HOUGHTON — The land within Houghton near Coles Creek that was rezoned for business use earlier this year could be rezoned again to accommodate a potential buyer’s plan for campground, vacation homes and nature park.

Current owner JRG Development submitted the request, which would rezone two parcels from B-2 (community business) to Reserve. That designation, for lands bordering the Portage Canal, allows one-family dwellings, vacation cottages and private or commercial recreation areas.

The proposal includes 18 to 24 timber vacation homes, said Gold Metal Rentals manager Derek Bradway said in a letter to the city. The typical home would be two bedrooms and 1,200 square feet.

Also included is an RV/tent campground with 46 modern full hook-up RV sites and 23 tent sites. Plans also include a water’s edge pavilion, docks for watercraft and fishing, a boat launch, and a playground. About 350 trees would also be planted.

“In its entirety, the Coles Creek development of vacation houses and campground will host the equivalency (of a) small cruise ship visiting Houghton each and every day of the summer,” Bradway said in the letter. “These guests will shop in our downtown retails and dine at our area restaurants.”

The land would be divided into four parcels, with those on either side retaining their current zoning. The 13-acre Parcel A, closest to Coles Creek, would be preserved as a nature area.

The only construction there would be a raised boardwalk of about a third of a mile, which would have observation outposts stationed throughout, Bradway wrote.

“This 13-acre piece of land is to preserve the wetlands while giving

access to all, including the public, to its beauty,” he wrote.

Bradway said he hopes to connect the new development and the Coles Creek boardwalk to Houghton’s waterfront trail, which now ends at the city’s RV Park.

The 13-acre parcel had been removed from JRG’s rezoning request earlier this year in response to concerns from residents about impact on the wetlands area near the creek. Even after its removal, some residents continued to object to the rezoning to B-2, which they said was out of character for the area and could lead to excessive noise and traffic.

In a letter to the Planning Commission, John Fodermaier, who lives adjacent to the property, expressed his support for the rezoning. Fodermaier had created a website opposing the original rezoning of the property from R-1 (residential) earlier this year.

“The rezoning to Reserve District with an RV Park and a nature area in the Wetlands at Cole’s Creek preserves the natural feel of the area and respects the current residents,” he said. “The proposed amended use will not have an adverse effect on any of the adjacent property values and provides us with an outstanding neighbor.”

The Planning Commission voted unanimously to schedule a public hearing on the rezoning request for 5:30 p.m. June 22.