Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties

Wakefield planners receive updates on several projects

By P.J. GLISSON

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Wakefield — According to the latest report from Wakefield City Manager Robert Brown Jr., the city’s master plan is now set for adoption by spring 2024.

In a meeting of the Wakefield Planning Commission last week, members received a draft of the plan prepared by the Western U.P. Planning and Development Region in Hancock.

“Once the commission has reviewed the draft and made corrections, a final draft will be presented to the Wakefield City Council,” said Brown in a Nov. 17 email. “At that time, the council will distribute the plan to governmental entities and open a 63-day comment window.”

Brown said, “The Planning Commission will hold a public hearing before formally adopting the plan. Adoption of the plan is anticipated to occur around March.”

Regarding other news addressed in the Nov. 15 meeting, Brown said commissioners received requests for two separate site plan reviews.

“The commission will review the requests and meet with the applicants at an upcoming meeting to discuss the specifics of each project,” said Brown.

“Before a final determination may be made, surrounding property owners will be notified, and a public hearing will be scheduled,” he said.

It is the city’s policy not to disclose the names of persons or companies submitting the requests until site plans are complete. 

Regarding a continuing effort to re-establish a Trail 2 route between Wakefield and Ramsay, Brown said the Michigan Department of Natural Resources has informed the city that a new MDNR proposal “continues to undergo upper management review” by members of that department.

“Once the proposal is submitted to the city, a special meeting will be held,” he said.

The commissioners’ next regular meeting will be on Dec. 12.