Trending
HOUGHTON -- A new extended-stay hotel could be coming to Houghton.
The Houghton Planning Commission approved the site plan Tuesday for the new building, which would be on Razorback Drive between the Rock House & Mine Shaft and Goodwill. U.P. Engineers & Architects prepared the plan for the site, which is owned by Moyle Development & Real Estate.
The site plan submitted to the city calls for 29 rental units. The plan met all requirements for the B-3 (general business) zone, including setbacks and landscaping, City Manager Eric Waara said.
Stormwater will go into a retention basin on the east side of the site before being drained into the Huron Creek watershed. The site will have 31 parking spots, slightly more than required, said Waara. Three spaces of Mine Shaft parking were removed and replaced.
In other action, the Planning Commission:
– Recommended the rezoning of two parcels along Houghton Canal Road from B-2 (community business) to Reserve. Current owner JRG Development submitted the request to accommodate potential buyer Gold Metal Rentals. Those plans call for 18 to 24 timber vacation homes, along with a campground, water's edge pavilion, docks, boat launch and playground. The zoning change must still be approved by the city council. Its agenda Wednesday night included scheduling a public hearing; if approved, the hearing would likely take place July 28.
The motion passed 6-0; Mayor Bob Backon and Councilor Mike Needham chose to wait until the City Council meeting to cast their votes.
Councilor Joan Suits asked if the existing water and sewer lines would be sufficient to handle the development. Waara said the lines had been designed for 22 lots originally; with intermittently used facilities instead of full-time residential usage, usage would probably be less, Waara said. He said a more conclusive answer would come through the development process.
– Recommended the City Council approved a lot split on part of the property owned by JRG Development. The split would split Lot D in two. Unlike lots B and C, it is not part of the rezoning request. Lot A is being preserved as a nature area.
– Scheduled a public hearing for July 27 on a request to rezone properties at 1203, 1205, 1209 and 1211 College Avenue. Owner TL Rentals is seeking to rezone the property from R-3 to R-4. This would make the property more suitable for a higher-density housing development, which would be aimed at students, architect Barry Polzin said in a memo to the city. The city created the R-4 district in 2016 to encourage higher-density development. It currently includes parts of the area between Agate and Vivian streets and Ruby and Houghton avenues.
– Scheduled a public hearing for July 27 on updating the city's zoning ordinances. Vice Chair Bill Leder said most of the changes are minor tweaks, with some more significant changes occurring in spots such as off-street parking requirements.