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Houghton council sets hearings for rezoning requests

HOUGHTON — The Houghton City Council will hold public hearings on rezoning requests for two parcels of land along Houghton Canal Road in January.

The proposed ordinances — one for seaplane company Royale Air, the other for JRG Development and Jukuri Properties — both involve rezoning land from R-1 (single-family residential) to B-2 (community business). In both cases, the allowable uses would be the same as B-1, except with the added ability to operate restaurants/taverns or hotels/motels.

The Royale Air’s site’s rezoning would also allow for a seaplane passenger service including a pier, boat ramp and aircraft storage hangar. The hotel/motel and restaurant/tavern allowances were done to align it with the requested rezoning of the neighboring properties, attorney Matthew Eliason said in a letter to the city.

Last year, the City Council voted against a request from Royale Seaplanes operator Jon Rector to rezone 1.4 acres from R-1 to industrial. The city’s attorney had advised against approving a change for the property on the grounds that it would constitute spot zoning.

The properties are part of 78 acres along Houghton Canal Road the city annexed from Portage Township in 2006. It was zoned R-1 at the request of the then-owners of the property, who had planned to develop it.

Prior to November’s Planning Commission meeting, Royale Air amended its rezoning request to request a change to B-2 instead of industrial. That change would better align it with the rezoning of the JRG property if Isle Royale Air ever sells the site, attorney Matthew Eliason said in a memo to the city.

In a joint letter to the city, Jukuri property owner Barbra Jukuri and JRG Development representative Lisa Tervonen said they sought the rezoning so a potential buyer would have more flexibility in use of the site.

John Fodermaier, who lives on property between the sites in Stanton Township, said allowing the reasoning of the JRG and Jukuri sites would have disastrous consequences. He worried about development encroaching on fragile sites, which include federally protected wetlands and Superfund sites. One site is also near the mouth of Cole’s Creek, a type-1 trout stream.

Fodermaier said excavation at the former Superfund site would mean uncovered numerous heavy metals capped in remediation work. Previous documentation showed heavy metals including mercury, lead and arsenic.

At November’s meeting, Jukuri property representative Kristine Weidner said they don’t hide that the wetlands and the regulations pertaining to them affect the property, and they also recommend any buyers contact the city regarding sewer services and the capacity needs for their planned development.

Fodermaier said he also worried about a potential hotel or other business operating 24/7 adjacent to the home he and his wife live in after their retirement.

“We could literally be in the shadow of a 10-story or more monolith,” he said. “‘This will not happen,’ you say. The point is that it can’t happen under the current zoning of R-1, but it could happen under B-2. There are no restrictions on the type of hotel or motel that could be built under B-2.”

A prospective business owner might be hemmed in by other physical restrictions on parts of the property. At November’s Planning Commission meeting, Fodermaier said the high water table would hamper development at the site; on his property, it’s about a foot down.

By contrast, Fodermaier said, the seaplane base would be consistent with prior use. The site had previously served as a seaplane base between 1994 and 2004. It would also be seasonal, and operate with hour restrictions.

Other residents complained about potential noise and traffic concerns, as well as worries about safety.

“What about the kids that are swimming in Hancock beach, and what about the kayakers and everything?” said Patty Bellman of Houghton. “If you put up a hotel there, it’s going to increase the traffic and safety’s going to be a major concern.”

A deed covenant with neighbors would restrict the seaplane operation to 10 flights per day, and keep operations between 8:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. The business would also only operate between May 15 and September 15, owner Jon Rector said in October.

The hearings are scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Jan. 13.

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