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Keweenaw zoning issues

County board hears from public

MOHAWK - The Keweenaw County Board of Commissioners heard from residents and non-residents alike on the question of zoning at an informal public hearing in the gymnasium of the Horizons Alternative High School in Mohawk Monday evening.

"The Board moved to have an informational meeting for you people, the public," county board Chairman Don Piche said, "so we can get input on whether you're for or against zoning."

Piche noted that there would be no board discussion following the public comment period, but a formal public meeting is scheduled toward the end of this month.

At its’ regular August meeting, the board unanimously moved to set the Sept. 14 public hearing to seek input about the future of zoning in Keweenaw County, and to discuss the steps that would need to be taken if county zoning were to cease.

Eric Hermanson, county treasurer, had previously warned that 2027 must see budgets cuts, specifically highlighting the sheriff's deputy position requires sustainable funding that the current budget cannot support as well as the zoning department. Funding both a sheriff’s deputy and a zoning department is simply not affordable for the county’s future, as revenues must exceed expenses.

The majority of speakers spoke in favor of retaining the county zoning ordinance, emphasizing its role in preserving community character, property values, and preventing uncontrolled development. Concerns were raised that eliminating zoning would lead to unchecked growth, further strain infrastructure, and allow undesired development, especially since most townships lack the capacity to create or enforce their own ordinances.

Jim Huovinen, a trustee on the Houghton Township Board, said county-level zoning is crucial to the townships.

"Zoning helps preserve community character and property values," Huovinen said. "For the average citizen, the largest expenditure in their lifetime is their home. Zoning protects the value of their home and the neighborhood. Enforcement of our zoning ordinance is an essential service."

Huovinen said the townships, with the exception of Eagle Harbor Township, rely entirely on the Keweenaw County zoning director to enforce the zoning ordinance. With a population of 72, it is impossible for Houghton Township to create its own zoning department.

"During our last election, we had to scramble to fill the township board positions," he said, adding that the elimination of the zoning ordinance to fund a deputy's position is not the answer.

Ahmeek resident Abby Newman echoed Huovinen's sentiments, saying removing the zoning authority has the potential to ruin one of the most beautiful places in the world.

"The local municipalities have neither the funds nor the capacity to replace the county zoning authority at this time," Newman said, "and deciding to disband it would leave almost all of the county a perfect site for data centers and landfills, which we don't have the infrastructure to support."

While speakers generally supported both the sheriff's office and the zoning department, acknowledging that budget constraints necessitate strict fiscal management, many focused on finding alternative revenue sources rather than dissolving services.

Keweenaw County resident John Kern said the county needs to recognize that the tourist economy is a massive untapped revenue source.

"Work with the townships to implement a recurring STR [Short-Term Rental] licensing fee to trap that tourist money," said Kern. "That's something you guys can do, but you've to start working with the townships to do it, and they have to initiate those fees."

Kern also suggested requiring the townships to pay for the zoning and public services they are currently getting at no cost from the county, utilizing the revenue from the tourist economy to pay for it. Other attendees supported this direction, advocating for better STR regulations, density limits, and taxes on out-of-state property owners to support the county’s deficit.

The meeting concluded without any official action taken by the commissioners, who say they will use the public feedback as they prepare for the upcoming end-of-the-month meeting to determine the official future of Keweenaw County zoning. The board of commissioners had officially placed the “Zoning Ordinance Update Proposal” on the agenda for their September 16 meeting. At that meeting, they unanimously voted to table the issue while Commissioner Mike LaMotte engages with the Keweenaw Intergovernmental Agreement (KIA) framework to source alternative administrative proposals for county review following initial public feedback.