The Escanaba City Council voted Jan. 2, 2025, to adopt Ordinance No. 1302, creating a light-manufacturing zoning district, and approved scheduling public hearings on the fiscal year 2025–26 budget for Jan. 16, Feb. 20 and March 20, 2025.

The ordinance establishes a distinct light-manufacturing zoning classification that, according to a public commenter, would allow uses such as a proposed truck and car wash on North 30th Street. Andrea Couillard, a representative for Beavers Land Management, told the council she and consultant Rory Mattson are seeking rezoning of a property listed in the comment as “2226th Avenue North, Escanaba, Michigan 49829” so the company can build a truck and car wash along the city’s truck route. Couillard said, “At this time, we are requesting for rezoning of the light manufacturing district or excuse me, heavy manufacturing district to light manufacturing district for the purpose of building a truck and car wash on the truck route in North 30th.”

Rory Mattson, identified in public comment as the project consultant, said the project has encountered “a few” issues with the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy and that the applicant has engaged outside experts. Mattson told the council a soil scientist met with the Planning Commission and “debunked a lot of what got put down,” and that the applicant intends to reapply to the state agency.

Council handled the ordinance as a second-reading public hearing item. The hearing was opened, and no other members of the public spoke on the ordinance during the council’s public hearing. Following the hearing the council voted to adopt Ordinance No. 1302 on a roll-call vote.

Separately, administration asked the council to schedule the first three public budget hearings for Jan. 16, 2025, at 3 p.m. and to schedule additional hearings for Feb. 20 and March 20, 2025. One council member questioned why the hearings were set for 3 p.m. rather than in the morning; council members said the Jan. 16 hearing remains posted at 3 p.m. and did not change the schedule at the meeting.

Council also approved routine housekeeping items earlier in the meeting, including approval of the Dec. 19, 2024, minutes and the current meeting agenda, and the meeting ended after brief announcements about vacancies on boards and commissions. A citizen, Chris Williams of Fort River Township, suggested the council consider changing residency requirements for some boards so property owners who do not live inside the city could serve.

Votes at a glance

- Approval of Dec. 19, 2024, meeting minutes — Motion passed (unanimous).
- Approval of meeting agenda — Motion passed (unanimous).
- Adoption of Ordinance No. 1302, Light Manufacturing Zoning District Ordinance of 2024 — Motion passed on roll call (approved).
- Approval to schedule FY2025–26 budget hearings Jan. 16, Feb. 20 and March 20, 2025 (Jan. 16 posted at 3 p.m.) — Motion passed (approved).
- Motion to adjourn — Passed.

Council members did not declare conflicts of interest on the recorded items. The council announced vacancies on the board of equalization and review, the electrical advisory committee and alternate seats on the zoning board of appeals and encouraged interested residents to apply.