City investing in more tennis courts when the City, at one time, had over a dozen courts and currently has only two – both of which have been neglected. She asked why the City isn't spending their money renovating the existing courts, and she also wanted to know if the general public would have access to the new Towering Pine courts.

Manager Erickson, explained to Powers that there is a group of tennis enthusiasts in Ironwood that are trying to promote "higher level" tennis in the area again. He went on to say that they examined the existing courts and came to the conclusion that the existing courts would need much work and that adding more courts in existing locations would take away parking. He explained to Powers that the City likes the possibility of having Hovey share part of the costs, and that the new location – next to the new apartment complex, near the baseball field, and close to the high school – would be ideal. He continued by saying the courts would "ultimately" be public courts, funded through Hovey and through various grants.

PROJECT UPDATES

The Commission discussed progress on various projects throughout the City. It was mentioned that the Walgreens project was moving along as planned, and that Nick's Greek Restaurant has opened for business.

Daydream Doughnuts has not yet opened because it is waiting for final State Health Department approval. Their vent hood specs were different than originally submitted, so they had to be re-evaluated.

Dr. Marcia Toohey, chiropractor, has moved her practice from downtown Ironwood to Cloverland Drive, next to Cloverland Plumbing.

COMPREHENSIVE PLAN

Scott Erickson briefly discussed the County Comprehensive Plan meeting he recently attended, and he said the City of Ironwood would be working closely with the county to achieve similar goals. He also said the City Plan will be very close to that of the county.

Also discussed was the December 17, 2007 City Workshop Results. These results will be available online shortly.

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR

According to Manager Erickson, it appears that the a decision has been made for a new Community Development Director. Details will be forthcoming.

DEMOLITION OF SUTHERLAND STREET HOME

Demolition of a house at 712 Sutherland Street was approved by the Planning Commission. Commissioner Rayer asked Dennis Hewitt if any action was going to be taken regarding a house with the hole in the roof across from the Breakwater Restaurant on Cloverland Drive. Hewitt said he was working on that, and that it is scheduled to go before the City Commission.

HOME REZONING

Steven Buda asked the Commission to rezone his home from C-3 (highway commercial) to R-1 (residential). He has a prospective buyer that is trying to finance the house through MSDHA, and MSHDA will not finance the buyer unless the land is zoned residential. Scott Erickson explained that a form would need to be filled out, and a specific legal procedure would need to be closely followed. He said his neighbors would all have to be notified and a public hearing would have to take place.

BUSINESS REZONING

Don Morrison, Battle Creek, Michigan told the Planning Commission that he wanted to purchase the old Colonial Skateland building from the Lighthouse Family Church to start a snowmobile repair and salvage yard there. Mr. Morrison was told by the Commission that he would have to file the appropriate forms also.

ELECTION OF OFFICERS

The Commission unanimously ruled to re-appoint John Wyssling as Chairman, and Bob Schonberg as Vice-Chairman. Several of the members were appointed to various committees and groups.

AUDIO   VIDEO

Jim Albert