Public hearing to be held on sweeping rezoning in Houghton

Twenty-four lots in east Houghton could be rezoned as multifamily housing, pending public input at a hearing held next month and the wishes of the City Council. The affected area involves parcels on the south side of Houghton Avenue between Agate and Townsend Drive. The proposal technically includes one property on Emerald Street that is connected to land fronting Houghton Avenue.

All affected owners must be notified in advance and a public hearing has been scheduled for the Planning Commission’s March meeting. The potential change is related to a request from Jon Lehtinen, who owns several houses used by Michigan Tech students along the stretch. He says if the request is approved it will be easier for him to modify the homes and add amenities.

Member Kristine Bradof says that the corridor is currently zoned single-family housing (R1) and the arrangements are grandfathered in. She points out that this is not an ideal situation.

Lehtinen has asked the commission to consider R3 instead.

The body had several items before it in addition to the zoning discussion. It held two public hearings, both related to special land use permits. The first was for the proposed boardwalk near Coles Creek being installed as part of the Keweenaw Waters Resort development. No comment was issued and the special land use permit passed unanimously, with Jennifer Julien, Mike Needham and Michelle Jarvie-Eggart absent. The campground and cabin portion of the project had already been vetted. Another marijuana shop is being proposed for the city, located near the Sharon Avenue and M-26 corridor. Tranquility Fields saw no support or opposition offered from the public and the motion passed out of the commission without issue.

A site plan review was approved for Sisu Ventures, which is working with the Michigan Economic Development Corporation to rehab a building on Shelden Avenue, near the west end of the downtown business district. It is intended to be mixed use with housing on the upper levels. The review was mostly perfunctory as it was triggered solely because the plans involve a change of use for the structure. Specifications of the construction are all considered acceptable for a downtown property.

During manager Eric Waara’s administrative report he shared the good news that AT&T divers began their attempts to locate the company’s underwater phone cables. Originally, they had been expected in March. Work on the downtown pier has been slowed until the utility lines are located. If they are damaged by crews, landlines and cell service across the Keweenaw Peninsula would be affected.