Two New Planning Commissioners Sworn In -- One Re-appointed

IRONWOOD - January 02, 2008 - The regular meeting of the Ironwood Planning Commission was held on Wednesday, January 02, 2008, beginning at 5:30 PM in the Community Development Conference Room on the second floor of the Ironwood Memorial Building, Ironwood, Michigan.

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

The first order of business Wednesday night was to swear in returning Commissioner Rayner along with newly appointed Commissioners Kimball- Bowles and Powers.

The Commission decided to postpone any action on the Zoning Ordinance Update until there was a full table of Commissioners present. City Manager, Scott Erickson also recommended that action be withheld until the City's new Community Development Director was hired. He felt, and the Commission agreed, that a new Director might be able to offer a new perspective and expertise on the Zoning code.

Likewise action was postponed on project updates; work on the Comprehensive Plan; election of officers (Chairperson and Vice Chairperson); goals and objectives and committee member updates. The attending members felt it was best to wait for a full Commission to meet and for a new Community Development Director to be hired before taking any action. City Manager, Scott Erickson, said a new Director should be in place sometime in February.

City property owner Steve Buda, 623 Cloverland Drive, addressed the Commission requesting any assistance they could offer to help him sell his home. He has a buyer, but the property is zoned commercial, and it is on an undersized, non-conforming lot. Jackie Powers asked the rest of the Commission if this is a common thing in Ironwood – where in the event of a fire, people would not be able to rebuild their homes because their lots are too small. She was informed by Chairman Wyssling that such is the case.

According to Jeffrey Hautala, from Silver Properties, the prospective buyer of Buda's home is trying to finance the purchase through MSHDA. He said what MSHDA is requiring in order to approve financing is some kind of letter stating that, in the event of a fire, the City of Ironwood would allow the new owners to rebuild on the existing lot. Scott Erickson brought the Commission up to speed on what City Attorney, Dennis Cossi, had to say about the situation.

After a brief discussion, Commissioner Rayner suggested that the Commission send MSHDA a copy of Ironwood's City Ordinance regarding variances. She believed that a copy of the Ordinance might be enough to satisfy MSHDA's requirements. Any other action, she stated, would probably be illegal. It was agreed that a copy of the City Ordinance would be faxed over to the proper MSHDA official as soon as possible in order to help Mr. Buda complete the sale of his home.

Prior to closing Wednesday night's meeting, Mr. Wyssling updated the Commission of developments within the City. According to Wyssling, the Cedar Court was recently sold. Mr. Hautala confirmed the sale and said that closing would be sometime in February.

Don & GG's new owner, according to Wyssling, is doing a great job and business seems to be doing very well. The new Greek/American family restaurant on Cloverland Drive (the former Pizza Hut) has not been able to open due to the fact that a State health inspection has not yet taken place. The new doughnut/coffee shop is also waiting for their inspection. According to Wyssling, both businesses should be inspected within the next two weeks, and he expected them both to be open shortly.

It was also mentioned that the steel for the new Walgreen's structure has been delivered, and the structure should be fully enclosed soon. Everything seems to be going on schedule with the Walgreen's project, and it is believed it will be opening as planned.

Eric Lytwyniuk announced at the meeting that the BP gas station on the highway was also recently sold.

The meeting was adjourned and the next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, February 6, 2008.

To hear the entire meeting, please [CLICK HERE]. The Superior Chronicle apologizes, but due to technical difficulties, no video of Wednesday night's meeting is available.

Jim Albert
Superior Chronicle
Staff Writer