ISHPEMING — The Ishpeming Planning Commission will assist in determining the use for a parcel of land between East New York Street and Malton Road.

The proposed sale of a 7.2-acre parcel to an adjoining property owner was sent to the planning commission during an Ishpeming City Council meeting earlier this month.

A portion of the property in question, which is bordered by a non motorized trail on its south side and the Iron Ore Heritage Trail on its eastern edge, was being considered for possible public use as well.

The city has been working with U.P. Engineers and Architects to come up with potential uses for the property, City Manager Craig Cugini told the council.

“The city has been proposing to use the Malton Road area, which is where this area he is proposing is adjacent to, for development in one way or another,” Cugini said. “There was a Hematite Heights area that was proposed in the past and Malton Road was generated for the purpose of growing either homes or industry to generate some growth in business or housing revenue. And, as we have been looking at this since I have been here on the ground the last 8 1/2 (or) nine months, we have talked a lot about campgrounds.”

He said UPEA produced generic sketches of the campground using Google Maps, which would conflict with the area proposed for purchase by the adjoining property owner.

“There is a little bit of overlap in the proposed area that Mr. Kinney (the adjoining property owner) is talking about purchasing and the proposed area for use of campgrounds,” Cugini said. “We all have discussed the campgrounds in detail over time. The proposal is to have some area of primitive camping, which is outside of the area that Mr. Kinney is proposing, which is off the discussion.”

Councilor Pat Scanlon, who made the motion to forward the matter to the planning commission, said he would like to see both the campground and the property purchase come to fruition.

“I think before we take action, we should fly them both to the planning commission and make sure,” Scanlon said. “(Because) that (area is) in our master plan … so I think we at least need to have the planning commission weigh in on that…. I would like to see us do both as equitably as possible. So, I would make a motion that we have the city manager look at the campground, go back and talk to Mr. Kinney and see if we can come to an agreement.”