Duplex zoning change, again receives planning commission endorsement

A second public hearing conducted Monday again resulted in members of the Rogers City Planning Commission approving a zoning change to parcels from single family residential to two-family residential. Their recommendation will be forwarded to Rogers City Council in February for their consideration. The lots are located in the southwest portion of Rogers City. The second public hearing was needed after it was learned some residents were not notified of the original hearing in December. The property, which is called the Klann-Flemming subdivision, is located east of the Presque Isle Apartments on Wenonah Drive and west of Hoeft and Seventh streets.

THE PARCELS are owned by Ed Fleis of Florida, who owns the Grand Rapids development firm Dorvin Properties LLC. ?The specific lots will be designated R-T, which is one- and two- family residential,? said city manager Mark Slown. ?It is my understanding that he is going to build all duplexes. The zoning will now allow him to do that, if the council approves the recommendation of the planning commission.? There were some glossy brochures of some projects Fleis has completed in Florida.

Slown said the buildings had different materials than what would be used in northern Michigan, because of the warmer climate, but most board members agreed that the buildings looked to be of quality design. Members of the audience were given copies of the brochure to look over, and about a half dozen people asked questions. Ultimately, a motion was made to approve the change to the zoning map from R-3 to R-T.

SLOWN SAID, if council approves the recommendation, it would take a few weeks before it goes into effect, as a legal notice would be published in The

Advance, before formal approval is given. The city?s definition of R-T indicates that each residential unit has to have a minimum building site of 5,000 square feet, said Slown. ?That would be 100? by 50?,? he said. ?It can be two stories but it does not have to be.? ?The front set back is 25?, side yards are 10?, while back yards are 25?.?

?It is not just for this builder, it is for any builder,? said Slown. ?That is why people misunderstand zoning. They think, ?we want to know what he is going to build.? It is all covered by the book, in terms of the larger parameters. The details come from the site plan.?

?You cannot get all the answers in the rezoning because it is whatever the zoning allows. Then it is up to the property owner who chooses what he wants to try and do within those parameters. Then he presents those in the site plan.? The site plan would be presented at a future planning commission meeting.