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Burger King is coming back to Houghton.
After nearly a 15 year absence, the fast food restaurant will be moving into the former Arby’s location on Sharon Avenue this summer.
The burger chain previously had a location on the east end of downtown.
The Houghton City Council approved some measures at their regular meeting Wednesday to pave the way for the franchise, namely a rear-yard variance, an easement for a culvert on the property and an encroachment permit for the right-of-way.
These items were, in a sense, already in effect when Arby’s was open, but were never formalized, according to city manager Eric Waara.
The new Burger King location is being opened by Cave Enterprises, who also owns stores throughout the Upper Peninsula, including both locations in Calumet and L’Anse.
Houghton Avenue will be a thoroughfare for bicycles.
That’s the goal of a resolution passed by the Houghton City Council at their regular meeting Wednesday.
The resolution calls for changing, removing or adding stop signs and yield signs to try and increase the flow of bicycle traffic.
Additional signs and markings on the road is intended to help direct bicyclists to use Houghton Avenue as the main bike route.
The city of Houghton is taking steps to ensure clean drinking water for its residents.
City Manager Eric Waara told the council that the city’s water plant is about 22 years old and the media in the filters that takes out the iron and manganese is several years past its prime.
Waara said the cost to replace the filter media is $163,000.
The city has been putting money into its Repair and Replacement Fund and Waara said that money could be used for this project this summer.
Waara said this investment should provide residents with good water for the next 25 years.
In other business, Waara presented the council with some sample banners for Lakeshore Drive that would direct visitors to Houghton’s various attractions.
The colorful display will cost about $7,000 and come from the city’s TV-Franchise budget.
The council was also given drafts of the Capital Improvement Plan and a Public Participation Plan, part of the Redevelopment Ready process, to review for discussion at the next council meeting.
