By DEBRA HAIGHT
BCR Correspondent
BUCHANAN, MI – Buchanan City Commissioners talked about short term rentals and vacant downtown buildings at their meeting last week.
Commissioners first talked about short term rentals last year and passed an ordinance governing the operation of such rentals and limiting them to certain parts of the city.
City Planning and Community Development Director Kristen Gundersen told commissioners that city staff is now looking to amend the recently passed Unified Development Code zoning ordinance to specifically define short rentals and create a zoning overlay district where they can operate.
She said the proposed changes to the Unified Development Code will be the subject of a public hearing before the Planning Commission March 10 as well as two public hearings before the city commission March 23 and then in April before becoming law.
The vacant downtown buildings topic was first brought up by resident Dennis Mori. Mori heads the Buchanan Business Boosters organization. “We don’t need empty storefronts, some of these businesses need a little push,” he said.
Gundersen said the city is working on a draft ordinance to address the issue, which will be brought to the planning commission and then the city commission.
City Commissioner Dan Vigansky said the purpose is not to dictate store hours but to encourage property owners to at least put something in their storefronts. He said the goal is to do away with having downtown stores just used for storage and have them open to the public for business.
Commissioners also acted on changes to parking on Days Avenue, approved two marijuana business renewals, purchased cemetery software, set a budget workshop and approved the Buchanan Fine Arts Council to continue to use the Tin Shop Theatre building.
The parking changes affect Days Avenue between Roe and East Chicago Streets and come because of increasing congestion because of the opening of the McCollum’s hotel and restaurant. The resolution approved Monday removes three parking spaces on the west side of the street and one space on the east side of the street.
In other action, the commission approved the renewal applications for High Profile Cannabis Shop at 804 E. Front St. and for Boone Labs at 107 E. Alexander St. They purchased BS & A cemetery software for a total of $8,525. The agreement with the Fine Arts Council allows them to continue to use the Tin Shop Theatre building for their productions.
The commission will hold a budget workshop on March 17 at noon at City Hall. The city’s fiscal year runs from July 1 to June 30 each year.
In addition to the action on agenda items, commissioners took time to recognize the honor the city received at the recent Southwest Michigan Regional Chamber award ceremony.
The city of Buchanan received the Chamber’s Community Impact Award for the completion of the nearly $20 million downtown infrastructure and streetscape project that was completed in November. In addition, McCollum’s at the Grant Hotel won the Best New Business Award at the event.
News also came that the Buchanan Area Chamber of Commerce is joining the Regional Chamber’s family of organizations. The Greater Niles Chamber of Commerce took a similar step last year. The two moves were lauded as furthering regional alignment and helping to end the longtime divide between north and south county.
“Our entire county is working to address the same issues around childcare, housing, job creation and population loss,” McGhee added. “By working together, we can better amplify our voice in Lansing, can better leverage resources, and share best practices.”