KEWEENAW COUNTY — Last month, a real estate company consulting firm submitted a request to the Planning Commission for re-zoning of some 80 acres.

The request, by AFM Real Estate, was submitted on behalf of Black Bear, Inc.,  better known as Mt. Bohemia Ski Resort. The request is to rezone the properties from Resort Residential to Resort Service  The parcels are in Section 33, T58N-R29W, and combine owned and leased land by Black

Bear from The Nature Conservancy (TNC).

A Sept. 27 email fromTrina Anderson of AFM Real Estate, a consultant for Black Bear,  to Planning Commission President John Parsons, says a 200-foot buffer, scheduled to be surveyed, will be excluded from the proposed zoning change to reassure neighboring properties that that area will not be used for Resort Services purposes.

“This requested zoning amendment,” Anderson wrote, “aims to ensure consistency with the current zoning uses across the entire Black Bear properties, “promoting better uniformity and sustainability within the area.”

Anderson concluded the letter by stating:

“We kindly request that the necessary process begin and, ultimately, that the Planning Commission promptly approve the rezoning request.”

At the Sept. 30 regular PC meeting, commissioners discussed the proposal and reached a consensus that much more detailed information about the proposed properties use is required to consider rezoning.

Commission members Barry Koljonen and Harvey Desnick said they had heard through social media that proposed use of the property is for multi-parcel development on a lease basis from the property owner. TNC is listed as the owner.

A letter to the County Zoning Administrator from Richard Tuzinsky, dated Sept. 20, states that TNC became the owner of the property in 2022. The parcel, approximately 74 acres, was subject to a long-term lease with Black Bear, and the parcel continues to subject to the same ground lease with the tenant.

Tuzinky’s email says that as the landowner, TNC does not object to the specific zoning change from RR to RS.  It goes on to say that the letter is not to be used or construed as evidence of TNC’s approval or consent to any actions or activities by Black Bear, on the parcel, including any proposed use of the parcel. Nor is the letter to construed as an endorsement by TNC of Black Bear of any of its activities or actions on the parcel.

At the Sept. meeting, Commission member AJ Kern noted required procedures outlined in the Zoning Ordinance for rezoning and recommended sending those requirements to the requestor.

At an Oct. 10 special meeting of the PC, Susan Hockings, interim zoning administrator, brought up the Black Bear request for rezoning. Desnick reported that he had a discussion with Jerry Wuorenmaa, executive director of WUPPDR about zoning amendments, saying  that Wuorenmaa had recommended to hold off on any ordinance amendments until Master Plan had been updated. Desnick said that updating the plan is the first priority with zoning amendments.

According to the county Master Plan, Blueprint for Tomorrow, the purpose of the RR use is to accommodate single-family residential homes at varying densities with the type and character that would allow possible conversion to year-round dwellings on or near waterfront, or woodland. Areas considered for resort residential development should have road access, and suitable natural topography. The land must be able to meet standards for potable water supply and sewer/septic. Lands identified for RR use primarily includes Lake Superior and inland shoreline and appropriate adjacent areas throughout the county.

Residential Resort use is intended to provide recreation or vacation goods and services )restaurants, lodging, small gift shops, outdoor outfitter, etc.) for families living in or using resort or vacation areas.

Development should be limited to those uses that are compatible with the wilderness/resort character of the County the Master Plan states.

The document goes on to say that it is recommended that RS be carefully defined to include only those goods and services that are compatible with the character of Keweenaw County or a new more restrictive use be developed that provides for more guidance to future development throughout the county.