The commission met via Zoom video conferencing to approve the new business item. The hospitality hotel that was formerly operated on Third Street is being relocated to 200 S. Seventh St. Before the commission voted on the agenda item, staff highlighted the issue with the Planned Unit Development agreement between the city and Beacon House and how it must be completed before approval of the site plan, according to Marquette’s Land Development Code.

“The applicant must resolve the PUD contract with the city as well as make any changes to the plans that were requested by city staff,” Marquette Planning Commission Chair Joy Cardillo said. “The Planning Commission makes every effort to support positive development in our city and if we can craft our approval in a way that helps move a project forward while still making sure the code and process is adhered to, we are more than willing to do that.”

After reviewing the site plan and the supplemental documentation dated May 28, 2020, Commissioner Antonio Ruiz made the motion that the Planning Commission finds “substantial compliance with the city of Marquette land development code, and hereby approves the site plan” with the conditions that an amended plan is submitted to meet staff comments along with submitting a revised PUD agreement to reflect the proposed amendments to the most recently approved PUD amendment. Commissioner Michael Larson seconded the motion. In a roll-call vote, Commissioner Aaron Andres voted no while commissioners Jessica Koehs, Erick Brooks, Michael Dunn, Michael Larson, Ruiz, Wayne Premeau and Chair Joy Cardillo voted yes, passing the motion 7-1.

The final site plan review includes two stories with a basement in the 20 rental unit hospitality hotel, parking lot, grading and site improvements. One driveway is proposed with an entrance from Spring Street and officials are “proposing a sidewalk from the parking lot to the proposed structure, and a sidewalk from the south of the building to Seventh Street,” the city agenda document states.

The logo for the facility is pictured. (Image courtesy of Beacon House)

The plan also indicates 40 parking spaces, “per the Land Development Code, one must get approval from the Planning Commission to have greater than 20% of the required minimum parking spaces,” according to a city agenda document.

Civil engineer Brian Savolainen noted that officials originally planned for future additions, which would explain the proposed L-shaped parking lot. But officials will consider reducing the parking along the west side of the property to meet the current plan, he said.

“We thought we had more of an issue with lacking parking when everything is built out more and have to deal with it then,” Savolainen said. “But typically and technically, these people are clients of the hospital already; they’re just staying closer, so overflow parking, if needed, could be handled over there.”

Cardillo asked whether the space between the hospital and Beacon House would be connected, but Savolainen explained that the plan includes a sidewalk that connects its parking lot along the west side of the driveway and comes down where people can access the hospital walkway.

RG Design Co. is the architect which designed the building and Closner Construction and Sales, Inc. is the contractor which will complete the construction.

The next step is getting approval from the Marquette City Commission, said Mary Tavernini Dowling, CEO of the Hospitality House of the Upper Peninsula. Although it’s still to be determined when construction will begin, Dowling said officials are currently working with the Beacon House attorney and city attorney to ensure everything is in place to move forward and hopes the proposed new location will soon be on the city commission docket.

“For over 20 years, we’ve been not only impacting the economy with jobs and providing access to health care, but we’ve just made a big difference in the lives of people in a medical crisis. And it’s something that now that our old building is sold … we’re literally helping one guest at a time,” Dowling said. “We can’t wait to get back to having a beautiful Beacon House where we can not just provide that safe, affordable housing but also be there for people just in all of the very soft and comforting ease that is the other part of Beacon House.”

Over the last few years, Beacon House has been able to raise $3 million to launch the project. In the coming weeks, Dowling and other officials will meet with the contractor to discuss how those funds can be used to complete the first phase of the project, she said.

The first phase of the Beacon House features a 20-room facility with 18 guest rooms, two family suites, covered entrance, community kitchen, children’s playroom, guest TV lounge, cancer patient lounge, chapel, computer room, consultation room, cancer patient wig salon, and deck and porch with rocking chairs. Phase two, which will occur once an additional $1.5 million is raised, will add on 20 more rooms, and phase three will incorporate another $1.5 million with 20 rooms.

Without the continued support of donors, this project would not be possible, she added.

“We have been working toward this for so long now and encountered unusual and interesting situations which we’ve been fortunate to overcome… Many hurdles we’ve had to overcome to get us here and can’t express enough gratitude for donors,” Dowling said.

For those interested in donating or learning more about the new Beacon House, visit upbeaconhouse.org.