Provided by City of Houghton A rendering by Barry J. Polzin Architects shows a planned 184-bed apartment complex at 100 Pearl St. The Houghton Planning Commission approved the site plan for the complex at its meeting Tuesday night.

HOUGHTON — The Houghton Planning Commission approved site plans for a new apartment complex on Pearl Street Tuesday, as well as for a new cold storage building.

The commission had approved the site plan for a previous incarnation of the apartments at 100 Pearl St. in October 2021. The original plans, which called for underground parking, ran into complications, including rock beneath the surface.

The new complex will have a higher number of beds to justify higher cost, said architect Barry Polzin — 184 compared to the original 116. Instead of underground parking, it will have a 13-foot parking structure with lift systems and racks to allow for cars to be parked on two levels.

Current plans call for 72 ground parking spots and 20 stacked. If more parking is needed later on, about 90% of the garage can be racked, Polzin said. There will also be an area to hose the cars off, potentially helping address concerns about winter salt, he said.

Polzin said the complex might also have shared cars for residents to reduce the need for them to have a car on-site.

The first floor was reconfigured to include amenity areas such as the lounge, fitness areas and pool tables.

“It’s a much more efficient building,” Polzin said. “It’s still basically the same idea as before. Great location for student housing, utilizing the zoning that it was changed to.”

The area was rezoned from R-3 (multiple-family) to R-4 (redevelopment-ready residential district) in 2021 in conjunction with the project.

Vice Chair Bill Leder said the project aids in the city’s goal of drawing Michigan Technological University students closer to the university.

“It provides parking for students, but it’s close enough that they won’t be automobile commuters,” he said. “They can have a car for weekends or when they need it.”

The commission also approved the site plan for an 80-by-160-foot cold storage pole barn for Houghton Building Supply at 1550 Brickyard Lane. Despite the increase in impervious surface, it will still be below the designed and permitted volume for stormwater runoff, according to a U.P. Engineers & Architects analysis.

In other action, the commission:

• Reviewed the draft version of the recreation chapter of the city’s master plan. They will make final adjustments to the recreation plan at a special meeting 5:30 Sept. 19.

Discussed comments from the survey in the master plan. The city recorded at least 511 comments in response to the survey. Planning Commissioner Norma Veurink said her comment had not been recorded. In a written response, survey director Jun Min said there were several possible reasons, including the survey assistant summarizing the comment or not being able to make out the writing. The commission discussed the possibility of moving to online commenting; any move to that would come during preparations for the next survey in four years.

Discussed a draft paragraph in the master plan about the city’s rebranding and development of a marketing plan, as required under the city’s Redevelopment-Ready Community Status. The parapgragh was placed in the economic development section.

Heard public comment for several area residents advocating for pickleball courts in the city similar to those Hancock installed in Laurn-Grove Park. One suggestion was to add a court at Dee Stadium.