By DEBRA HAIGHT
BCR Correspondent
BUCHANAN, MI – Buchanan City Commissioners are taking another step to encourage economic development and housing activity in both the downtown and the rest of the city.
Commissioners introduced a new ordinance to govern vacant and underutilized buildings and set a public hearing and first reading for the commission’s April 13 meeting. A second public hearing would then be held in early May followed by the expected adoption of the ordinance.
City Manager Tony McGhee told commissioners last week that city staff has been working on the proposed ordinance for several months and that the planning commission recently held a public hearing on it. “Vacant and underutilized buildings have a significant impact on the health and vitality of the downtown and the rest of the city,” he said.
McGhee said the ordinance provides the framework of how to address these buildings in the community. He emphasized that the goal is not to penalize property owners but encourage them to develop their buildings. “The goal is not to penalize but to be proactive,” he said.
In a memo to the commission, McGhee wrote that the ordinance seeks to balance community interests with property owner realities. “By encouraging the productive reuse of long vacant or underutilized buildings while allowing flexibility for legitimate hardship situations, the ordinance aims to reduce blight, strengthen neighborhoods, and support continued investment and vitality throughout the City of Buchanan,” he wrote.
He said the ordinance is designed to encourage progress toward activation of buildings “while providing clear expectations and accountability” with a fair and balanced approach.
He outlined three options for property owners: they can register as a vacant building and pay an impact fee, they can submit an activation plan over a set period of time, and they can ask for a hardship exemption when there are financial, legal, or personal issues impacting their ability to activate their building.
Commissioners applauded that effort as well as the overall emphasis on greater code enforcement. Commissioner Raquell George echoed McGhee’s statement about not penalizing people and said the goal is to have the city “look as good as it can.”
Also last, commissioners took action to help out a new business. They held a public hearing and then approved the sale of a small sliver of city-owned land near the corner of Oak and West Front Streets. The owners, Dustin Jankoviak and Alishia Ransbottom, have agreed to give a $5,000 donation to the Victory Park equipment fund in exchange for the land.
The land sold is on the edge of Harger Park adjacent to the former accounting services building Jankoviak and Ransbottom have bought to open a restaurant and coffee stop. The new 20 foot by 25 foot area will allow them to have a patio area for outdoor seating with Americans with Disabilities Act accessible ramps to the building and the sidewalk.
The new business called Brick and Bloom is expected to open in the next few months. They plan to offer breakfast and lunch comfort food specialties. The two also own 2nd and Main in downtown Niles which they plan to keep open. The kitchen and bakery in the Niles building will move to the Buchanan location.
Last week’s meeting also featured another public hearing on proposed amendments to the city’s Unified Development Code regarding short term rentals. A second public hearing with adoption of the ordinance amendments will take place April 13.
McGhee said the purpose of the amendments is to align the Unified Development Code with the short term rental rules adopted by the commission last year by cleaning up and correcting language. The short term rental rules provide for a short term rental overlay district in the center of the city and remain unchanged from last year.
In other action, commissioners approved three adult use marijuana processor and grower permits for G2 Development at locations on River and East Front Streets, adjusted the building department fee schedule to cover actual costs, bought up to $100,000 worth of playground equipment for Kathryn Park, approved dumpsters for the city’s annual spring clean up day in April and authorized the sale of excess city inventory.
City residents are being asked to give their feedback on updates to the city’s master plan. That deadline is April 20. Community feedback is also being sought on the future of the city’s parks. Information on both can be found on the city’s website and Facebook pages.