Variances approved for new church
by Angie Asam-Staff Writer
The Onaway City Commission, which acts as the zoning board of appeals, approved a pair of variances that will allow for the Remnant Church of Jesus Christ to operate a church at 20508 State Street, the former Tom’s IGA store.
With that approval Monday, the planning commission met Tuesday evening and approved a special use permit that would allow the church to operate.
Variances were needed because the parcel is 132 feet wide, less than the 150 feet the zoning ordinance requires and is .59 of an acre in area, less than the two acres the zoning ordinance requires for churches.
However, in looking at the issue the city commission determined that having something in that building was better than it sitting vacant. Because it will be becoming a church it will result in approximately $1,000 less in taxes for the city, the one negative of approving the request.
Positives outweighed those negatives in the city commission and planning commission voting as the building will become occupied, those coming into town for church will likely eat at restaurants, shop at the stores and do other things to boost the local economy.
Members of the church were present at the meeting and told the commission and the public that they plan to purchase the building and do some work on both the inside and outside of the building, which will help improve the look of things in downtown Onaway.
IN OTHER CITY COMMISSION NEWS:
• Commissioners took time during the commissioners’ comments portion of the meeting to combat some of the negative press being put out regarding city manag
• The commission approved a contract with Gourdie-Fraser and Associates in the amount of $9,750 to perform the water system general plan and reliability study. The study is required by the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality and is supposed to be updated every five years. Onaway’s current plan is 15 years old. Gourdie-Fraser was the low bidder on the study and made it clear that the cost would not exceed the bid amount.
• Hefele then updated the commission on several things going on, including a property request from the Onaway Area Historical Museum, the demolition of some blighted houses, 2013 tax foreclosures, the target market analysis for the city and a lightning strike at the wastewater treatment plant. None of those items required action Monday evening as he simply updated the commission on where those projects stood.