Planners Keep Eye on Preservation Concerns When Considering Requests
Marina Work, 3 Fences, Mission St. Condo Get OK
By Karen Gould

David Cutsinger, owner of this French Lane house, is requesting a zoning change that would allow nightly rentals. A public hearing will be, Tuesday July 10.

Since state preservationists met on Mackinac Island in May, protecting architecture here has been a topic of discussion on the streets and in meetings. Earlier this month, a Historical Preservation Committee was appointed by Mayor Margaret Doud. Now, the Mackinac Island Planning Commission plans to meet with city architect Rick Neumann to seek his advice on reviewing proposed construction projects.

The discussion began when Commissioner Trish Martin reported on the preservation conference at the Tuesday June 12 Planning Commission meeting. She had met with Mr. Neumann during the conference and the two discussed the need for photographs of project areas and their surroundings to assist in his review.

From his office in Petoskey, 55 miles away, he now looks only at architect drawings and has no clue as to what is being replaced or how the new structures will fit in with the surroundings. He does not attend Planning Commission meetings, so little information or advise about such matters is shared.

Ms. Martin said historic preservationists at the conference predicted that the Island could lose its national historic landmark status if too many more of its buildings are torn down or are changed from their original appearance. They are also concerned that buildings are being modified with manmade materials and that fake Victorian facades are beginning to dominate new construction.

"This is wonderful, Trish, I support it 100%," said Commissioner Kay Hoppenrath, of Ms. Martin's proposal to revise the review process, "but it's 30 years too late."

Commissioner Mary Dufina disagreed. "I'm just not ready to give up, yet," she said. "I think people are starting to be more aware of it."

"I think the problem here is a lack of courage," Mrs. Hoppenrath said of the city's hesitancy to enforce historic standards in construction projects. "Nobody wants to offend anyone. We need ordinances and we need enforcement of ordinances. Talking is not enough."

Commissioners agreed to purchase additional manuals from the Michigan Association of Planning Officials to guide them through the establishment of more comprehensive project reviews.

In other matters, commissioners set a public hearing for a request to rezone a home for weekly rentals, and approved the new Mission Street condominium development. They resolved to support the marina remodeling project and approved three new fences, but tabled one other fence request until more information is received.

The public hearing will be Tuesday, July 10, at 3 p.m. to discuss rezoning David Cutsinger's property at 1358 French Lane from R-3 high density residential to historic. The change would allow him to offer weekly room rentals. The Lake View Hotel is to the south and is zoned hotel-boarding house, while property to the north is zoned in the historic district.

The house used to be owned by Bill Squires.

In a letter to the Planning Commission, Mr. Cutsinger wrote, "When I purchased this property, in looking at the city maps, this entire block was all cross-hatched hotel boarding house and historical. It would seem this cottage should be the same."

A new state zoning law requires the Planning Commission to hold the hearing and then to make a recommendation on the matter to City Council.

Plans for the new Mission Street condominium development were approved after commissioners received a positive report from Mr. Neumann. In May, the board had approved construction of one of three proposed homes in the project, pending Mr. Neumann's review. Mr. Neumann recommended adding windows in the laundry area and bathroom.

Mr. Neumann believes the changes would be minor, and would add to the appearance of the homes, Building Inspector Dennis Dombroski reported.

The development will include three two-story homes, although only one is being built now.

Following a lengthy discussion, commissioners agreed to send a letter of support for proposed plans for the $5 million marina renovation project by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR).

Keith Cheli, the district planner for the DNR, requested the letter at the commission's May meeting. At that time, commissioners delayed action until they had time to review 51 pages of documents and blueprints detailing the project.

Mr. Cheli also attended Tuesday's meeting, listening to concerns about a proposed trash building. He told Island planners it would be moved away from the sidewalk to mitigate concerns.

Based on Commissioner Jim Pettit's suggestion to add hitching posts at the curb, Mr. Cheli said the plans will include two or three posts similar to those in the downtown area.

"That was a good suggestion," he told commissioners.

Architectural review approval was given to Lorna and Francis Straus for their 400- square-foot kitchen addition at their Hubbard's Annex cottage. In May, commissioners had approved the work, pending the review.

No language in the ordinance prohibits a vinyl fence at Surrey Ridge Condominiums on Cadotte Avenue. The privacy fence was approved and will be on Cadotte Avenue near the Third Street intersection.

"I wish it wasn't vinyl," lamented Mrs. Dufina.

Annex Road property owner John Champine received approval for a fence on his empty lot adjacent to Great Turtle Lodge. While Mr. Champine could not attend the meeting, Mr. Dombroski told commissioners that debris left on the lot without his permission has since been removed. Mr. Champine is requesting the fence to discourage any more trash from being disposed of on his property.

Commissioners tabled a request for a fence at Park Place Suites in the historic district on Market Street.

Commissioners questioned the vinyl fence, expressed concerns that the nearby property owner may not be aware of the proposed fence, and said the zoning application was not complete.

"It is an application to be a vinyl fence, and it is an historic district," said Commissioner Martin.

"Are we going to be consistent in the historical district and not allow a vinyl fence?" ques- tioned Commissioner Pettit. "We said no to the post office."

A vinyl fence looks nice at first, he said, and then it breaks and does not look attractive.

"It's in the historic area, and it should be maintained in a certain way," he added.

Approval was given to Grand Hotel for a wooden fence along its shoreline property just south of British Landing. Approval also was given to R. Daniel Musser III, hotel president, for a wooden gate at his Hubbard's Annex cottage.

Approval was given to Carol Erbel for the addition of a north-facing window to provide cross-ventilation at her Spring Street house.

The Mackinac Island Planning Commission next meets Tuesday, July 10, at 4 p.m. on the second floor of Community Hall.