Graham Jaehnig/Daily Mining Gazette Calumet Township’s Planning Commission has been considering a recreational marijuana ordinance since the beginning of this year, and recently approved the wording of the zoning ordinance amendments. The actions then move to the Houghton County Planning Commission, where they will discussed at their regular monthly meeting at 4 p.m. Tuesday.

CALUMET TOWNSHIP — Two proposed zoning amendments are among the agenda items to be discussed during the virtual zoom meeting of the Houghton County Planning Commission scheduled for 4 p.m. on Dec. 15.

The topic of a proposed amendment on retail sales was discussed at the Nov. 24, 2020, Township Planning Commission meeting.

Township Supervisor Tim Gasperich opened the discussion, referring to the proposed amendment on retail sales, Section 3.10 of the Charter Township of Calumet Zoning Ordinance. The proposal is to amend it by adding a new sub-section E4, which reads:

4. Retail sales are restricted to items that are grown, extracted, processed, or manufactured by the seller at its main facility within the Township and ancillary items that are directly related to the use of items that are grown, extracted, processed, or manufactured by the seller at its main facility within the Township. Retail sales may take place within the seller’s main facility or within a separate building on the same lot or parcel as the seller’s main facility. Nothing herein shall be construed to permit the operation of general retail sales such as those allowed in a C-1( Commercial) District.

During the discussion, Gasperich commented that some businesses in M-1 (manufacturing district) are already conducting retail sales, and the amendment would affirm the township’s position on the practice.

After a brief cross-discussion touching on the marijuana issue, Gasperich commented that there would be a public hearing on allowing recreational marijuana sales within the township.

Gasperich said the Planning Commission began discussing the idea at the beginning of the year.

“We decided to entertain having recreational marijuana in the township,” he said, “so we decided to have an ordinance drawn up, if we decide to allow it, it will be located in our manufacturing district.”

Once the ordinance amendments were accepted by the Planning Commission, they then head to the Houghton County Planning Commission for approval or rejection.

“in order for us to change the zoning, we’re supposed to ask them for their approval, also,” Gasperich said. “But I had sent that to them in October. Their Nov. meeting didn’t have a quorum, so now they’re going to look at it this week.”

Gasperich said he is not expecting any opposition to the changes, particularly since there has been none since discussions began in Jan. and Feb.

Calumet Village has struggled in attempts for its Village Council to adopt marijuana ordinances, when after adopting two previously, they were forced to suspend them, actions which led to much vocal opposition and disappointment from village residents.

“So far, everything has been in the Gazette, all of our meetings and hearings have been announced, and we haven’t had anybody come to anything. Everything has been moving smoothly.”

The Planning Commission has not met with opposition, Gasperich said, and the members hope they do not, but the commission members are on the fence.

“If we get a bunch of opposition,” he explained, “we’ll turn it down. If we don’t, we’ll pass it. I mean, we don’t anything planned, it’s just it would be offered if somebody wanted to come in and start a business.”

Someone wanting to establish a recreational marijuana business would help on the taxes, put employees to work, he said.

An email from Houghton County Planning Commission Chairman Horst Schmidt included the information for the Tues. Zoom meeting:

• https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89805921373?pwd=cytXbHhnOGdtd1liaDcwQS9VakZ3Zz09

• Meeting ID: 898 0592 1373

• Passcode: 422347