Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
P.J. Glisson/Daily Globe CONSULTING OVER pending construction directly south of the Bessemer City Hall are, from left, Terry Kryshak, Chad Bucknell and Dave Osier. Bucknell has proposed a housing project on the south side of the Iron Belle Trail, which runs directly behind the hall, off of E. Colby Street. The city also intends to create a trailhead behind the hall. Osier chairs the Bessemer Planning Commission, and Kryshak is a commission member.
BESSEMER - Members of the Bessemer Planning Commission cleared the way for a new housing complex by voting on Tuesday evening to change zoning on city land that is directly south of the Iron Belle Trail, which in turn runs directly south of Bessemer City Hall.
The vote means that the zoning designation for the site - which runs between Clayberg and Moore streets - will change from Country Estates to Mixed Density Residential.
In abbreviated terms, Country Estates is known as CE, and Mixed Density Residential is known as R-2.
The commission's vote took place immediately after a related public hearing, which opened and closed within a minute with no public input.
During the meeting, Chad Bucknell told commission members that he hopes to construct at least one housing complex of 8-12 units on the site.
In describing his initial steps to commissioners, he explained, "What we're going to do is clear the lot and build a road."
He added that, eventually, three total buildings might be built. "Thirty-six units is probably the most that we would put there," he said.
Under questioning from Commissioner Dominic Fabbri, Bucknell said, "We plan on clearing it this fall."
Bucknell said the expectation is to break ground in the spring of 2023 and then finish interior construction over the subsequent winter.
"Hopefully, we'd open it up in the summer of 2024," said Bucknell, who owns Bucknell Enterprise, LLC in Bessemer.
After the meeting, Bucknell told the Daily Globe that state funds already granted will help him to finance the project, which will be in the cost range of low to moderate housing.
He added that tentative second and third buildings are speculative at this point. "We have to make sure the first building is successful," he said.
But he also claimed as a local landlord, "We know there's a need for it."
Bucknell said the COVID-19 pandemic has created more interest in smaller town regions.
Moreover, he noted that increasing buyouts of local property for Airbnb rentals are creating "a strain" on the local housing market.
Overall inflation is, in turn, exacerbating those issues.
"Costs are up tremendously," said Bucknell in relation to buying, renting or constructing housing.
Commission Chairman Dave Osier and member Terry Kryshak voiced strong approval for Bucknell's plans after the meeting.
"We need housing," said Kryshak.
As stated in the agenda packet, the division of the plot by the recently created trail results in the land having "a more developed atmosphere better suited for R-2 development."
The agenda notes also state that city staff members who recommended the zoning change are unaware of any potentially negative environmental impact.
The city assessment also notes that the change is consistent with the master plan, which "strongly encourages in-fill development to utilize existing infrastructure."
Tuesday's vote was unanimous with only Matt Hellman absent.
No other business was on the agenda.
The commission's next regularly scheduled meeting will be on Aug 2 at 6 p.m. in the City Council chambers of the Bessemer City Hall.
