The Houghton Planning Commission is kicking off its new twice-monthly schedule tonight, convening to begin revisions to the Master Plan. The body is looking specifically at two chapters focusing on downtown development and zoning. Member Jennifer Julien says there is no firm timetable for how long the revision process will take. Much depends on the amount of input provided by the community.
Julien is involved with several business ventures in Houghton, and says that can be valuable to the planning commission due to the perspective she brings to issues within the city. Hotel operators have often been included in the city’s influential public bodies for that reason.
She says that discussions and plans have already been put in place for her to recuse herself where necessary, specifically regarding the big parking deck. Julien’s company has made a proposal to develop the space recently. In January, the City Council asked the commission to develop recommendations regarding the process to help determine a course of action to restore the aging structure.