New 47-room Hotel Receives 'Ok' From Architecural Review
By Karen Gould

Looking toward the east, with Main Street on the left and Haldimand Bay to the right, the future 47-room Bayfront Hotel received Planning Commission approval in November.

The proposed three-story, 47-room hotel on Main Street in the Mission area passed through the architectural review process and owner Ira Green received Planning Commission approval for the project in a four to two vote with one commissioner abstaining and two commissioners absent, Tuesday, November 7.

Voting on the zoning application for the hotel had been tabled from the commission's October meeting following architectural review by city architect Rick Neumann of Petoskey.

Commissioner Trish Martin, who voted against the application questioned the appearance of the proposed structure.

The building was designed within the time frame and style of other buildings that are on Island, explained architect Barry Polzin, who attended the meeting.

Mr. Green did not attend the meeting.

"To me it looks like a cruise ship set on Mackinac Island," said Pat Mctygue, who owns neighboring property.

The former Ty and Ling's store in the Mission district will be demolished to make room for the Bayfront Hotel.

Commissioner Kay Hoppenrath also voted against the application citing too many unanswered questions referring to an earlier discussion regarding zoning of uplands and bottomlands.

"I'm just not comfortable," she said.

Margaret Horn abstained from the vote having sold the property to Mr. Green, and Mary Dufina and Franc Doud were absent from the meeting.

The site is spot zoned commercial and questions were raised as to whether zoning for uplands extends to the bottom lands.

"Permitted uses in marine zone; it says for areas adjoining uplands that are zoned commercial, commercial docks, marinas, private docks, and all uses permitted in a commercial district shall be permitted," read city attorney Tom Evashevski from the city's ordinances.

Commission chair Bob Brown voted for the application as did commissioners Lee Finkel, Jim Petit, and Bruce LaPine.

Residential Equivalent Units (REUs) were addressed at the October meeting when Mr. Brown advised commissioners that they were not a consideration for the Planning Commission.

An REU is a measure of water and sewage treatment capacity. Mackinac Island has a limited 15 REUs available per year for building projects.

"I don't believe his project will require all available REUs in any one year," Bruce Zimmerman later told the Town Crier.

When Mr. Green applies for a building permit, the rooms will be counted and calculations will be made on the REU load the project represents, explained Mr. Zimmerman.

The Island's building moratorium was imposed more than two years ago as sewer capabilities neared their limit. The moratorium called for a limit of 15 Residential Equivalent Units (REUs) be allowed per year until they are gone.

Commissioners also addressed Ira Green's renovation plans for the Mapleview employee housing unit on Main Street, which were approved following the architectural review process. Commissioners placed the plans on file.

In another matter, Mary's Bistro owner, Victor Callewert asked commissioners to table his request for a standard zoning application for a awning until he received new drawings from his architect Barry Polzin. Commissioners decided to take up the matter at a future meeting.

Commissioners placed on file the architectural review information on Mr. Callewaert's proposed Main Street coffee house. Dennis Dombroski, city building inspector, told commissioners drawings had been updated to reflect Mr. Neumann's suggestions.

Commissioners also placed on file architectural review information on the Richard Coates project. Mr. Dombroski advised commissioners the proposed plans for the conversion of the Greenshed Lane storage shed to employee housing had been updated to reflect architectural review recommendations.

A standard zoning application was approved pending architectural review for a kitchen remodel and the addition of a barrier-free restroom at the Iroquois Hotel on Main Street.

Robert Gale, owner of The Butterfly House on McGulpin Street, received a zoning application for remodeling work, pending architectural review. He plans to make cosmetic improvements to the structure and will not be changing the footprint, said Mr. Dombroski.

Stonecliffe Mason was approved a zoning application

to add a loading dock off the kitchen area. The dock would be aligned with drays to improve receipt of deliveries.

Thomas Corrigan received approval for a zoning application that will allow him to add an addition to his porch. His home is on M-185 and abuts the Mackinac Island Public School property.

Planning commissioners next meet Tuesday, December 12 at 3 p.m. on the second floor of community hall.