At Tuesday’s Cohasset City Council meeting, council held a 7:05 p.m. public hearing to act on a planning commission recommendation to change rural residential properties to suburban residential.
According to Cohasset Zoning Officer, Tony Valtinson, the properties are located North of County Road 63 starting at Becker Road and South of County Road 63 between Stark Road and Bazanis Road going west to the western boundary of Cohasset City limits.
“Personally, I have had several calls,” Cohasset Mayor Andy MacDonell said. “For people looking to buy property out there, and wondering what they can do with it. I know Tony Valtinson has had several calls too. But because of the setbacks, they have to build right in the center of the lot. The suburban residential changes the setback.”
“The rezone will not affect your taxes, but down the road, if people start building newer houses, that will affect your taxes,” MacDonell said. “If everyone is aware, there is a housing crisis.”
“We are working diligently on finding more housing options. We are trying to find places where people can build homes,” Councilor Andy Haarklau said. “Based on our zoning ordinances, suburban is more open than rural is.”
MacDonell explained a list of dwellings that are not approved, and explained that only single-family dwellings are allowed.
It was questioned if this contained any of Little Rice Lake, and it was stated, “No.”
Another resident talked about already having problems with traffic.
“I don’t disagree with you at all. The County is going to redo that in 2027. They are going to overlay it and do some improvements. So those questions can be directed to the County,” MacDonell said.
“There is no hidden agenda. There is no developer,” MacDonell said.
Another resident stated it sounds like this is going to turn into a City.
“If we do nothing, taxes are going to go up,” MacDonell said.
Another resident questioned hunting, and Valtinson explained the different areas and what the requirements are.
A resident questioned livestock, and if they decide to sell, can the next person have livestock. And council said “Yes, it’s a continuance.”
“I am really mystified,” said a former planning commission member. “How are they going to get everything to fit on a one-acre property. I think if you go to something like this, you are going to be looking at variances nonstop. I would think you would want a little larger lot.”
“Well that’s up to the property owner,” MacDonell said.
Valtinson explained it doesn’t mean every acre is going to be sectioned into one-acre lots, it just is the minimum.
“The intent of this is to give people who own property out there more options,” MacDonell said. “The other point of this, there is not enough housing around. We are trying to look at the whole community as a whole, to make changes for the greater good. Everyone has to be a little bit flexible and respectful.”
Another resident stated if it is a housing issue, wouldn’t you want to do a multi-dwelling building in town?
“We are trying to do several things,” MacDonell said.
One resident said he would prefer option three to “leave it the way it is.”
“We moved out there 30 years ago, to get out of town. My vote would be option three,” the resident said.
“I’m assuming everyone out there is against,” MacDonell said, referring to the crowd in attendance at the council meeting.
“At this time, I would entertain a motion to be for or against,” MacDonell said.
Haarklau said he was abstaining.
Councilor Kevin Tinquist stated, “I say we leave it as is, but I have to say we have to listen to the public.”
“I agree with Kevin,” Councilor Kevin Ott said.
“No motion to make any changes,” MacDonell said. “Hearing closes. Thank you for coming tonight.”
A resident stated, “thank you for having us.”
In other business:
Council opened their meeting with the Pledge of Allegiance. Agenda was approved with council tabling 6B for July 9, which was a Blackwater Banks Infrastructure bid.
There was a 6 p.m. open work session to discuss ICS and rezoning rural residential properties.
Council discussed a new asphalt maintenance bid for $164,639. This was with a product that the City has not used before.
“As a city we were trying to look at alternatives,” MacDonell said. “The county engineer said he likes the product. We did have a work session a couple weeks ago. We did slate out two sections of the City to try this on.”
They were disappointed to only receive one bid but did state they had a track record for the City of Grand Rapids and the County using the product.
Ott mentioned he would be inclined to make a motion, to shorten this list, and see if we can get more than one quote.
“The two that we picked are 60 to 70 percent of the entire bid,” Haarklau said.
“Here’s the other thought. What’s going to happen to our phones when we do Tioga and not the other areas,” MacDonell said.
“We know how much overlay cost,” Haarklau said, with another stating, “We can’t do nothing.”
“I understand Kevin’s [Ott] concern about not having a second bid,” Haarklau said, adding that it would be more of a concern if we didn’t have the backing from the County and City of Grand Rapids.
Council talked about there are other companies out there that will do this, but the question is if they will travel for it.
After discussion, the council approved this bid.
Cohasset Fire Chief Dave Meyers requested approval to hire four firefighter trainees.
“They all have gone through the process,” Meyers said. “That will bring us up to 24 on the department.”
Council approved the hire of the new trainees, with council saying “keep up the good work.”
The City Office and Shop will be closed July 4th and 5th in celebration of Independence Day.
Valtinson said the Cohasset Clean-up Days was June 9-11, 2024.
“We had 16 regular bins and five demo bins. Waiting on the math on that, but figuring it was about 25 tons of disposed junk in the City of Cohasset,” Valtinson said.
“I think it’s a great event. And gives the citizens a chance to clean up their yards,” MacDonell said.
Approved claims in the amount of $73,431, approved the June 11, 2024 city council minutes and approved the June 17, 2024 work session minutes. In addition, the council acknowledged the cemetery deed for David Nelson.
Councilor Terry Bartz was absent with notice.
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