Ben Garbacz/Daily Mining Gazette The topographical survey approved by the Hancock DDA could open the potential connection between Navy Street and Forest Street along the waterfront. The approval began the process for the creation of preliminary plans, but there are no definitive projects underway.

HANCOCK — Hancock’s Downtown Development Authority voted to proceed with preliminary plans for the Navy Street extension and trail. Monday’s approval included $10,000 toward a topographical survey which opens the potential for future projects. After the meeting, Hancock City Manager Mary Babcock explained the arching concept would have a one way street all the way through Navy Street and come out the other end by Forest Street. “It’s a 20 foot easement we have though some properties,” Babcock said. “There’s property owners on the east side and west side that don’t currently have access and then the city has a three acre parcel in the middle that there’s no access to.”

Before the vote on the procedure, many residents voiced their concerns over the cost, accessibility for first responders, potential damage from the weather and natural elements, snow removal and safety regarding engineering and stability. Most speakers were residents of the condos on Navy Street which were worried how the work conducted on the street could impact their property, as well as having concerns with potential conflicts of interest of DDA member Andrew Lahti having property in the area.

Before the process for preliminary plans was approved, Babcock reviewed the history of the waterfront area which has been discussed since 1986.

“The objectives are slightly different from the old to the new. Things have changed a little bit, but it’s been consistently in a lot of city plans and city documents from 1986 going forward to today,” she said. Babcock explained in 1986 and 1987 a construction company brought a document to the Planning Commission, which included the road to have the current Portage Lake condos in place, and included the road that went up behind their garages. In 1994 the DDA’s adopted plan discussed putting a roadway in and in 2001 easements were obtained from the property owners except for one.

“There’s currently an easement up behind the garages that was given at the time that the property was approved for the road. And then there was one section in the middle that was private property that we did have a Michigan natural resource Trust Fund grant that we applied for 2018 to try to obtain that easement to purchase it from the landowner. But then that property was sold,” Babcock said.

Babcock said she just turned the grant back in because the city was not able to use it. After Babcock explained the history of the property area, she said the continued goal of the city is to have something that creates a connective path, and this was the last shot at it. The path has property owners who do not have proper access according to Babcock. The path would also create a connection to a city owned three acre parcel, though there are no plans to develop the parcel due to being under a 50 year restriction within the Michigan DNR and is meant only for recreation. However Babcock did say there could be potential for putting up a pavilion there.

“We currently have a home that’s being built on the waterfront that does not have fire access, and we would like to make sure that is rectified,” Babcock said. “For future development of anything on the waterfront we need to have a road to it.”

She added there are no final plans for the project, but has gone through multiple iterations of what it could be and there would be public input sessions during the land phase. The public information sessions will commence after the topographical survey is completed in the winter. Another aspect of the project potential later on is to improve storm and sewer infrastructure and create access for fire trucks. The project would then begin construction in the late spring or early summer and then finish in 2027.

DDA member Frank Fiala expressed concern about the project, believing a lot more studies need to be conducted in the area regarding soil. He has concerns with water running downhill and damaging anything at the bottom. Babcock explained part of the preliminary plan is to have people look at the plan and suggest changes that can address the issues. All members of the DDA voted in favor of the topographical survey with the exception of Lahti who abstained.